15 Best LGBT Characters of '15
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 9:06PM 
We promised a grand total of 15 "Best of "2015" Lists (apart from the awards -- yeah, we're overplanning crazy) so here's the second to last. Diversity is the hot topic of the week and regardless of any one particularity (like an Oscar nominee list) thing are getting better on television (obviously) and at the movies, too, though you have to look a little bit harder. Still, if you go to a lot of movies and attempt to draw up lists like this you'll find you're spoilt for choice. There are so many more films these days directed by women, for gay audiences, for people of the color and the like. You just have to look beyond Big Hollywood and keep your eyes open for intriguing surprises if you do regularly hit the all wide releases multiplex.
Since 15 is a finite number (damn you math) not every film with an LGBT character can make the list. Some I didn't see only because you can't see everything (Legend, Duke of Burgundy, Cut Snake, Eastern Boys) and some just didn't make this particular list (Tom at the Farm, Saint Laurent, Gerontophilia, Ricki and the Flash, Mr Holmes, The New Girlfriend, Boulevard, Stonewall, Match, and The Danish Girl) though that shouldn't reflect on the film itself because that group has everything from terrible to great movies within it. The most high profile miss is Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmaybe) but that's mostly because The Danish Girl needed to be queerer and because there are several women that were far more fetching on this list.
Without further ado...
15 Best LGBT Characters of The Movies of '15
from Nasty Baby through Star Wars (???) and on up to Carol
15 Freddy (Sebastián Silva) in Nasty Baby
Silva, one of Chile's best known filmmakers, doesn't usually star in his own movies, but this time out he gifts himself the lead role. Freddy, an artist working haphazardly on a new project involving adults pretending to be babies, desperately wants to be a dad and is continually trying to make it happen between his boyfriend (Tunde Adebimpe from Rachel Getting Married) and his best friend (Kristen Wiig). Silva's a fluid filmmaker when it comes to gender, ethnicity, and genre and Nasty Baby is a fluid movie, freely hopping from genre to genre without much warning: drama, comedy, character study, art world satire, and even thriller. (Bonus points for the cat-loving.)
14 Nick (Scott Mescudi) in James White
Rapper Kid Cudi has complained that his kissing scenes were cut from the movie, another reminder that we've come a long way (mostly) from the days that actors tripped over themselves to talk about their bravery in playing gay while constantly drawing attention to their own straightness. Even without the kissing there's enough visual cues to Nick's sexuality, including who he picks up when he and his best bro James White are on the prowl at the clubs to raise eyebrows. The eyebrow isn't because gay is shocking but because we so rarely see it portrayed this nonchalantly when it has no bearing whatsoever on the plot. Nick's gayness is just part of the texture of the characters and the world that James White lives in and hangs on to like a lifeline as his mother lays dying.
10 HOT MESS FOURPLE
Shirin & Maxine (Desiree Akhavan & Rebecca Henderson) in Appropriate Behavior
and Donato and Konrad (Wagner Moura & Clemens Schick) in Futuro Beach
One of my all time favorite movies is Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) but if anyone makes a movie called Shirin & Maxine & Donato & Konrad I'm running for the hills. I'm not sure it'd be watchable from the cringey recognition without the half/mocking half/earnest "Oh, insight!" escapism. Appropriate Behavior, a very funny bisexual Iranian American romcom, is instantly endearing if you can get past Shirin's internalized homophobia (her "no homo" joking is funny until you realize it isn't solely a punchline). Futuro Beach is less instantly endearing and not at all funny but many months later I remember it far more clearly than most other films from 2015. Both films feature richly authentic, superly executed portraits of messy LGBT romances wherein the couple is clearly doomed in the long term but throw in together anyway, because... that's the way love (sometimes) goes. Good films, great characterizations, but so much discomfort from truth-telling!
when studio promo photos had hilarious hidden messages
09 Tab Hunter (Tab Hunter) in Tab Hunter: Confidential
As a known Natalie Wood nut I will see or read anything about her. Documentaries on Old Hollywood rarely lack for good gossip and entertainment and this one is no exception. It's well know that Natalie was quite popular in gay Hollywood circles. In Tab Hunter Confidential we're reminded that she and Tab (a frequent co-star) were good friends off camera and she'd happily beard him for the public after which they'd conspire to ditch each other and meet up with their real dates... Tony Perkins usually for him. The film's most fascinating section details the on and off romance between Hollywood's squarest blonde jock hunk (Tab) and one of its most promising post Brando brooders t(Tony). The documentary even has the balls (All American Boy Next Door balls of course) to side eye current movie hunks and the movie closet.
