OUT in Theaters: Philadelphia Film Festival Offers Twin Tom Hardy’s, 3D Cunnilingus, and More!


Once upon a time, Philadelphia had a wealth of riches when it came to film festivals – over three weeks each year were dedicated to the very best in independent, international, LGBT, and Oscar-worthy films in Philadelphia. Now, with qFLIX only occupying one weekend a year, the Philadelphia Film Festival has thankfully stepped up its game with some fantastic offerings for LGBT film fans in weekend two of the Festival. From out directors to FREE films to 3D cumshots, this weekend in movies is one not to miss:

Legend
What’s sexier than Tom Hardy? How about TWO Tom Hardy’s and one of them is gay!? A certified hit in the UK (passing Trainspotting as the highest grossing 18+ British film of all time), Legend is the true story of London’s most notorious twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray. Hardy is exceptional in both roles: understated and calculating as straight twin Reggie and darkly funny and psychotic as gay twin Ronnie. While Reggie and wife Frances (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch) get more screen time, Ronnie steals every scene he is in and when the film focuses on the crime brothers together and their rise to power through the sixties, the film shines. Keep an eye out for actresses portraying the likes of Joan Collins and Shirley Bassey in the film… this was the 60’s after all!

Ritz East – Saturday October 31 at 7:00pm – 50% off with code HARDY50

Take Me To The River
Part of the Philadelphia Film Society’s PFF On Us program, Take Me To The River is COMPLETELY FREE! This Sundance sleeper is the haunting tale of California gay teen Ryder (Logan Miller, Scout’s Guide to the Apocalypse) forced by his parents (Richard Schiff, The West Wing and Robin Weigert, Deadwood) to visit his mom’s side of the family on their small Nebraskan farm. Refusing to hide who he is, Ryder is eventually overpowered by his mother who completely against the idea of touting his sexuality. While not overtly saying he’s gay, Ryder’s actions don’t hide it much and his four young, female cousins take an immediate liking to him. But when an unexplained accident befalls one of the girls, Ryder gets swept up in a sea of troubles as prejudice and discomfort seep up from the past. First time director Matt Sobel’s debut film builds tension at an uncomfortable pace and is a must see!

PFS Roxy Theater – Saturday October 31 at 9:35pm – FREE

45 Years
While not an LGBT film, 45 Years comes from out director Andrew Haigh (HBO’s Looking) as his follow up to arguably what is the best Gay film of the past decade: Weekend. 45 Years introduces us to Kate (Charlotte Rampling from French Sapphic thriller Swimming Pool and subject of out lesbian director Angelina Maccarone’s documentary Charlotte Rampling: The Look) and Geoff (Tom Courtenay, Doctor Zhivago) as a couple gearing up for their 45th Anniversary party the coming weekend. A letter notifying Geoff that the body of a former lover has been discovered sends a ripple through the otherwise content marriage that becomes increasingly tense as the days press on. Haigh’s incredible eye for capturing the beauty in the mundanity of daily life and a pair of remarkable performances from two screen veterans make this one of my favorite movies of the festival. Quiet and devastating, 45 Years celebrates love and identity in our golden years.

Ritz East – Sunday November 1 at 5:05pm – $13

Love
Gaspar Noé, French director of the unforgettable Enter the Void and Irreversible (that LOGO showed an edited version of late night for years), is back with another in a long line of controversial films. Sexually explicit and beautifully shot in 3D, Love introduces viewers to an aspiring filmmaker Murphy (Karl Glusman, Stonewall – try not to hold that against him) and his two loves, Electra and Omi (Aomi Muyock and Klara Kristin in their film debuts). Using a non-linear narrative, Noé’s film is unlike anything you’ve seen before: a sexually explicit but deeply personal portrait of troubled young men and women in their search for intimacy and connection in this world. While this film receives some MAJOR points off from me for some transphobia, the film and its portrayals of sex and sexuality are simply beautiful. Oh, and I guarantee this will be the only 3D Cunnilingus and Cumshots you see in Philadelphia this year!

Prince Theater – Sunday November 1 at 7:35pm – Director Gaspar Noé in attendance – $13

BONUS: Nightmare on Elm Street 2 in 35mm
To celebrate the late, great Wes Craven, the Philadelphia Film Festival has teamed up with The Awesome Fest to present NINETEEN HOURS IN A ROW of the horror maven’s works at the Prince Theater (including a 3:55pm screening of Scream complete with Jamie Kennedy). Around 8pm, the delightfully homoerotic Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge will be shown. If you’ve never seen the film, it takes place five years after the first with new kid Jesse Walsh (actor Mark Patton who beat out Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, and John Stamos for the role and came out as gay years after) moving to Elm Street. To say Jesse is a closeted, repressed homosexual is an understatement as Freddy and his dreams take him to the world of gay bars and S&M. This horror classic is being shown on Halloween and early enough for you to make it out to your favorite gay or S&M bar after.

Prince Theater – Saturday, October 31 at 7:55pm – $25 for all 19 Hours of Craven