Gay Best Friend: Tim in "Frankie & Johnny" (1991)

a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope   

Even before officially coming out, Nathan Lane (left) wasn't afraid to play gay in "Frankie and Johnny," pictured here with Kate Nelligan and Al Pacino.Especially in the early days, the inauthenticity of the “Gay Best Friend” trope came from straight actors mincing about to sell the part. The role is able to gain a whole lot of authenticity when a queer person is either writing or acting the part. In the case of Frankie and Johnny, both the writer and performer of the 'gay best friend' were gay, though both were not out. Theater legend (and out gay playwright) Terence McNally adapted his Off-Broadway play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune into a movie in 1991. He was able to get A-List talent to take the titular roles for film, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino headlining. However, he also gave Nathan Lane one of his first breakout roles as Tim, the gay best friend and neighbor of Pfeiffer’s Frankie.

The 1991 film did not achieve the level of acclaim that McNally’s play did (thus it was the subject of a great This Had Oscar Buzz episode). Still, there are things to appreciate about this adaptation...

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This Had Oscar Buzz & Chasing the Gold

by Nathaniel R

I had the pleasure of recording not one, not two, but three podcasts this week. Yes, The Film Experience's own podcast returns very soon (hopefully tomorrow). But before that's edited, please enjoy these two guest-spots I had the pleasure to do.

THIS HAD OSCAR BUZZ
Joe Reid and Chris Feil, former Team Experience members!, launched this brilliant podcast in 2018. You're probably already a fan. "This Had Oscar Buzz" discusses one failed awards hopeful per episode. They gave me a list of films to choose from for my guest spot and perusing it I knew exactly which film I had to choose. The very blonde, very actressy, very complicated, very Pfeifferiffic White Oleander (2002) called out to me. Please give it a listen! 

CHASING THE GOLD
You can also hear me discussing the brand new Oscar nominations on InSessionFilm's podcast hosted by Ryan McQuade.  Erik Anderson of Awards Watch and I were the special guests and we really get into the weeds of Oscar campaigns and this odd season. 

What are your 4 wishes for nomination morning?

Yesterday was the final day of voting for the nominations for 93rd annual Academy Award nominations. Since there are four days until the nominations are announced please name your 4 non-locked up dreams for Monday morning. I'll go first...

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Almost There: Michelle Pfeiffer in "White Oleander"

by Cláudio Alves

This past weekend, actressexuals and Pfeiffer pfans were scandalized when Lucas Hedges revealed he had never seen a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer before working with her on French Exit. I kid, while also admitting I was surprised. Being only two years older than Hedges, I've seen plenty of Pfeiffer movies as have many of my friends, ranging from work by renowned auteurs to blockbuster fare. Hers is a varied filmography. She may have only been nominated thrice for the Oscars, but Michelle Pfeiffer has delivered a fair share of awards-worthy star turns and her range is quite expansive. Equally brilliant in big leading parts and small supporting roles, broad comedy and thrilling drama, Pfeiffer is one of my favorite actresses and I'd love nothing more than to share my adoration with you, dear readers.

With that in mind, let's delve into one of the best performances in her resume. Maybe more than any other of her other films, White Oleander got Michelle Pfeiffer very close to that elusive fourth Oscar nod…

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Tweetweek: Lucas Hedges not a cinephile, Kirsten Dunst's mystique, Jamie Dornan clones

Can we talk about Lucas Hedges saying he'd never seen a Michelle Pfeiffer pfilm while promoting French Exit (finally "out" though that definition is so strange now) in which he plays her son?

Rescind his Oscar nomination pic.twitter.com/wuXVZm8g4T

— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) February 11, 2021

How is that even possible? Yes, he's just 24 but he's in the industry and she's made all kinds of movies in every genre from massive franchises to surprise blockbusters to indie darlings to cult favourites...

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