I've been gay for a good while now...and over the years have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, when it comes to lesbian film. Grab your girl (or if you're alone, grab your boobs), pop some popcorn, and get started!
After the Top 10, keep reading for the rest of my list!!
(click on any of the titles and/or cover pictures to go to a site to purchase)
1. Boys Don't Cry
Hilary Swank's performance in this changed my life and will probably change yours. Period.
2. When Night is Falling
Beautifully filmed, sensual and subtle performances by the lead actresses. Accents, hot chicks, hot sex scenes, and a well-written story. This is one of the few lesbian movies that got it *right*.
3. Gia
Angelina Jolie went to hell and back while filming this movie, and it shows. One of the best performances by any actor in any movie that I've ever seen. In my opinion, only Hillary Swank in my #1 pick has done a better job in a mostly lesbian-themed movie.
4. Lost & Delirious
Piper Perabo playing "butch" right after "Coyote Ugly" came out? Very brave...very hot...and most importantly, very well-acted! And Jessica Pare' reminds me of Liv Tyler in all her "Empire Records" glory.
5. Kissing Jessica Stein
This one wins my favorite *writing in a lezzy movie* award. It's so smart, and honest and real...funny...I could watch it once a week for the rest of my life.
6. But I'm a Cheerleader
Clea Duvall. That black button-up shirt. That amazing love scene that came out of nowhere. Clea Duvall. 'Nuff said.
7. Fingersmith
Some days I put this at No. 1 simply because of the hotness that is the British lesbian. Look at that video again. I've seen the movie about 5 times, and I'm still a little breathless when I watch that. Seriously. What?? *whew*
8. Aimee & Jaguar
Beautiful and heartbreaking. And you get to bone up on your reading all at the same time. Educational and fun. Just like boobs.
9. The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
Aw...Laurel as a baby dyke. Seriously could not be more adorable. When the movie is good, it's REALLY good.
10. Loving Annabelle
This one's a new addition to my list since it came out just last year. But it's good times. Definitely worth a view or two.
Once you've gone through this list, here are some more favorites to get you through many girl's nights in:-) You can buy most of these titles at Wolfe Video, or rent them at Blockbuster, Netflix, Hollywood video, or your local place...
Foxfire, Better Than Chocolate, It's in the Water, Imagine Me & You, Saving Face, Therese & Isabelle, Floored by Love, If Walls Could Talk 2, D.E.B.S., Tipping the Velvet, Bound, High Art, The Truth About Jane, Fire, Show Me Love, All Over Me, Go Fish, The Sex Monster, Wild Things, Claire of the Moon, Sister My Sister, Chasing Amy.
27 comments:
Yeah, wow, I've seen so many lesbian flicks, I mean, I knew I'd seen alot, but man, I've seen most on the list. I so agree with your choices, so, so much. I LOVED "When night is falling". And how can u go wrong with Boys don't cry, hello, oscar!!
I would definitely have to disagree with a couple of those choices. "Tipping the Velvet" is sexier than "Fingersmith", I even liked the book better. And "When Night is Falling"? One of my friends loves this movie too and I don't get it. She hasn't seen Patricia Rozema's "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing" so she doesn't know how vastly superior it is, but still this movie was nonsensical.
I would put "Saving Face" into the top ten, many have suggested it's the best lesbian film ever because it has all the elements of a good film, not just a good lesbian film. I may also move up "Better than Chocolate" for sheer hotness. Mmmm... Chrisitina Cox. Body painting. Yum.
yeah see its a matter of opinion. so everyone's list is gonna be different for different reasons. i personally only enjoyed about 3 minutes of "Better Than Chocolate" and absolutely adore "When Night Is Falling"...
everyone put your own list up if you want:-) its all gay...i mean...good;-)
:O what about saving face?!?!!
ah i obviously didn't read closely enough :P I'd put saving face and imagine you and me right at the top myself :P ... of course I'd also put sugar rush up there too! that show fuckin rocked!
Anything w Clea is good for me. Mm.
what about better than chocolate thats a good film..
arlan, have you seen My Summer Of Love? It's a British film and it's beautiful and it's predominantly scored by Goldfrapp! And you get to see Emily Blunt naked.
Wins all round.
