Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Sticky: Hard Candy
In honor of Elliot Page’s first sit-down, TV interview with Oprah Winfrey since coming out as transgender, we would like to remind our readers of the actor’s auspicious 2005 debut.
Hard Candy casts Page as Hayley, a 14-year-old internet chatterbox. She captures the attention of Jeff (Patrick Wilson), a 32-year-old photographer who convinces her to meet up for coffee. A flirtatious conversation ensues, which sees the pair adjourn to Jeff’s house. There, Hayley suggests they have a cocktail. Jeff reluctantly agrees…and suddenly loses consciousness. When he wakes up, Hayley has him tied to a chair, and accuses him of pedophilia.
More than that we’ll not reveal here, as Hard Candy is the kind of movie best enjoyed for its many twists, reversals, and unyielding suspense. And when we say “unyielding,” we mean it: rarely have we ever seen a movie this white-knuckle tense. We chalk that up to the splendid performances by Page and Wilson–virtually the only two actors to appear on screen for the whole of the film’s runtime (Sandra Oh has a cameo, and to our memory, is the only other speaking role). As consummate performers, both Page and Wilson layer their characters with one secret after the next. Director David Slade somehow manages to make what is essentially a single location feel expansive, and the script by Brian Nelson knows how to toy with an audience. Is Jeff a pedophile? Is Hayley just crazy? Can both be true? Can both be false? Hard Candy inspires passionate conversation and reflection afterward.
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.
Intense yet not violent, shocking but not graphic, and featuring two electric performances, we suggest giving Hard Candy a watch. As with the Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman, it’s the kind of film that begs questions that may not have definitive answers, and not the kind of movie viewers will soon forget.
Streams on Tubi, VUDU, Amazon, YouTube & iTunes.
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SPEEDOSWIMMER
Patrick Wilson is a SEXY STUDLY HUNK.
*THIRSTY*
Troyfight
@ss …yep, I lust hard after him, too….
spiralx
Interesting to see how Patrick Wison is described here. I saw him for the first time in Phantom of the Opera, and was pretty un-impressed by his bland and quite dull characterisation.
mikhailmaui
He was phenomenal in Hard Candy. I was glued to the screen watching the movie… both his and Elliot’s performances were great.
Fahd
Patrick Wilson portrayed quite well the closeted Mormon in Angels in America, and Hard Candy is an early movie of his from that time; I’d be interested in seeing it. He’s gone on to have a pretty remarkable career on stage, television, and in film. Has received a lot of critical acclaim too.
spacecadet
That’s how I was first introduced to Wilson as well (loved it when he stripped down to his Mormon undergarment!) and I’ve been a fan ever since. I very much recommend Hard Candy for the performances and because it’s intense. It’s basically a two-person play (it reminds me of Death and the Maiden). You also see Wilson’s beautiful backside in Little Children and in Watchmen.
BoomerMyles
Patrick was at his dramatic and sexiest best opposite Kate Winslet in Little Children.
Cam
This movie was well acted, creepy and suspenseful.
radiooutmike
Simply incredible.
Watching that when it was out on DVD, you just knew Eliot and Patrick both had talents in the spades.
Preppy1000
Saw it when it came out and loved it. Quite a few guys left the theatre white-faced and shaking.
MissTerri
Such a handsome man! Patrick Wilson, that is.
Leash
Hard Candy was the first movie I’ve seen Elliot in, you could instantly tell he is going to be a great actor.
lykeitiz
There was no Elliot Page in “Hard Candy”.
curiobi
? Yes there was. You are either confussed because this person transitioned and now goes by Elliot, in which case now you know. You’re welcome. Or you are trolling in which case grow up. EPs performace in that film was nothing short of award winning and that is what we are talking about here. If you have nothing useful to add see yourself out.
lykeitiz
@curiobi – I have no issues respectfully referring to Elliot as he/him in his current gender, but to pretend that Ellen never existed is ridiculous, particularly given that she was a public figure. If history can be erased to please the current mood, then let’s just say that slavery and the holocaust never existed. Again, there was no Elliot Page in “Hard Candy”. That is a simple fact. Remember those? And yes, it was an award caliber performance. I won’t be seeing myself out.
Leash
I think you do have issues. It seems VERY important to you that we don’t say “Elliot Page was in Hard Candy” and I hope at some point you figure out for yourself why. (spoiler alert: it’s not because you’re just really into facts.)
Thing is, they are the same person, he just wasn’t living his truth back then. I think the respectful thing to do here is to call him by the name he refers to now. Don’t you agree?
Also how does saying “Elliot Page was in hard candy” lead to denying the holocaust or slavery?? LOL COME ON U JUST MAD 😀
lykeitiz
Just because Elliot wasn’t “living his truth” when he made the movie “Hard Candy” as Ellen, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Perhaps using the holocaust & slavery as examples were a little extreme, but revisionist history never works out no matter the topic.
An actor named Angus T Jones who was on “2 & 1/2 Men” later denounced ever being on it after he found Christ. Was he still on it? Let’s just say he was not, because Angus wasn’t “living his truth” at the time.
As I said, my issue is NOT referring to Elliot as he/him from now on, but I have years of seeing Ellen in great movies, and I’m not going to re-watch them all, close my eyes, and tell myself that’s Elliot. “Hard Candy”, and many other great movies had great performances from ELLEN PAGE. I have no doubt there will be many more with Elliot.
Leash
maybe 😀 I’m sorry but I have a hard time finding quotes from Angus T Jones pretending he was never on the show. I can only find info that he regrets being on it. I thought facts were so important to you?
Whatever, in case of the 2 1/2 kid its not DEADNAMING though. Ask yourself what Elliot would want, if you really are a fan.
lykeitiz
I never said that Angus T Jones said that he was never on the show. I said he regretted it. Maybe this will help: Definition of “denounced”: publicly declare to be wrong or evil.
When I said “Was he still on it? Let’s just say he was not, because Angus wasn’t “living his truth” at the time”, I was being sarcastic to point out how stupid that would be. I guess all of that flew past you.
So yes, facts are important to me, and I stated it factually correct.
Just like I did with Ellen/Elliot.