Queer Cinema: 2002 – BALD JASON'S GAY GOTH BOY BLOG

October 22, 2026

The Trip (2002)

“The Trip” is a 2002 American romantic drama film directed by Miles Swain, which follows the love affair between a young gay rights activist and an initially closeted conservative. Openly gay actor Larry Sullivan plays the conservative, Alan Oakley, while Steve Braun plays the proud Tommy Ballenger. The film features trans actress Alexis Arquette, former Bond Girl, Jill St. John and a groovy soundtrack (featuring America, T Rex, Missing Persons, Ready for the World, Pointer Sisters and Bruce Springsteen), but unfortunately the tone of the film is extremely uneven; it just doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. Tellingly, the film’s score (which is occasionally effective) contradicts what is happening on screen several times, which is jarring. Also, there are some really horrific wigs.

When I’m watching the movie, I enjoy most of it, but it’s always a bit frustrating. Having said that, I’ve now seen the movie 4 times so there must be something there. I initially watched it when it was a new release at the video store where I worked (between 2002 & 2008). In late 2011 or early 2012 I found myself haunted by something I remembered of the film and I rewatched it. Then I watched it again on March 28, 2020 – again, during the NYC Covid-19 lockdowns. It was the second queer film I watched during that time and then I watched over 800 more. But I didn’t write anything up about it then. So here I am again in October of 2026. Maybe that means I’ll watch it again in a few years?

The movie covers a span of about 11 years, between 1973 & 1984, which isn’t wholly believable, but is often fun, and then brutally horrifying, before a tacked on happy-ish ending, that doesn’t feel like it belongs with what came just before. If it sounds like I hate this movie, that’s not accurate. This is very close to being something good, or at least something better, but it’s not. And that’s a shame, because there’s a lot of potential here. And maybe that’s why I keep revisiting it.

Also, despite the movie only featuring the song for maybe 30 seconds, I can’t here the song “A Horse with No Name” by America, without thinking of this movie.

April 11, 2024August 25, 2026

The Slaughter Rule (2002)

2024 Entry #34 04-11-24 “The Slaughter Rule” is a 2002 American coming of age sports film written and directed by brothers Alex Smith and Andrew J. Smith. The Montanna set story mainly explores the relationship between straight small-town high school football player Roy Chutney (Ryan Gosling), and his troubled coach (David Morse), a seemingly queer character with layers of complexity, who has been both inspired and nearly destroyed by the harsh reality depicted within the confines of the film.

Another one I’ve owned for over 20 years, but which I’d never seen until today. This is not an easy film to watch at times. And it could be argued that it’s not a queer film at all, but I think that’s too simple a conclusion. It can be frustrating how much is or is not said in this film, and while it was praised for several aspects, the script was often criticized. It’s a bleak existence, this one, and if this were all the representation we had in the world, this would be more of a problem than it is. Still, this isn’t the happy-go-lucky flick most of you seem to be looking for and it’s definitely not romantic.

January 30, 2022August 25, 2026

The Badge (2002)

2022 Entry #014 01-30-22 “The Badge” is a 2002 mystery-thriller film which was written and directed by Robby Henson. The film stars Billy Bob Thornton (“Tombstone”, “Sling Blade”, & Ellen’s historic “The Puppy Episode”) & Patricia Arquette, with Jenna Malone (“Life as a House”, “American Girl”, “Saved!”) & Thomas Haden Church (“Easy A”).

The story follows Thornton’s homophobic Louisiana sheriff Darl Hardwick, as he hesitantly investigates the murder of a pre-op trans woman named Mona, at the behest of the victim’s wife Scarlett (Arquette). As Hardwick struggles to find justice for Mona, he is forced to face much of his own prejudice and make amends with his gay brother David (Church).

I bought this movie when it was relatively new, but I put off watching it. I knew that the film dealt with the death of a trans woman, and while I’ve always been interested in seeing LGBTQ lives depicted, I wasn’t sure this would be worth it. This changed over the years as Alexis Arquette, Patricia’s sister, came out as a trans woman, and I figured she wouldn’t appear in anything that would be too offensive. And while there were times that I strongly disliked the characters in the film and I can’t say that it’s a great movie, it wasn’t the horrible nightmare of transphobic bullshit that I had originally feared. I can’t give it a solid recommendation, but I also don’t regret watching it.