Mar. 29th, 2007

commonpeople1: (Jehovah Witness)
Infamous


A question for all gay boys reading this: do you ever flirt with straight men? If yes, why? If no, why not? I ask because Truman Capote, according to the film Infamous, was a terrible flirt. Despite not being the best looking man in the world--short, funny-looking, squeaky as a mouse and camp as hell--he was a great charmer, unafraid of teasing men with double entendres and seducing women with gossip. The way he talked to guys (at least in the film), without a worry about "outing" himself, made me think of how careful I am when I talk to straight-acting man. I don't know if my reserve is a natural aspect of my personality, or something built in as a defence mechanism (i.e. I won't have to handle homophobia if I don't present myself as gay.) I blame those early years in Brasil, when boys in middle-school called me a faggot (not many times, but it did happen.) Would my daily life be more colourful if I had the guts to tease a good-looking waiter, or share a joke with my office's sexy janitor?

For some men, it's not about being outrageously gay and asking people to take you as you are; it's about mediating your queerness, using your wit together with your sense of sexuality, to present an image of a gay man comfortable in his own skin. It's about using social situations as a form of theatre and reserving your emotions (or the more serious side of your personality) for the most intimate people in your life. I don't know what makes me gay, beyond my attraction to man. Is there anything more? I do sometimes wish I could let go a little, be a bit more spontaneous, a bit more outrageous.

If Truman Capote were a coin, the film Capote would be his head and Infamous his tail. Both films attempt, successfully, to depict the most important time in Truman Capote's life: the creation of his non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. But while Capote contrasts the man's monstrosity with the killers, sticking to a straight-forward view of that period's history, Infamous goes deeper and explores Capote the queer icon, gossip monger and human being. Infamous, filled with famous actors, has a tight script, great performances and plenty of sharp humour. The cinema last night was in stitches; but there were also moments of silence when the film entered its third act and the relationship between Capote and Perry grew. Sandra Bullock, who I never really cared for as an actor, gave us the best performance of her life. And, as [livejournal.com profile] kixie said, it was great to see Sigourney Weaver again in a film that doesn't stink.

Afterwards, we went to a pub inside Waterloo station, where a cactus plant nearly poked [livejournal.com profile] kixie's left eye; and we discovered to our childish amusement that we were both reading Sarah Waters' The Night Watch. With so many LJ friends having read already The Night Watch, it looks like I'll be writing a review very soon. Will be interesting to get a discussion on it going.

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