Twilight of the Golds - Wayuh is Mah Gold?
by Tallulah
Givehead
 Twilight
of the Golds, based on the (very brief Broadway
play of the same name (The play and screenplay were
written by (Jonathan
Tolins), is an "issue" drama about Suzanne (Jennifer
Beals), who learns that her unborn child will be
gay. The film takes an intelligent approach to the
"environment vs. heredity" debate. Something Ah
believe we already know - being gay is as genetic as
eye color!
The "problem" of
being gay is sketchily addressed -- it is even
likened to a disease when Walter (Garry
Marshall, his father, retorts that Fraser
essentially is sick -- but once viewers get over
this hurdle, the film is engrossing often descends
into movie-of-the-week histrionics.
As each member of the
Gold family express their opinion about Suzanne's
decision, they become torn apart by differences. Mom
Phyllis (Faye
Dunaway) is disappointed by the gene test, but
wants to keep the close-knit family together; Walter
(Garry
Marshall, who is excellent) expresses his
outrage, and alienates his supportive gay son David
(Brendan
Fraser). While some of the scenes are a bit
forced -- especially those between David and his
lover Steven (Sean
O'Bryan)Ah mean, c'mon, where's the chemistry?
Nonetheless, director
Ross Kagan Marks' (who, btw, hasn't done a thing
since.) film is compelling.
When Ta puts a l'il
ol' Sothun logic to the movie, it collapses into
meaningless drivel. For instance, if the "gay gene"
was discovered then that would mean gay people
instantly become a "race." Then Pops would not hayuv
called his son "sick," David and Steven would be
allowed to marry, and there'd be automatic rights
which already exist in the Constitution. Thus all
the "debating" in the film should never have
existed!
In the ensuing years,
genetic research has become more precise and, in
fact, they have identified 6 genes that are genetic
markers for homosexuality. While this isn't as
exciting as "this gene = gay" it seems to me we need
to start enforcing the idea we homos are, in fact, a
race of people!
Tallulah Givehead is
a Fabulous drag queen living in Portland, Oregon
(Lord only knows why!) writing reviews of gay film
by day and tearing up the stage by night. You
can read her reviews here as well as at her blog,
QUEER VUE MIRROR.
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