elicem-cohen Reviews

The Inspection (2022)

Incredible story, fantastic acting, and an excellent movie for a period in the US military for LGBTQI+ people

[10/10 · 6 January 2024]

This movie should have received more nominations and awards for what it is, and considering some Oscar nominations, its a bit pitty. It tells the story of a homeless queer person who is sleeping in a shelter with the intention of joining the United States Marine Corps, the difficulties he faces, and the true-life narrative of the film's director.

Not only is the acting outstanding, but the story arc is also quite original, and the direction is outstanding. Exceptional cinematography can be found in it. In spite of the fact that it could have gone much further, it comes to a satisfactory conclusion.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Great example of failed attempt for an art movie

[1/10 · 6 January 2024]

They gave it a shot. They truly did. They attempted to tell a story but failed to do so. They began out fantastic, but suddenly nothing stayed together as a story. Mweh in terms of acting. You wonder yourself halfway through the film, which had so many nominations and big stars, if something is going to happen. Waiting and waiting yields nothing. A complete waste of time, definitely money, and a PR machine attempting to make sense of this film by classifying it as an art film fails there too. If you want to see how art, gay or bisexual themes, music, acting, and proper filmmaking can be done on 1/100th of that budget, go watch something by Ferzan Ozpetek. It's a mystery to me why Hollywood never learns. A film with no personality.

Sauvage / Wild (2018)

great performance, outstanding directing, and a remarkable plot

[10/10 · 3 January 2024]

This film examines the lives of men who work in the sex industry in France. Along with delving deeply into their lives and the challenges of the work they do, it also examines the emotional swayings of these men through the perspective of the main character.

It is an astonishingly well-written, superbly acted, and superbly directed drama that is emotionally compelling. It is a wonderful example of modern-day French cinema.

The way the main actor acts is incredibly real. He takes you deep into the emotions, views, and perspective of the character. He delivers a very rare performance.

Yet another gay movie does not have a happy ending. The question remains: why do all gay movies around the world always end with triest and drama.

The Thing About Harry (2020 TV Movie)

Very predictable and very bad script

[3/10 · 2 January 2024]

A highly "American" way is used to start off the movie. The storyline does not shape the characters; they are who they are. The main characters can be described as "typical" and behave as if they are reading from a script. With little acting.

This is a typical example of a low-budget LGBT film that is intended to compete with straight movies that are broadcast on lifetime television. It focuses on the pansexuality of one of the characters in the story but fails to even go deeper into his journey.

It is possible that the plot may have been more in-depth, with stronger story development and performance, but it also fails to deliver on that front.

Punch (I) (2022)

An incredibly moving film featuring superb actors performance

[9/10 · 1 January 2024]

It is difficult for me to understand some of the negative reviews that have been made here. This movie is a gem that has been kept secret.

First and foremost, the cinematic experience takes place in a little town located in New Zealand. It provides a look into their lives in that seemingly small town located in the middle of nowhere. As a result, it provides us with an understanding of how far New Zealand has come and their viewpoints on LGBTI issues compared to Australia, the USA, or many European countries, on a positive note, despite the fact that New Zealand is a very tiny country and even though homophobia exists in such rural areas as the film also shows. This is another value added by the film when viewed in this social and cultural context.

The performances of young actors are really impressive. The father, along with two other significant characters, give outstanding performances.

It would have been possible for the movie to delve more deeply into love scenes or create a happy ending, but those are questions that are left up to your imagination to answer. Hence, I gave it 9 out of 10. Gay movies can end with a happy finale which never does.

Moffie (2019)

Outstanding cinematography.

[9/10 · 31 December 2023]

It was a fantastic film. Outstanding work with the cinematography. In my opinion, the story might have benefited from greater depth because it was lacking in depth. The film featured excellent music and visuals, and it offered a fresh look at the history of South Africa during the apartheid era from a different point of view. In spite of this, the narrative never delves into the areas where it could have been able to do so. When it came to homoeroticism, it was carefully maintained and balanced.

The characters did not progress sufficiently. There are never any complete stories told. There was a point in the story where it traveled back in time, which, once again, did not do a good job of delivering the story.

However, the acting, directing, and editing were all done to a very high standard.

The Invisible Thread (2022)

Extremely captivating European comedy and drama

[10/10 · 29 December 2023]

The narrative of the film focuses on a family that includes two fathers and a son. The narrative is not just amusing but also profoundly poignant, honest, and fascinating. In light of the fact that the gay father characters are not overtly campy, unduly dramatic, or overly sexual, it is evident that this is not a Hollywood production but was created in Europe. They are just like to other LGBT people. As a result, the movie has a very cinematic mood.

Along with the fact that the tale is extremely nicely intertwined into a number of other smaller storylines, it does not become a teen movie or gay movie.

However, just as in every other LGBT film, the fathers end up being separated, and there is no happy ending. According to the statistics, there is not a single happy ending in 97% of LGBT films. That is a very unfortunate fact.

Our Son (2023)

This film deserves much greater recognition because it is an incredible emotional story.

[10/10 · 27 December 2023]

Some of the comments that have been made here are difficult for me to completely understand. The acting was outstanding, the story progression and emotional leverage throughout the film were excellent, and the brilliant method in which the picture was directed is truly remarkable.

The story touches on a subject that is not typically discussed, namely gay divorce and child custody. Today, we are celebrating the first gay marriage, which took place 23 years ago. This is an important milestone. As a married gay man who is still married and has a son with joint custody, everything that is depicted in this movie is true, and the acting of the actors demonstrates that this is the truth. Billy Porter's acting was stunning.

I did wish a happy ending.

