Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes
Publications list

Gay Essential

Gay Essential is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Alexander Ryll, Alistair Ryder, David Opie, Rich Cline, Shaun Alexander.

Prev Next
Rating Title | Year Author Quote
2/5
Test Drive (2017) Shaun Alexander An unflinchingly violent film that is not able to tackle its politics about gender, race and violence in a nuanced way. Brutal from beginning to end but never left satisfyingly avenged.
Posted Jul 13, 2023  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life (2018) Alistair Ryder Jonathan Agassi has said seeing this footage saved his life and made him become sober. It's not hard to see why.
Posted Dec 02, 2019  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Almost Love (2019) Sara Clements Drowning in Robert Wise's Pinterest board of apartment aesthetics is a narrative of equal parts wit and sentiment - a touching, funny tale of modern love.
Posted Oct 29, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Monsoon (2019) Alistair Ryder A slow burner, but it lingers in the memory long after.
Posted Oct 23, 2019  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Moffie (2019) Alistair Ryder It's not perfect, but the visceral impact of its depiction of homophobia during this era cannot be understated.
Posted Oct 12, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
And Then We Danced (2019) Alistair Ryder And Then We Danced is so much more than a coming of age love story - and is all the better for it.
Posted Oct 11, 2019  Edit critic review
The Dark Mile (2017) Alistair Ryder Even without the descent in to cult-territory, this would still be an effectively and disturbingly bleak effort for its portrayal of a failing relationship.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Rafiki (2018) Alistair Ryder It's such a sweet natured and widely accessible story of love amidst adversity that the idea of any censorship board watching this and getting outraged is hilarious. It makes a film like Love, Simon look like Stranger by the Lake in comparison.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
The Garden Left Behind (2019) Alistair Ryder An important reminder of the violence and oppression faced by trans women of colour on a daily basis.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Killing Patient Zero (2019) Alistair Ryder It should join the book upon which it is based as a key text for people researching this period of history.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
From Zero to I Love You (2019) Alistair Ryder It's that rare thing - a high stakes romcom.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Lemebel (undefined) Alistair Ryder An enrapturing look at the life of an LGBT icon, told with an intimacy that feels like catching up with an old friend.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
A Skin So Soft (2017) Alistair Ryder Millions of people worry about trying to get the perfect body - Côté's film goes one step further to ask how far you would go to not just obtain it, but maintain it in the most image conscious environment imaginable.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Love, Cecil (2017) Alistair Ryder There's no denying the talent of Cecil Beaton, nor the scale of his influence to this day. But whether you leave the documentary having warmed to him is another question altogether, and is part of what makes Vreeland's film such an intriguing watch.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
M/M (2018) Alistair Ryder M/M is sure to polarise audiences due to its increasingly mind-bending nature - but it's such a singular, unique experience, it's worth stepping out of your comfort zone to experience the madness for yourself.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Every Act of Life (2018) Alistair Ryder For theatre fans, this is essential viewing - and for those of you like me, who shamefully don't watch as many plays as they should, this is still well worth a look.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
At the End of the Day (2018) Alistair Ryder It's unashamedly aimed at the mainstream American audience, with a mission to change hearts and minds - but when the film has a message like this (as obvious as that message may be), that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Devil's Path (2018) Alistair Ryder It's unmistakably a midnight movie, but with a heart and soul that ever so slightly elevates it above the pack.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Film Hawk (2016) Alistair Ryder A charming documentary about an important figure in American indie cinema.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Porcupine Lake (2017) Alistair Ryder Whether or not its about an intense friendship, or a relationship between two confused young girls, Porcupine Lake is an impressive drama about two characters caught between childhood and a forever elusive emotional maturity.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Shining Moon (2016) Alistair Ryder With a warm comic touch, the film explores the differences between two different generations, allowing its characters to confront their prejudices without forcing any unbelievable character developments.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Obscuro Barroco (2018) Alistair Ryder Don't let its experimental nature put you off. Instead, let director Evangelia Kranioti take your hand and guide you through a glamorous city in a light you've never seen it before.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Evening Shadows (2018) Alistair Ryder It's a timely film for India, and even though it may feel quaint to Western audiences, it still feels refreshing to see a mainstream film on this subject coming from a society that is conservative towards LGBT issues.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
(undefined) Alistair Ryder Jordan Schiele's film captures an intimate portrait of family life in rural China, examining the bleakness and the tenderness of various family relationships at close range.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Yves Saint Laurent (2014) Alistair Ryder Yves Saint Laurent may have suffered from being one of two separate biopics about the fashion icon, and the more narratively straightforward of the pair. Luckily, the strengths of the performances help make for an entertaining, engaging drama.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
