[Movies] Ice Blues (2008)

For one reason or another, I find myself making time to watch LGBT comedies more than any other genre. While there's a whole host of other LGBT-themed movies (especially sad relationship dramas and such) I guess my tolerance for how such stories are handled lead me back to comedy. I guess it just feels better somehow since a lot of the drama stuff seems overly, well, dramatic - for lack of a better term.

But this series has gotten me reconsidering my stance for the gay mystery movie - a fun amalgamation of old gumshoe detective stories with that of the plucky female detective I suppose. Except Donald here isn't all that plucky.

But he is gay.

What I like most about this series is how there are so many different kinds of gay people that they try to represent. The protagonist is rather butch, but clearly in love with his partner. His partner is more delicate while his assistant at work is a bit more of a queen. And of course their clients make up the rest of the spectrum, thus presenting more angles from which to experience the story.

[Movies] Shock to the System (2006)

My continuing efforts to address a long overdue blog review has turned into quite an enjoyable movie watching spree. I suppose that's a testament to the original books that brought the character of gay detective Donald Strachey that has really helped things along for me. And after watching the first movie, Third Man Out, I was more than eager to dive into the next one.

Beyond the writing, actor Chad Allen has also proven himself to be quite the decent actor - or even more than that. His portrayal of Donald Strachey really helps stress how the fact that the character is gay isn't necessarily central to the plot. Instead, he's just another detective who just happens to have a loving husband / partner to come home to and who is more open to handling queer-related crimes.

I enjoyed this movie and the fact that they decided to maintain some semblance of continuity between the sequels. That really helps with longer-term character development and it's the sort of thing that really makes a series of movies feel like a more coherent franchise.

[Movies] Third Man Out (2005)

Over two years ago, I received a review copy of On the Other Hand, Death: A Donald Strachey Mystery as part of the marketing efforts around the DVD release of the movie. However, early 2009 was a rather turbulent time for me personally and I never got around to watching the movie nor writing anything about it.

Recently I came across the DVD and decided to finally get around to watching it. However the movie is a part of a series of movies, and thus it only seemed proper to watch all of them and not just the DVD that had been sent to me. Thus this is the first of series of review posts dedicated to the Donald Strachey mystery movies and I do hope you enjoy the little adventure of watching all four movies, even if only through these reviews.

And what is it with gay mysteries as a book and movie genre? Does this tape the same area of our cultural awareness that make home brew gumshoe stories such a hit with the ladies as well? Or is a love for mysteries a universal concept that transcends gender definitions if only because people generally appreciate the investigative process and how it eventually unfolds to reveal the culprit at the heart of things?

It's certainly something to ponder.