Bros (I) (2022)

Finally a gay movie meeting highest standards.

[10/10 · 12 March 2023]

At first, I wasn't too interested in what was being shown in the trailer. While my husband and I were were sick at home, we wished we had a movie that we could watch together. Voila!

The story of the movie is written very well. Exciting, entertaining, dramatic, laughable, and educational all at the same time. There were countless times when I laughed out loud. The narratives and people come across as genuine. A movie with a gay subject that doesn't fall back on tired tropes or have poor performance comes in last.

Being a gay couple that is virtually identically the same as the main characters, we were able to relate to many of the characters and plot lines in the movie.

The Goop Lab (2020– )

Just what our world needs today to stimulate positive change

[10/10 · 27 January 2020]

I am stunned to see the reviews on this page. This serie is just what we need in this world people to see that they and their bodies are powerful and they need less of the pharmaceuticals, they have the psychical power to control their bodies and mind over matter. I celebrated the fact that a female orgasm is shown as it should be without attachment of pornography. However clearly the world isn't enough for the equality yet. This is revolutionary serie everyone should watch. thank you Gwyneth revolutionising the world!

The Protector (2018–2020)

Is it good just because it's the first Turkish Netflix production?

[1/10 · 16 December 2018]

Most of the positive reviews here for the Protector are from Turkish viewer. The plot is nothing new. In fact a Turkish screenwriter perhaps could have come up with a better script. Acting is terrible. Conversations (in Turkish) are fake. In fact each actor pauses after each line (like a low budget indie movie). Head actor obviously can't act. Actors on smaller parts do much better job. Why trying to come up with a Turkish sci-fi when over and over it's proven that traditional Turkish telenovelas capture much larger audiences around the world? Netflix could have had something like Elite, the Rain, etc. Instead this terrible material. If you take out the reviews from proud Turks out of here, rating will be somewhere 3/10.

The Final Table (2018)

This is a staged show be aware!

[1/10 · 6 December 2018]

The show it self had a great concept. It bring chefs from different parts of the world and the compete in pairs till the last round where they will compete as individuals. However throughout there was a clear push for the US American chef. The final itself sticked to this set up. Terrible that USAmerican media keep showing its citizens that they are the best in the world.

Paris Can Wait (2016)

Terrible!! Waste of time

[1/10 · 30 June 2017]

I patiently watched this movie. Big names, provance, food; it can't go bad (boy I was wrong). This movie is made by someone who probably never been to France and Europe, who have seen many movies in Souther France and wanted to copy scenes from each of them. The acting was pretentious and obvious. It was waste of time and money. It has no theme, no purpose. You keep waiting that the story leads to something, anything, but every scene ends op to nothing. I am stunned by previous reviews here, and how they liked this movie. Incredible.

Out in the Dark (2012)

Excellent!

[9/10 · 24 December 2013]

This film is one of the best films of the year, also one of the best gay films. It has a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is very emotional. It is very romantic. Acting in the movie is superb with no fictive gay kiss but you are blended into their romance and love. However I rather hate movies which has no end. In this case, I wish they did made a happy ending.

Actors, specially, Nicholas Jacob's acting is superb. All other actors were also extremely good. You ask yourself why on earth Hollywood does not hire these people for its movies. There was no single part in this movie, I felt fake.

Body (2011)

Love between a Turkish Muslim female porn star and a rent boy

[10/10 · 4 February 2013]

After Turkish TV series are being watched over 50 million people around the world per episode from Telemundo to Korean TV, Turkish cinema is growing day by day owning its balkan-middle east stage. Yet what is lacks is the diversity. You have cheap comedy, ethnically minority subjects or honor killings being centers with fluffy father-son dramas are automatically subsidized. Vucut (human body) is none of the above. It is intense. It is simple. It is powerful. Love between Turkish Muslim female porn star and not much shown in detail yet with few mentions a rent boy for rich old gays. This dysfunctional love is well acted. It is not wow, it is not poor, it is just alright foreign movie. If you like foreign movies go for it.

Taken 2 (2012)

Don't waste your money

[1/10 · 17 November 2012]

This the worse movie of 2012 perhaps. Taken 1 was a really good one. This one is not only terrible in acting but also script. If you love the story that Americans never die and with a small gun they can concur the world, take your flag and march to the movie theaters. It is also full of mistakes. The point of capture and point of torture is not the same however somehow our hero in the movie counts the seconds after his capture in Istanbul, a city with over 20 million people and one of the largest metropolises in Europe. His wife and himself are taken hostage at the European side and brought to a place in Asian side. A journey which usually takes an hour but our hero remembers every second, every turn and every sound of it. Secondly when a prayers comes (5 times a day and lasts for 2 minutes) from a mosque he uses this as one of the signs to remember where he was captured. Movie shows that prayers from the mosque never ends. Terrible acting, terrible script, terrible editing.

The New Normal (2012–2013)

Amazing!

[10/10 · 23 September 2012]

This comedy is something between Will & Grace and Modern Family. Take Jake's words and attitude from Will & Grace as well as Cameron & Mitchell from Modern Family. Here you are. Although the first episode is pushed a bit too hard in acting on third episode it is settled. Acting is OK. Lines are usual. Yet it has a nice touch and script. It has the quality LOGO TV is missing in its own series. Perhaps because this is NBC. However the question is whether this series will last or not. As there are key gay issues crafted very intelligently between the lines such as an American soldier just back from Iraq getting engaged to his fiancé, gay adoption and surrogacy, etc. I just hope NBC makes the right call to keep this series as it is just funny. In this series kissing two main characters is not an issue as oppose to Modern Family. I just hope we will see the season 7 when they have their grandkids.