08 Oliver Lawless (James Marsden) in The D Train
The D Train, which caused a mini-stir at Sundance a year ago but didn't catch on when it was released dropping like a stone, is worth checking out just from a sheer curiosity factor. Be honest: How many movies have you seen about a washed up but still über hot bisexual actor who sleeps with an emotionally needy straight friend who has a major crush on him? It's not a perfect movie but it's a bullseye in the casting department because it gets that sexual charisma isn't strictly gay or straight and that crushes on people like, well, James Marsden freely defy such reductive hormones... I mean, who wouldn't?
07 YOUR CHOICE ... PICK A STEALTH QUEER
Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
or Lene Winter (Nina Kunzendorf) in Phoenix
If you've never seen the documentary The Celluloid Closet you must. It gives a good history on coding within movies -- ways filmmakers and actors used to reveal gayness back when they couldn't portray it. We still see this today, albeit infrequently, and sometimes off-canon if an actor is feeling frisky. Oscar Isaac has been toying with Star Wars fan emotions, playing Poe Dameron with a knowing wink (and lip bite) and playing up fan investment in his galactic mancrush on Finn (John Boyega, who sadly doesn't return the favor). Is the Empire's bravest fighter pilot really gay? Probably not (this is Disney and Star Wars after all) but it's fun to see an actor push the boundaries like that as if he's daring a billion dollar franchise to Get Queer / Get Used To It. When I was thinking about which movie characters could be "read" as gay, from either performance or script choices, Jose opened my eyes to another noting Lene Winter's despair that her best friend Nelly (Nina Hoss) can't let the man who betrayed her go in the Holocaust drama Phoenix -- "She's obviously in love with Nina Hoss (just a reading though)". Now that he's pointed it out, I can't not see it. And Lene is more haunting than even before.
Do you think of these two characters as gay?
05 [PAIR] Sin-Dee & Alexandra (Kitana 'Kiki' Rodriguez & Mya Taylor) in Tangerine
True friendship means you'll share your very last donut and you'll even forgive her for "sharing" your man. These girls are so tight they'll even take a wig off their own head for the other if things go truly south. I'll never forget these two and this movie may be both 2015's most surprising gem and even its most loveable movie despite all the crass shouting, drug snorting, arm yanking, and power walking.
03 [PAIR] Carol Aird & Therese Belivet (Cate Blanchett & Rooney Mara) in Carol
What strange girls they are... flung out of space and into each others arms. Blanchett and Mara reinvented coded flirting for the movies and future actors are really going to have to step up their game if they hope to equal their fire in future high-stakes emotional courtship. This double act is perfection.
02 Abby (Sarah Paulson) in Carol
Matthew Eng wrote a glorious ode to Paulson's sublime performance which you should absolutely read if you haven't. She renders queer friendship and Abby's particular (off screen) story with such precision in her scenes which are entirely about another woman (her former lover Carol Aird) that you feel you've already seen her movie. Not that you wouldn't want to revisit it to be sure. Paulson's gift at quick character portraits is so strong that it's easy to imagine an entire sequel in which we follow Abby's pursuit of that "fiery redhead", the juicy hints she dropped in the diner were better than any freaking movie trailer we saw last year; where can we get a ticket to that movie and how soon?
01 Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) in Grandma
What joy to see one of the great stars of the our lifetime get a role this big and this sculpted to her unique gifts in her mid 70s! This sharp-tongued lesbian poet, trying to guide her dim granddaughter through a difficult patch, while working through some of her own anti-social issues in the process, is a wonder. Bless Paul Weitz for giving her such a vehicle to drive around for a Lily-loving 79 minutes.
Reader Comments (30)
Having recently watched Phoenix, Lene did not strike me as gay; I instead saw a friend with an intimate - almost motherly - concern for her friend. That's an interesting interpretation though.
I was so scared seeing Redmayne headline this but Christ this is a beautiful list. Giving Abby number two and Elle the top prize is such a lovely thing this is just a lovely lovely list and now I'm going to find all these movies.
And I love the shout-out to the ambiguous " can be read as queer and more impactful if they are" characters. God bless Oscar Isaac for driving that forward and now Phoenix is even higher on my list than it was.
Your number 1 choice is perfect!!
It didn't occur to me that Lene was gay either, but now I kind of want to rewatch Phoenix to see if I pick up on it.
I cld u/stand y Tomlin was shut out of Oscar, BAFTA & SAG........but why was she not nom at Indie Spirits??? When I 1st saw the trailer, I so expected to Grandma pick up a few noms & Tomlin sparring off w Larson for the win.
It wld have been good too if Indie had recognized Paulson in best supp since they alr pushed Mara up to Lead
Good, no stupid Eddie Redmayne. He's an insufferable wanker.
What?! No love for 'Stonewall'? This is outrageous.
Just Joking :)
Kid Cudi's performance in James White is an inspired choice. I saw the film and couldn't believe my eyes that I was seeing a rapper play a gay man on film. I started to wonder if I was reading too much into things. What a small but stellar little part.
