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Stop! That! Train!

By Golu
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...
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The Scandalous Four (UK)

By Golu
This film is an ambitious costume drama with a very interesting storyline at its hand. Sadly, the low budget is very evident and for some reason, it takes away the fun because of it. I can totally see stuff like this happening in olden times when, just a. Whiff of homosexuality could land you in all kinds of troubles. Once you look past the budget, this film is actually not at all bad.

Penelope is learning piano and has a crush of sorts on her teacher, but she doesn't control her destiny. She is married off, by her parents, to a shy and introverted Jonathan. They move into his family’s empty estate where not a great deal happens because of Jonathan’s hatred of social occasions and he generally prefers quiet life. The duo haven't even consummated their marriage and day by day Penelope's frustration grows. To her shock, one day when Penelope discovers that her new husband is having an affair with George the Butler, she finally understands Jonathan’s reclusive personality. George used to be Penelope's family butler and has an idea of her liking the piano teacher. So when this gay affair secret is revealed, he hires Penelope’s ex-piano teacher, Richard, as the gardener. Richard and Penelope begin their own affair. When Jonathan discovers this, initially he is extremely mad but Penelope makes him realize that this could be good for all of them. Now the four form an interesting camaraderie when they are alone but have to keep up appearances for the society. We see certain events when the truth might get public, maybe due to the maids or Penelope's parents but eventually true love prevails. How long will these people able top keep up their secret?

The premise is interesting. We have seen a few films about marriage of convenience but this takes one step further. Promiscuity and homosexuality aren’t often tackled in costume dramas and it was curious to watch these characters unfold within that historical setting. Having said that, the screenplay lacks once the secret is out and it feels that the makers did not know what to do. Once all four of then are out in open, including their maids knowing about it, besides a minor drama involving with a priest and Penelope's pious mother, there is not much drama. But these conflicts are clumsily sewn up and disposed of without any visible scars on the people they’re meant to be affecting. Some of the resolutions are almost laughable example how George brings Penelope back to health when she gets really sick. Despite all these flaws, I somehow enjoyed the film. It being not very complicated added to its charm in some way. The acting by all principal characters is good, but I was just struggling on how much low budget film this was.  The setting is meant to be opulent and we are meant to be greeted with cinematic grandeur, not a weak imitation. For this genre, anything less than professional just looks dirty. This is one of those films where you think, it is silly, what were they thinking, but you also have the most fun watching it. (6/10)
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