This Easter, enjoy the story of a man turned on by church…
Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.Movies often have bumpy journeys to the screen, especially when dealing with sexual subject matter.
Today’s case in point: Mapplethorpe, the 2018 biopic of the titular artist, a man that specialized in homoerotic visuals. The film, directed by Ondi Timoner, underwent key edits after disputes arose between the director and producers.
Ultimately, the movie played the festival circuit before disappearing into a lukewarm reception.Flash forward to 2021, and Timoner finally had the opportunity to release her cut of the film.
In short, it’s much better. Matt Smith plays Robert Mapplethorpe, the ultra-ambitious, egotistical, and temperamental photographer.
