We bet you never thought there could be a comic book movie gayer than the X-Men trilogy. Well we just saw one this weekend, and it’s smart, well-written, well-acted, and affecting (if a little bit depressing depending on your outlook).
Read the rest of the review after jump.
V for Vendetta takes place in the future following the spread of a devastating virus that has thrown much of the world into chaos. Britain, ruled by a fascist dictator who persecutes homosexuals (John Hurt), is the setting for the story whose hero is a mysterious masked man named V (Hugo Weaving). The timeline of the film is one year during which time V, with the help of Evey (played artfully by Natalie Portman), struggles to incite revolution in London.
The script, written by the Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix, Bound), is a true stand-out and made the heavy-handedness of the comic-book plot digestible and even enjoyable. Not having read the comic book ourselves, we will defer to the folks at After Elton who say the movie is actually much gayer than the source material. One of the central plotlines (and ultimately the driving force behind the hero’s “vendetta”) is a lesbian love story, and there is another well-developed gay character who plays a major role in the film. Screenwriter Larry Wachowski‘s status as a possible pre-op transsexual could maybe help to explain this injection of gayness in the film.
We loved V for Vendetta for its intelligent dialogue, tight plot, exciting knife fights, attention to gay issues, and Natalie Portman. Portman gave a beautiful performance, arguably her best ever. We are hopeful that she might get an Oscar nod next year now that Crash has set a precedent of recognition for comic-book-style films.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
V for Vendetta: A Brave, Bold Film for Gays and Lesbians [After Elton]
Larry Wachowski: More Bound Than Matrix [Defamer]
V for Vendetta [Official WB Site]
