Movies About Reading

From Jennie Livingston, starring Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey, Paris Duprée
Rated R

Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. The film explores the New York City ball culture of the 1980s and the African-American and Latino queer and transgender communities involved in it. Through interviews with members of the community, the documentary examines their identity, lifestyle, and the ways they are discriminated against and stigmatized by mainstream society. The film also focuses on the themes of family, sexuality, voguing, and resilience in the face of social and economic hardship. Paris Is Burning was critically acclaimed upon its release, and is considered an important work in LGBT cinema and drag culture.

From Jean-Marc Vallée, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn
Rated R

Dallas Buyers Club is a 2013 American biographical drama film written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as real-life Texan Ron Woodroof, an electrician and rodeo cowboy diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1986 and given only thirty days to live. He smuggles unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas for himself and other HIV-positive patients, and eventually establishes the "Dallas Buyers Club" which provides the medications to its members at a cost significantly below what is available through the pharmaceutical companies. The film also stars Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto as his business partner and fellow AIDS patient, Dr. Eve Saks. The film is based on the true story of Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment, pharmaceutical companies, and the U.S. government.

From Bob Fosse, starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Joel Grey
Rated PG

Cabaret is a 1972 American musical drama film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Joel Grey. Set in 1931 Berlin, during the Weimar Republic, Cabaret follows the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the young English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American author Cliff Bradshaw. The film is a richly-detailed, poignant exploration of life in a time when sexual liberation, political freedom, and artistic expression flourished but was overshadowed by the looming specter of Nazi Germany. Through Sally's eyes, the audience is exposed to a world of excess and decadence, of love and longing; a world that is ultimately doomed as the Nazis move into power. As Sally's story unfolds, the audience is taken on an emotional journey of discovery, tragedy, and hope.

From John Cameron Mitchell, starring John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask, Theodore Liscinski
Rated R

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 musical comedy film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell and starring Mitchell as the title character, a genderqueer East German singer. The plot follows a botched sex-change operation that leaves Hedwig with an "angry inch" of flesh between her legs and follows her as she embarks on a musical career in the United States. Along the way, she faces numerous obstacles in the form of relationships, personal conflicts, and music industry politics. Despite the odds, Hedwig attempts to find her true identity and love, ultimately learning to accept herself and becoming whole.

From Blake Edwards, starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren
Rated PG

Victor/Victoria is a 1982 comedy-musical directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews and James Garner. It follows a struggling soprano, Victoria Grant (Andrews), who masquerades as a male female impersonator, "Count Victor Grazinski", to land a job in 1930s Paris. She quickly rises to fame and fortune as the audience adores her performances as a drag artist and she finds love with a rich playboy, King Marchand (Garner). Meanwhile, she must dodge the advances of a suave police inspector, who is convinced she is a man. With the help of a streetwise sidekick, Toddy (Robert Preston), and a kindhearted gangster, Squash (Alex Karras), Victoria must remain in disguise and battle off her suitors in order to keep her secret.

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is a 2004 drama-thriller film written and directed by Gregg Araki. It tells the story of two pre-adolescent boys who are sexually abused by their Little League coach. The boys, Neil and Brian, are both left with different psychological scars from their experiences. Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is convinced that he was abducted by aliens, while Brian (Brady Corbet) leads a life of promiscuity and violence, determined to repress the memories of his abuse. Eight years later, the two boys meet and each is forced to confront his past and face the truth of what happened to them.

From Stephan Elliott, starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, Rebel Penfold-Russell
Rated R

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is an Australian comedy-drama film released in 1994. Directed by Stephan Elliott and starring Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, and Guy Pearce, the film tells the story of three drag queens travelling across the Australian desert to perform a show in the remote town of Alice Springs. Along the way, they encounter various eccentric characters and learn to accept themselves and each other. With plenty of music and humor, the film is a celebration of diversity and acceptance.

From Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Rated R

A Single Man is a 2009 drama film directed by Tom Ford, based on the Christopher Isherwood novel of the same name. The film stars Colin Firth as George Falconer, an English professor living in Los Angeles in 1962 who is struggling to find meaning in his life after the death of his long-time partner, Jim. Over the course of the film, George attempts to find solace through his relationships with his best friend Charley, a student of his named Kenny, and his neighbor Carlos, as he also deals with his own inner turmoil and impending loneliness. Ultimately, George finds peace within himself at the end of the film, and is able to move on with his life while honoring the memory of Jim.

From Jim Sharman, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien
Rated R

From Mike Nichols, starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest
Rated R

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson
Rated PG

From Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, starring RuPaul, Tammy Faye Bakker, Virginia Fairchild, Johnny Grover
Rated PG-13

From Julian Jarrold, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton, Sarah-Jane Potts, Jemima Rooper
Rated PG-13

From Tom Hooper, starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw
Rated R

From Larry Clark, starring Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, Sarah Henderson
Rated Not Rated

From John Waters, starring Sonny Bono, Ruth Brown, Divine, Debbie Harry
Rated PG

From Billy Corben, starring Lisa Michelle Axelrod, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Moby
Rated Not Rated

From Beeban Kidron, starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing
Rated PG-13

From Frank Perry, starring Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Steve Forrest, Howard Da Silva
Rated R

From Gregg Araki, starring James Duval, Roko Belic, Susan Behshid, Jenee Gill
Rated Unrated

From John Cameron Mitchell, starring Sook-Yin Lee, Peter Stickles, PJ DeBoy, Paul Dawson
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, starring Macaulay Culkin, Wilson Cruz, Seth Green, Diana Scarwid
Rated R

From John Waters, starring Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole
Rated NC-17

From Gregg Araki, starring James Duval, Rose McGowan, Johnathon Schaech, Cress Williams
Rated R

From Gregg Araki, starring Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Chris Zylka, Roxane Mesquida
Rated Not Rated