Gay doc rock
Tribeca 2023: Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.A searing, devastating, all-inclusive peak behind the curtain of closeted Hollywood matinee idol Rock Hudson, Tribeca doc Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed tells a timely story while exploring every angle of the actor’s hidden lifestyle. I contain never seen a unpartnered Rock Hudson film, yet I felt compelled to review this documentary based on its LGBT+ content. The first time I heard his name was associated with James Dean, then again in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix masterpiece, Hollywood. While Hollywood explored a mostly fictionalized version of Hudson’s door into the industry, the real story is that much more enthralling because of it. Director Stephen Kijak (Shoplifters of the World, Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of) explores all facets of Hudson’s persona, and goes under the surface to uncover personal stories that acquire never before seen the light of day. Vibrantly brought to life through clips from throughout Hudson’s storied career by editor Claire Didier, Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed broke my heart into a million pieces.
Context makes all the difference, especially i
Rock Hudson: Gay megastar forced to inhabit his life in secret
Rock Hudson was arguably the most famous man on the planet. According to his biographer Mark Griffin, he was everybody’s type. “Not only did women say Rock was the bloke they wanted to marry,” says Griffin. “Many men said he was the man they’d enjoy to be.” The granite facade, the chiselled jawline, the inviting dimple in the chin: Rock Hudson was the very definition of heterosexual American masculinity.
On the outside. The inside story – as all the world now knows – was rather different.
Rock Hudson, aka Roy Fitzgerald, was a heavily closeted gay man who battled for decades to hide his true sexuality from an adoring widespread, abetted by the collusion of several film studios.
The reason was simple: if the truth had come out it would have been the end of his career.
As a new documentary, All That Heaven Allowed reveals, Roy had wanted to be an actor for as long as he could recall. “But I could never say that when I was growing up,” he said in an interview, “because that was cissy stuff”.
When he asked his stepfather if he could have drama lessons, he was asked why. “So I told him I wanted
“Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed” (2023): How do you inhabit your life as a male lover man when the entire Hollywood studio system is invested in keeping you in the closet? According to this new documentary, if you’re Rock Hudson, you just basically play along and do what you want to do. The film is a portrait of a man born to be a movie celestial body, with looks and charisma that couldn’t be denied. Perhaps he was underestimated as an thespian, but he had enormous victory and seemed to have a happy and gregarious personal and social life. Not too much suffering is on display in this documentary, which is OK.
Now streaming on MAX
“She Dies Tomorrow” (2020): This deeply creepy feature is about a woman (Kate Lyn Sheil) who is convinced she will, well, die tomorrow. She’s not ill or wound, just filled with dread. After spending some really unpleasant period with her, the viewer begins to realize she has a kind of virus, which seems to have originated — no kidding — with the pizza delivery guy. Featuring Chris Messina, Jane Adams, Katie Aselton, Tunde Adebimpe, Josh Lucas, Jennifer Kim and Kentucker Audley. The show is like a bad fantasize you cannot wake up from. Written and directed by Amy S
10 essential queer melody documentaries
This week marks 52 years since the 1969 Stonewall uprising in Manhattan.
Coinciding with the anniversary is Pride this June, a commemoration of the riots that happened over half a century ago. The prolongation of LGBTQ+ Event has been the result of unyielding work, bravery and perseverance. And for those celebrating, you may have already familiarised yourselves with our community’s affluent cultural legacy through groundbreaking works favor 1990’s Paris Is Burning. But, if you haven’t, halt what you’re doing and watch it immediately.
Music and club spaces have been one of the few realms in which queer folk of all stripes have been competent to express themselves, live openly and achieve excellence over the years. Contributing equally to gender non-conforming history and pop culture at huge, our community has a wealth of artistic riches. With that in soul, brush up on your queer musical icons, and observe Pride, with these 10 essential Diverse documentaries.
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell
2008The cultural legacies that were stolen and cut limited by the AIDS epidemic are losses almost too painful to