With the launch of the brand-new TLAgay.com, the Gay Cinema Video On Demand experience we have been offering for a long, long time was upgraded and improved. We have expanded (and continue to expand) our selection of new and old gay-themed movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here’s just five of our current favorites, from various years, that you may have missed – ALL available to watch INSTANTLY! These aren’t our TOP 5, by any means – just a handful of flicks we want to highlight.
1:54 © Breaking Glass Pictures
2016, Canada
Tim (adorable French-Canadian star Antoine-Olivier Pilon, who Xavier Dolan fans may recognize as the riveting lead of Mommy) is a shy sixteen-year-old athlete with a natural gift for running, dealing with the loss of his mother as well as his sexuality. However, the last four years of high school have been tough on him because of Jeff (Lou-Pascal Tremblay) and his crew. In his last year of school, Tim is sick and tired of feeling like a loser, and wants to shine for once. He decides to stand up to Jeff by dethroning him in the 800m championship, the event Jeff is known for in school. But behind the competition and rivalry, a secret is wreaking havoc. After a personal video is shared on social media, Tim’s private life is about to explode into the public eye. Soon Tim finds himself pushed to the edge because of the pressure he endures, the edge where human limits reach the point of no return.
Out Loud © Ariztical Entertainment
2011, Lebanon
Jason (Rudy Moarbes) lives alone in a large house in war-torn Lebanon. Choosing to embrace his newfound independence, the reticent bachelor hosts a party for his expanding circle of free-spirited friends – including the emotionally agile Louis (Jad Hadid), the drug dealing musician Elvis (Michel Sarkiss), stunning new girl Nathalie (Elaine Kerdy), and gay couple Rami and Ziad (Ali Rhayem and Jean Kobrosly). Living in their own bubble they are forced to face the harsh realities of their surroundings after Ziad shows up to the party bloodied, having been attacked by Rami’s family. All of them are lost between traditional morals and the free thinking ideology of their developing bond. While seeking higher ground, they are able to discover the beauty in one another. Out Loud, the very first out-and-proud gay film from Lebanon, sets a new standard.
Skinnyfat © Andy Bydalek
2010, United States
Chaz (Jayson Jaynes), a tattooed, pierced gay San Franciscan hipster, is convinced he’s overweight. The latest evidence? He caught his date feeling out his “fat waist.” Yes, despite his lanky limbs and low body weight, Chaz is afflicted with the most difficult condition to treat: he’s soft in the middle. He’s Skinnyfat. The traumatic event sets him on a plan to lose weight until he has hipbones “sharp enough to trim hedges!” Joined by his flighty friend Davy (Evan Johnson), self-absorbed Chaz stumbles through gym workouts, crash dieting, tweaker yoga, forced vomiting and even a distressing bear party! Along the way, he learns that physical ideals can change with the next pop culture trend, and even the revered six pack may not be enough to secure the most important love of all – his own. With razor sharp humor, writer-director Andy Bydalek creates a hilarious 24-minute short film about image-obsessed gay culture and shows what can happen when body-consciousness becomes-body fixation.
The Stranger in Us © Breaking Glass Pictures
2010, United States
In this poetic debut feature, director Scott Boswell explores the pleasures and perils of losing and regaining oneself through the journey of a young, gay man in the wake of a traumatic breakup. Small-town Anthony (Raphael Barker) follows his heart to San Francisco, eager for domestic bliss with new boyfriend, Stephen (Scott Cox). Soon Anthony faces a waking nightmare as their volatile relationship reaches the breaking point. Isolated and financially strained, Anthony takes to the nighttime city streets, where he meets a strange and alluring cast of hook-ups and wanderers. When he befriends a precocious, young street hustler named Gavin (Adam Perez), Anthony finds the human contact he craves, yet his inner struggles continue to engulf him. Featuring a verite-style portrayal of San Francisco’s grittier side, The Stranger in Us grips viewers with its heartfelt performances and intimate perspective.
Surprise, Surprise © Ariztical Entertainment
2010, United States
David (Lucas Elliot) is a swaggering 16-year-old homophobe who arrives at the doorstep of an opulent and secluded Hollywood Hills home in search of answers. There, he discovers his biological father, Den (Travis Michael Holder), a closeted television star, and his top-secret much younger lover Colin (John Brotherton), a former dancer who is now confined to a wheelchair. Their otherwise seemingly idyllic and coveted life is permanently altered once this kid arrives. Den, unaware that he has fathered a child, is forced to confront a relationship that began as problematic. Eventually, all three men with the help of their unconventional and extended family are compelled to join together and redefine the concept of what constitutes a family. Originally a critically-acclaimed Los Angeles stage play, Surprise, Surprise is a moving and unpredictable family portrait.
