Posted by TheMojoPin at 208.1.219.2 on September 21, 2001 at 10:00:19:
I'm probably retreading territory here, but I was watching "Amy" last night with a friend seeing it for the first time, and when it was done she brought up something I hadn't thought of before...I know there was some criticism that Joey's character was really just an idealized hetero male's view of a "lipstick lesbian," but I think Kevin managed to pull off creating someone much deeper, whether he meant it or not.
She's not gay.
She's not straight.
She's just sexual.
That's it. Everyone here knows this, I'm sure, but it was always flying right past me as I was thinking I was just watching a film about that "lesbian chick." I guess that since she shows up a lesbian, and apparently leaves the film one, I was stuck on the idea that "oh, she MUST be playing for the other team, and that's it." I've always loved the film, but have always had trouble wrapping my head around the idea that this apparently "devoted" lesbian just leaps into bed with Holden because he looks like Ben Affleck. It always just seemed like it was just Banky's shallow, insulting "deep dicking" argument manifesting itself. But now, NOW, I guess I get it...which really knocks the movie up a few notches on my favorite films list. Instead of hurling barbs at Kevin for creating a shallow, Penthouse Letters lesbian, he should be PRAISED for attempting to NOT label her. To make a completely unique, and unidentifiable person, which, when you get down to it, we all are. Too many TV shows, films, and books these days are classified as "gay" or "straight." Here we have a film that despite what one may readily see on the surface, is NOT defined by the characters' sexuality. The opposite is true, and it's very refreshing. Sure, Kevin may be knocked for being a straight guy trying to tell a lesbian's story, but to me, and for my friend, he actually got it right by NOT making it a straight guy telling a lesbian's story. If that makes any sense at all. Like I said, this has probably been discussed here a zillion times already, but like the weird, smelly kid who's mom dresses him every morning, I'm just catching up, and wanted to share my ramblings...
Oh yeah, and a "thanks" to Kevin for making a film that just yet again kicked my brain in the ass then wedgied it while it was down. Always a good feeling...
-TMP