Fingersmith is by far my favorite movie. I could watch it over and over again. :) Thanks for posting this list, I plan on downloading all the movies I haven't seen yet. You rock :)
I wasnt very impressed by 'loving anabelle'. I didnt think the acting was all that great. I love that its a lesbian movie and all, its just not one of my favorites
better than chocolate could have been a better movie but it's not completely horrible. mango kiss is a good movie but it can be a bit on the cheesy side even though it touches on role playing within the lesbian community.
a movie i think every woman, gay, straight, or in between, should watch is "born in flames." it's pretty cool and makes me wanna go start the lesbo-revolution every time i see it.
Bee, yes i have. i loooved the two actresses in it. seriously, would marry them both at the same time. but the movie itself was a bit of a disappointment for me.
maybe if i just watched the first 2/3 of it....hmmmm...
if you like tipping the velvet:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BR65woQfLbg
hmmm... is boys dont cry really a lesbian film? its more transgender than anything. i think it should be more like... 1)aimee and jaguar - this is an excellent movie and well well well acted. 2) Bound - this true talent in the rawest form, the wachowski brothers have captured a realistic lesbian lifestyle. 3) Monster - fine performances and the movie is actully good. 4) Heavenly Creatures - peter jackson has bascially made a documentary... this movie is so well done and well acted. 5) Desert Heart - no detail is left behind in this love story. 6) kissing jessica stein - funny, cute, sweet, smart... all the things to make a nice romantic comedy. 7) fried green tomatoes - subtle lesbianism but with lots of love. 8) fire - groundbreaking. 9) saving face - a sweet movie. 10) mulholland dr. - a complex unrequited love story
fingersmith is also a good choice to go into a top 10 list. the performances are excellent. sooo much chemistry. elaine cassidy is absolutey magnetic. but a lack of budget, and all the tv movie-ness hinders the final product from being a perfect film.
Hi Arlan,
RC here. I LOVED this list and "Gia, "Kissing Jessica Stein", and "It's In The Water" are some of my VERY favorites. Great list, great entry as always.
My goodness... This is a fine list indeed. I've seen more than half but absolutely cannot wait to watch the ones I haven't...
love those movies.
know what would also be cool?
i've no idea if you've already done this or not, you probably have, there were too many results to look through.
but a list of the top lesbian bands or singers and the like would be awesome, i think.
Query- is "Boys Don't Cry" really a lesbian film? I suppose the distinction is undoubtedly a fine one, but the protagonist identifies as male. While I'm not going to play sexuality-police on this one, all the same, I feel reluctant to term it a lesbian film. Queer? Certainly. But calling it lesbian rather undermines the basic premise of the entire film.
Secondly-- I suppose one might count Kissing Jessica Stein as real while working under the basic assumption that ultimately all lesbians will end in happy heterosexual wedlock. I mean, I'm always happiest when "closure" consists of "marriage with a man who demeans me." But another thing entirely-- I'm personally bothered by the seemingly innocuous "Kissing Jessica Stein" because of its rather neat move from lesbianism to "omg total bffs." Way to conflate!
Oh man...that Fingersmith video thing....so hott. Breathless, me too i mean. This made my year by far. Thank you.
Hi, Arlan!
I know this is a late comment, but I LOVE your top ten!!! I'm sooooo happy that WNIFalling is in your top 3!!! What a beautiful movie!!!!! I can watch it over, and over, and over again. Also I haven't seen Boys Don't Cry, cuz a someone told me not to watch it alone. But I am going to see it this weekend!
Also another good movie directed by Cheryl Dunye is Watermelon Woman. You should check it out, if you haven't already!
Where is Bound? Seriously, where is Bound?
i've been missing 'my summer of love' all the way through the list... hope its bacause you've never heard about it...
glad you've heard about the spanish one though "a mi madre le gustan las mujeres" (can't remember the english title)
happy valentines day by the way
You can't leave Go Fish out! =P
When Night is Falling is my #1. Great movie. I especially enjoyed the end when the dog comes up out of the snow...made me cry a little.
The Chinese Botanist's Daughters is missing!!!
You can see it on youtube.
It's very good. Though sad.
Lost and Delirious is deffinatly a great lesbian film about heartache and such.
Gia -is an amazing film.
I'm currently reading a biography about the real Gia Carangi; 'Thing of Beauty' by Stephen Fried. Its such a great book, she lived such a tragic life which was cut short.
but i'm a cheerleader... BEST. FILM. EVER.
that should have been number one for reasons of clea duvall. she's hot as hell. and that love scene.. UNFFFF.
♥
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