Wish I had known Kid Cudi went gay for James White during the initial fuss for the movie. His image plastered above is everything.
Love that you are appreciative of 'Tab Hunter: Confidential'. I saw it at SIFF (Seattle) with the man himself at the QA! Such an interesting slice of history, and he is still so charismatic.
I actually hissed during 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' "kiss...." when Poe and Finn met up again, even if Boyega wasn't playing it that way it was enough to get across.
I haven't seen any of the other list entries other than 'Carol' and 'Tangerine', so I guess I have some good additions to my viewing list.
Oscar Isaac is definitely playing it as something. Nobody bites their lip when complimenting another man for wearing their clothes well.
In defense of John Boyega, I think he's just being totally honest -- his character is clearly written as someone who develops a huge crush on Rey, and I think any more speculation or teasing could have very quickly become queer-baiting. Like many ppl have pointed out, homoerotic friendship in adventure movies aren't a new thing, and it's not wrong for him to deflect that if he knows that this won't actually happen for the millionith time
I got real nervous when I saw that headline and then that deceptive lead image, but this is such a great list!
I recently met an elderly lesbian whose partner of decades passed away in November. She said, "I don't know what it is—if I'm torturing myself or what—but I've seen Carol by myself at least a dozen times. I can't stop. I'm retired, so every day I wake up and think about going to see Carol again."
I know it's a tidy little anecdote (I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing because it was SO on-the-nose) but it said so much to me about the importance of bringing these untold stories to audiences. I can talk all day about why I'm living for Carol but there are people who encounter movies really, desperately needing to see themselves.
It's a film that pretty much stayed under the radar this year. But I enjoyed Courtenay Cox's directorial debut "Just Before I Go". Evan Ross played a wise and gutsy gay high-schooler and did a great job. Ditto Diane Ladd as a lesbian Elvis impersonator (whose girlfriend was Connie Stevens, no less).
I totally read Lene as a lesbian, but The Celluloid Closet is part of my DNA by now.
lovely list but where oh where are the FREEHELD gals?
timmyt -- i'm afraid i totally forgot about them. oops. that movie just struggled to come alive onscreen.
ken -- this movie sounds insane but this is the first i'm hearing about it.
"She's obviously in love with Nina Hoss." oh WHO wouldn't Nat? Nina Hoss is everything. Her guest work on Homeland alone is exceptional.
Isaac is Messala and Boyega is Ben-Hur.
Who would've thought that many of 2015's multidimensional and absorbing characters of color would also be LGBTQ? We didn't have such rich and exciting portrayals a decade ago (not even five years ago). Too bad Oscar wasn't paying attention. Another recommendation: Julian Walker as Randy Rousseau in Blackbird. So refreshing to see a Black teen not presented as a stereotypical punchline or cultural punching bag. And Isaiah Washington delivered one of the year's best performances as his emotionally tuned-in, supportive father.
So... Do Jack Black and James Marsden make love in "The D-Train?"
I loved Diggy, in the movie Dope! She was a lesbian, right?
Awesome list!!!
Potter -- oh right. Yes. that was a good one too.
Lizzy -- i'm not sure if i'd call it "making love" lol.
Love the love for Abby. Sarah Paulson is so good, as usual. I also love that Carol/Therese are paired-as they should be.
I did get a vibe from Lene at first. Then I thought she was more like family. Best friend pining perhaps? Kinda like Abby. I can completely understand anyone pining for Nina.
Hayden, that story was touching and poignant. I understand-Carol means a lot to a lot of us (not all ,before I get the obligatory I'm gay and I didn't like it comment).
The new "Star Wars" is so inclusive I wish they would make the dashing Poe Dameron gay (well at least bi) I thought there was a bit of homoerotic subtext in Isaac's relationship with Caleb in "Ex Machina" .
I also read Lene Winter as gay even though she is referred to as Mrs. by the housekeeper. Given the time and place, she probably made her peace with not having a romantic partner. But once her hope of living with Nelly in Israel was dashed, she couldn't go on. Nelly, on the other hand, was kind of oblivious to her friend's devotion, love, and suffering.
What a great description of Abby. There is so damn much in that performance.
LOVE that anecdote, Hayden. And at the end of the day, isn't that why lists like this matter? It's so powerful to see your own story (or one approximating it) on the big screen.
"How many movies have you seen about a washed up but still über hot bisexual actor who sleeps with an emotionally needy straight friend who has a major crush on him?"
And since it's James Marsden, I overcame my Jack Black aversion and just watched The D Train. It's not a perfect movie, as Nathaniel says, and JB is one of the Kings of Cringe (in every way), but it's not bad and would make a killer double bill with Young Adult.
Please be gay Poe !!!