VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Stonewall (1995)
QQQ1/2
Director: Nigel Finch
Sadly, director Nigel Finch died of AIDS before completing this stirring, semifictional story set before the historic Stonewall riots of 1969 - a pivotal period that sparked the first fires of the gay rights movement. Frederick Weller stars as Matty Dean, a naive New Yorker fresh from the sticks who strikes up an unusual relationship with a spirited drag diva named LaMiranda (Guillermo Diaz).
Shot on a shoestring, Stonewall suffers from shabby production values, but they're easily overcome by terrific performances, priceless drag queen numbers used as segues between scenes and an engaging group of characters. Particularly poignant is the relationship between Vinnie (Bruce MacVittie), the closeted, homophobic Mafioso owner of the Stonewall Inn, and his drag queen boyfriend, Bostonia (Duane Boutte). Tortured by his inability to love another man, Vinnie is desperate for his relationship to be given an air of "normalcy," but is ultimately unable to accept himself.
For straight audiences, Stonewall offers an entertaining, unsanitized portrait of the larger role of drag within gay culture. For gay audiences, this moving, dignified and, above all, honest portrayal triumphs as one of the essential moviegoing experiences of the '90s.
Incidentally, it was written by Rikki Beadle-Blair, the writer/director/star of the hit British TV series Metrosexuality.