A Very Sordid Wedding (2017) Alistair Ryder Although far from the sordid affair the title suggests, this joyously camp film is a definite guilty pleasure that will be a flat out triumph to returning fans- and an enjoyably trashy time for newcomers to the franchise.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Abu: Father (2017) Alistair Ryder It may have taken over forty years for this debut to reach the big screen, but let's hope it doesn't take another forty before we get a chance to see another of Arshad Khan's candidly honest and uniquely moving autobiographical efforts.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
The Revival (2017) Alistair Ryder Less a self-acceptance narrative, and more of an exploration of one man's crisis of faith, Samuel Bret Williams' screenplay avoids giving easy resolutions to the character's problems - making for an unrelentingly harrowing viewing experience.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Santa & Andrés (2016) Alistair Ryder No matter your political affiliation, it's hard not to like these two very complicated characters, and admire looking through the window in to their conflicted society.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Something Like Summer (2017) Alistair Ryder Contains brilliantly likeable performances from the central cast, with the cheesy teen drama of the first half paying off in the more emotionally complex second.
Posted Oct 10, 2019  Edit critic review
Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots (2019) Shaun Alexander Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots is able to effectively explore a range of issues that many young gay and bisexual men are faced with in this technology driven time and does so with a careful gaze which never exploits its subject matter.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Papi chulo (2018) Rich Cline There's an offbeat charm to the low-key American comedy-drama Papi Chulo, which gets under the skin as it explores some deep emotional themes with a light touch.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
Daddy Issues (2018) Rich Cline There's an engagingly dreamy tone to this offbeat queer romantic comedy, continually wrong-footing the audience as the plot twists and turns around complex, likeable characters.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Leitis in Waiting (2018) Dave Croyle Ffilmmakers Hamer and Wilson skillfully maintain a steady hand in weaving together multiple perspectives on the importance of modern-day Leiti in Tongan society, with just the right amount of delightful humour included for good measure.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
5/5
Cassandro, the Exotico! (2018) Dave Croyle A unique documentary, much of Cassandro, the Exotico! feels like a home movie with plentiful glimpses of objects and trophies symbolizing the luchador's life, all revealed in a 16mm film look and feel.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Knife + Heart (2018) Dave Croyle Gonzalez offers a stark contrast in Knife + Heart (Un Couteau Dans Le Coeur), delivering graphic murder scenes juxtaposed with playful softcore porn, and a story driven by a strong female lead.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Silvana - väck mig när ni vaknat (2017) Rich Cline Following the outspoken Swedish rapper Silvana Imam for three years, this lively documentary offers fans a chance to go behind-the-scenes with a young woman who has become a lesbian hero.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Luciérnagas (2018) Matt Micucci The characters of her film are broken and lost, each in their own way; they are marked by a restlessness and instability that is reflected in the Mexican port city of Veracruz, where Fireflies (Luciérnagas) is set.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Elisa & Marcela (2019) David Opie Over a century before Spain finally legalized same-sex marriage in 2005, two women called Marcela Gracia Ibeas and Elisa Sánchez Loriga beat the odds and were married under the eyes of God in 1901.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Tremors (2019) David Opie Through sombre and somewhat oppressive hues, Tremors (Temblores) takes a more mature approach to the now well-worn themes found in other recent gay conversion stories like Boy Erased and The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
Greta (2019) David Opie Through absorbing long takes, Pedro and Jean open themselves up to each other and the audience too, revealing a vulnerability that is sometimes overlooked in queer arthouse movies of this nature.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
Martyr (2017) Sean Jordan Martyr, is a stunningly sensual and compassionate portrayal of a community facing their grief and facing each other.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
My Big Gay Italian Wedding (2018) Alexander Ryll My Big Gay Italian Wedding (Puoi Baciare Lo Sposo) is a happy-go-lucky film that most of its audience will find relatable or at the very least heartwarming. It is sweet and refreshing, but does not venture far outside of the limitations of its genre.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
The Invisible Men (2012) Alexander Ryll The Invisible Men opens up a clear-sighted and necessary discussion on topics that have far more extensive implications than LGBT rights.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Dykes, Camera, Action! (1970) Rich Cline At just over an hour, Dykes, Camera, Action! covers a key segment of film history that's relevant to far more than LGBTQ audiences. It's a bracing look at culture at large, and the importance of telling everyone's stories.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Ruminations (2018) Rich Cline It's a superb companion piece to David Weissman's seminal 2002 doc The Cockettes, adding to the important exploration of a group of people who defiantly rejected conventions about gender and sexuality.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
I Hate New York (2018) Rich Cline It's a remarkably vibrant depiction of a fiercely colourful side of the city's nightlife, simply because these four people live just outside the mainstream.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
George Michael: Freedom (2017) Rich Cline George Michael: Freedom - Director's Cut, Michael offers an intimate, honest look at his life, ending just before the iconic singer's shocking death at just 53 in December 2016.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
4/5
Sidney & Friends (2018) Alexander Ryll It is direct in its message, gentle in its execution, deeply empathetic to the struggles of the LGBTQ community.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
3/5
The 34th (2017) Alexander Ryll The 34th is a unique and masterful ensemble of some of Ireland's most fearless and influential gay rights activists and their bumpy road towards marriage equality in a state that is generally viewed as socially conservative.
Posted Oct 08, 2019  Edit critic review
Prev Next