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Stop! That! Train!

Coming out of the same studio that gave us RuPaul's Drag Race, and stacked with a whole crew of former contestants, Stop! That! Train! plays like RuPaul basically taking a bow for the entire franchise she's built. It's not really a gay film in the traditional sense, but with so many drag stars from Ru's shows popping up alongside a few cameos from well known out gay actors, I figured it earns a spot on this blog anyway. The whole thing is completely over the top, packed with GenZ slang, loud flashy visuals, and humor that's constantly winking at you knowing how ridiculous it is. Going in you'd assume it's meant to be a laugh riot, and a lot of critics online seem to be eating it up, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I've never really been someone who vibes with campy silly stuff like this, so honestly my reaction doesn't surprise me one bit. The setup follows Tess and DeeDee, two low level stewardesses who sneak onto the fancy Glamazonian E...

Finding North

Its been a while since I saw a decent gay film. It wasn't great by any shakes but it struck a chord with me (if we forget the annoying Rhonda in the film). It made me want to have a family with my boyfriend. 

When a passing bank-teller Rhonda sees Travis, a heartbroken guy ready to jump off the Brooklyn bridge, she gets obsessed with him thinking she realizes the pain he is going through because she herself is suffering because of her parents and starts stalking him. It includes following him to his house uninvited, raking through his belongings and eventually following him all the way to Texas. Travis on the other hand, we realize is just getting over the fact that his boyfriend of 10 years has just died of Aids. He receives a tape from Bobby wanting him to travel to Texas to see where Bobby grew up, things that he did and fulfill his wishes. Rhonda stalks him thinking he is cute and wanting him but soon realizes that he is gay and is here to fulfill Bobby's wishes. They have their arguments and fights but Rhonda wants to help her and so does Travis because he knows he cannot do it alone. I a series of tapes Bobby wants Travis to do certain things which includes visiting his Aunt and telling all the truth about him and Travis to her in person. It wont be easy but he wants no more secrets. Finally he reaches Bobby's grave, buries certain things there that he wanted Travis to. Rhonda helps him in all this and in the process realizes what she is doing wrong in life and how she needs to move out of her parents and start her own life. 

The film touched me particularly because it so very deeply touched upon the fact what a person goes through when you life partner dies, in this case of gays. The days when the film was made, the gay partners were not allowed in funerals and barred from any ceremonies and clearly not given any legal recognition of widow or something. Travis played his role very convincingly. But Rhonda, tell me tell you was annoying to the core. I would shoot her is she would stalk me. Enjoy the film and feel the pleasure of being in love. (6.5/10)

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