Review of Beautiful Thing (1996) by Giano P — 19 Jun 2009

Everybody's talkin' Love of Siam... I prefer Beautiful Thing. A decade before Brokeback broke records as the best gay-themed movie of all time, this one reigned at the top, having numerous imitators like Get Real and Love of Siam. I feel terrible that I only got to see it today.

Beautiful Thing is really a simple and optimistic film about timid high school queer Jamie (Berry), his tough-as-nails mother Sandra (a powerful Linda Henry), his beaten-up teenage neighbor Ste (Neal) who is also his crush, their black Mama Cass-addicted other neighbor Leah (a crazy Tameka Empson), his mother's nice and hippie-ish boyfriend Tony (Daniels) and how they all faced their lives with each other around. Jamie and Ste discover that they really are in love, Sandra finds a new job and lifestyle with her son, and Leah's just through with men... but still f*cking loves Mama Cass.

The film ends in a heartwarming dance... probably better than Happy Together's waltz or Daybreak's Nag-iisa Wala ka Na dance in the salas. The relationship of Ste and Jamie makes this film ever so sweet!

I was never bored with it. It's either I'm happy and smiling in a specific scene or I'm heartbroken and frowning or I'm roaring in laughter. I'm tellin' ya, it's a whole complete package of comedy and drama. I never saw anything like it...

And I'm not saying that only queers or the like can enjoy it. Even you straight commies can enjoy it because it is also a family film and, somehow, about friendships, though not very lightweight. Linda Henry steals the moments with her strong performance as a mother. Her lines can either be inspiring or bad influence but they're just so catchy.

The other characters are just as colorful. Berry and Neal's performances are both superb and natural. Their fabulous teeny chemistry (the kissing's hot, but never mind that) is very captivating. And the film is totally delicious because of them. On the other hand, Tameka and Ben Daniels provide the big humor. And ooh, that music. Just the right ingredients! Mama Cass's classic singles, The Sound of Music's Sixteen Goin' on Seventeen, and that haunting tickering music (BEAUTIFUL THING MEDLEY) that plays whenever Jamie and Ste are in the mood for love. Aww, Beautiful Thing's great even when you just listen to it!

It's pretty brief at 89 minutes, but it's oh so satisfying. Gotta watch this again and again and AGAIN!

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this review is convincing enough to make you watch it. I'm tellin' ya, it's the best gay film there is... and it's not even offensive or so. I didn't even want it to end. :( I'm totally addicted to it... and it made me see clearer what life is really like - a beautiful thing. I wish I could have a life like that, where acceptance is important and you just don't care what other people think. Beautiful Thing really really touched me.

Indeed, it's a beautiful thing... and I'll never see myself laugh, smile or frown the same way I did here ever again.