The Spencer Hamilton Blog

Movies and TV have a way of revealing things to us about ourselves. I remember knowing I was gay at an early age and media helped confirm that over the years.  I came of age in the 1990s/2000s so of course some of these are dated in their portrayal of queer characters but I can't deny the impression they made on me. I'll share a few below and why, it ranges from individuals, movies and TV.  Trick (1999) What I like about this movie is that it's a romantic comedy at its heart, no drama, HIV, gay bashing etc. But what really set my gay heart aflutter was Gabriel. In this film, Mark and Gabriel look for a place to mess around for the night. But you only need to take one look at JP Pitoc to realize why I was aflutter when he was on screen. I remember seeing a clip or two of this movie when I was younger  This was the first time I'd ever seen the male gaze aimed at another man. For once, I--me--a gay man was looking at someone appealing to ME instead of having to fake it ove...

John Sibiliy as Zephyr Zephyr is our Brian character. He grew up in a working class family that had a lot of trouble. His commitment issues are on display as he goes from trick to trick and puts forth a no nonsense attitude. He is up for Partner at his Ad firm and wants the world. Why this actor? Because he's actually better looking than Gale Harold, he isn't some androgynous guy. In my view, he's masculine and can project a subtle strength that Harold did without coming off as douchey Brandon Kneefel as Michael In this iteration Michael would be in a profession where he makes a lot of money but hates because he is paying off Debbie's mortgage behind her back, and his own. I would keep Debbie and Vic and the family connection because it would be great to see that reimagined and Debbie recast would be Rosie Perez. Michael has the same characteristics we love about him except that he's not as whiny as he was in the original series. That's replace...

My Take: What the Two Shows Represent to Me Queer as Folk (2000-2005) and Looking (2015-16) and a movie QAF represents a larger than life, gay nucleus that as the person I am I didn't grow up in a gay neighborhood or have my life revolving around clubs. I also wasn't living on my own at the time and when I was, I was worrying more about getting myself established as household Looking for me represents a more subdued or practical kind of gayness. It showed what was normal by comparison to QAF. One episode mentioned rent control in San Francisco, it looked at dating your boss, open relationships, different ways we cope, and I would say that this show has its Brian Kinney. We see one guy that's no good at monogamy start to embrace it while we see a few people actually realize what works for them. The reasons I enjoy both for different reasons are a few 1. Looking is more real to life for me. While I know people like Dom that want to have his own business and are mak...

Queer as Folk was a groundbreaking for the time it debuted, a Republican President took over and the "Family Values Agenda" was enacted quickly. That usually means we don't like queers or any family outside of the suburban fantasy of a Father that worked and a Mother that kept up the house, which everyone knows is nearly impossible. I thought the show was amazing but there were also some things that rubbed wrong on me when I began to see the series with more mature eyes. So here are 5 likes and hates I have of the Queer as Folk Series (2000-2005) 5 Love: Groundbreaking When the performers read the script, they were a little taken aback by whether they were doing what the script entailed. It discussed rimming, frank depiction of gay male sexuality and a frankly underage kid doing what kids like to do, get laid. It showed us what gay life can look like: Gay bashings, HIV and relationships, bullying at school and a hostile school administration, parenting while gay, w...