AE Movie Club: "Tinker, Tailor", Queerest Awards Bids, Vintage Beefcake and More!

Welcome to The AE Movie Club, a semi-regular (like me!) column devoted to all things film, old and new. Every few weeks I'll lay out a dish of cinematic potpourri so sweet and fragrant that it could cover the stink of the latest Transformers movie. (Your move, Michael Bay.)

Recurring features might include reviewlets of movies in theaters not covered by full articles (this round I recap some of the gayest films in awards consideration), topical discussions of specific films or genres (today I ask readers' opinions on the gay subtext of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), new movie posters and trailers, a regular Netflix Instant Queue pick, and the sprightly and informative Limerick Review (this week we tackle Joyful Noise). The Movie Confessional asks readers to spill their darkest cinematic secrets, while Vintage Beefcake speaks for itself. And Quote of the Week tests your knowledge of memorable movie lines.

I genuinely hope that folks find this to be a safe and fun place to gather and gab about all things film. Share your opinions! Make recommendations! Throw popcorn at me! After all, isn't that what movie clubs are all about?

So, without further ado, 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...START!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier ... Gay?

I thought I'd kick off by bringing a topic I've been raising to everyone I meet who has seen the recent redux of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy starring Gary Oldman sporting the biggest glasses since the death of that lady from the Old Navy ads. Most people seem to be utterly confounded by the plot, which is fine - you're really not supposed to follow every letter and should be more focused on soaking in the glorious all-brown '70s decor and fabulously dated wigs and facial merkins. But my concern is a bit queerer: Namely, what exactly was the nature of the relationship behind the central mystery? Spoilers follow, so skip to the next section if you don't want the twist ruined.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy

[BEGIN SPOILERS]

Okay, now that we've gotten rid of them, can we talk about their outfits? No, seriously - I want a show of hands: How many of you thought that Jim (Mark Strong) and Bill (Colin Firth) were lovers? I thought it was pretty clear, as did my dear mother (who saw it independently of me), but I've spoken to others - including gay film critics - who didn't get that impression at all. All I will say is, you don't steal Polaroids of you with another man or cry when you pull the trigger assassinating a mole if there isn't something going on beyond simple camaraderie. And how much torture did Jim endure in order to protect Bill? Anyway, I'd be curious as to how YOU interpreted the relationship - sound off in the comments, but please be courteous re: spoilers!

[END SPOILERS]

Reviewlets: Queerest Awards Contenders

Antonio Banderas and Elena Ayana in The Skin I Live In

Since we're talking about the queerishness of Tinker, I thought I'd recap a few of the other supergay awards contenders. See them all!

The Skin I Live In - Sure, from the poster and trailers, this looks like a decidedly hetero romp, what with Puss in Boots clamoring all over a hot lady in a full-body skin suit and everything. But this is Almodovar, people - and naturally there's gonna be some serious queer themeage, gender role subversion, and slapstick rape (I'm never really prepared for that last one, gotta admit). I can't say too much more without leading into the second half of the film (which is predicated on an interesting twist), but suffice to say that this mad doctor melodrama is sci-fi done thoroughly Pedro.