Ask the Flying Monkey! (April 8, 2008)

Interesting take on Billy Elliott, Brent. I've got to say I didn't pick up on that during my viewings of it but I'll have to go back and see if I change my mind. I didn't have any problems with the way the film dealt with gay issues. At the end of it, Billy (our main point of sympathy) embraces his gay friend and the fact that he himself is not gay (but faces homophobia) does a bit of mythbusting on the whole ballet=gay stereotype. I agree that there are a lot of gay kids into ballet who find themselves in similar situation to Billy but I think that the more we can view them as independent elements that occasionally align, the fewer limitations there will be on either element. I can't quite remember this right, but isn't there a bit at the end where the film makes a joke at the expense of the father's small town reaction to the adult version of the gay friend? I guess there's room for debate on who the joke is actually on there, but that's how I read it. It has been a while since I last saw it though, so I might have to rewatch with your comments in mind.

I saw this on stage in London in November and if you love the movie, you've GOT to see the play. It was wonderful. It was very clear that Billy was a ballet dancer that just happened to *not* be gay. I saw it as a play on reversing the stereotype. He was simply a very talented dancer and it had nothing to do with his sexuality. The fact that his friend was gay and had a crush on him was so sweet because Billy didn't shun him for it. He kissed him at the end to show that he was still his best friend and was not squeamish about gays the way his father and half the town had started out being toward him. I think it was perfect that his friend WAS gay while Billy was not.

 

I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.

Yeah, what they said. The film was a very good example of why we shouldn't use stereotypes. Yeah the gay friend was quite flamboyant, but his boyfriend at the end was a big burly black man if I remember. So therefore it's still showing individuality regardless of sexuality.

"And point of fact, while Mr. Humphries seemed stereotypically gay, he often lusted after women."

I don't recall anything about women, but if I remember correctly he also lusted after the firemen that once came to the rescue in the dept store.

And re: Billy Elliot. I loved the fact that Billy likes Michael. Also, when Billy's ballet dancing friend (the daughter of his teacher) comes on to him, he makes a run for it. Which I thought was very fitting for a boy his age, but also hilarious (he feels quite alright kissing Michael however). And I always thought the fact that he's dancing in the all male Swan Lake was something the writers put in deliberately to keep us guessing. He could've easily danced a part where he got to dance with girls, if they wanted to shove his heterosexuality in our faces.

Yeah that song's a little schmaltzy, but anyone who doesn't find it at least a little sad needs to check their curmudgeon hat at the door.

FYI that clip is from her early 80's HBO concert taped in London. It's probably the only time you'll ever see Dolly give her audience "the finger".

I think she's aiming it at any curmudgeons in the audience.

Don't trouble yourself Doctor -- I'm a celebrity, I'll write my own prescription.

Well, I don't like to admit this, but I've seen just about every single episode of "Are You Being Served?" (which, no doubt about it, was a stupid, stupid show---but kind of funny too, in an absolutely moronic sort of way). And I don't think there is any possible way that Mr Humphries can be read as anything but gay...

(But really, you don't care for "Everwood"? Wow, our tastes are different; I just finished watching season one of that show last night.  I dislike quite a few of the characters that appear on the show, but I like the show itself....)

I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...

Rule of thumb in interpreting stories and films (at least the good ones) is that if something is left out, it's usually left out for a reason. As Griet gets at, above, Billy Elliot could have easily confirmed Billy's heterosexuality--or his homosexuality-- at the end of the film by having a quick glimpse of a girlfriend or boyfriend. The film offers neither.

It always seemed to me like the point was that the adult Billy could be either, and what does it matter? To me that's a deliberate choice by the filmmakers, and a good one. Some works are maddening because they're coy about whether a character's gay or straight, but I think Billy Elliot does so for legitimate reasons: so the film can be read as potentially both a story about an open-minded straight person not giving in to common cultural stereotypes about what's "straight" and what's "gay," or as a "coming into your own" account of how a gay boy grew up. If you watch the film and leave with either message, that's a pretty good thing.

Actually, there was a same-sex pairing of monkeys on an episode of Popular WAY back when - I forget the specifics but, not to knock Eli Stone, but they won't be getting the GLAAD Monkey Progressive Movement Award :)

While I agree that "Me and Little Andy" is a bad song I also think Dolly knows it (hence the this one is pitiful line). The music is quiet enjoyable but the words are terrible. I also guess you are not or ever were a country music fan because these sad songs are legendary. Having grown up on country music I have to say there are much worse songs of this genre. Look out for anything by Red Sovine. Me and Little Rosa or Comeback Teddy Bear. Those songs are truly horrible in every way. In comparison Little Andy is almost charming.