Queridos, Holy Homosexuals Lats-man, this is a queer and Latinx must see movie musical. It isn’t a secret that I absolutely love and obsess about everything Jennifer Lopez. Like, duh she’s my fav. But this isn’t just that. The film was everything that I hoped for as a gay brown man and more.
She’s fucking mesmerizing, hypnotic, and delicious in every single movement of the movie. The hair, make up and dresses -A-MAZ-ING! The dancing – glorious. The story, well being a simple guy myself, I hadn’t read the book, seen the play, nor watched the older version of the movie. I didn’t know what to expect and it exceeded every hope and dream I had for the film.
Again, uberlicious JLo fan here and I am also a Mexican American. So, what I’m about to say feels a bit blasphemous. I think the “Kiss of the Spider Woman” is now my new favorite JLo movie. It’s so hard to put the movie, “Selena” in second place because Selena meant and still means so much to the Latino community (including me). She’s a Queen all her own and may she reign forever, but this movie was that good. It’s just as great as “Selena”.
Okay, it doesn’t feel right for my Mexican American happy homo self to say “Selena” isn’t my favorite JLo movie. It feels wrong and too foreign of a thought. And who am I, Latino traitor Ted Cruz? Fuck no, I don’t betray my brown people, or the beauty that is our culture, and our people. Perhaps I just have two favorite JLo movies and both can be my #1 pick. Fine, Internal Conflict- it’s a tie.
Since I’ve worked out that conundrum through typing this blog, I want to say that JLo deserves her flowers for this film. And so many of them. BUTTTTT – also so do her costars. They were soooo fucking good, I cried. Yes, I cried like a little bitch because it was a beautiful story told in a beautiful and visually stunning way. A story that mattered to me. I don’t know if I would have cried as much if there were not so many similarities with regards to the abuse of power against brown and queer people like we are experiencing today.
Diego Luna- so fucking good. Tonatiuh- took my breath away and the entire cast replaced it with hope. Looksie, we are in some fucked up times right now. This musical was written about fucked up political times.
“The film is not a direct account of a single true story but is inspired by the real-life experiences of political prisoners and the brutality of dictatorships in Latin America.”
Based in Argentina, the similarities with our current American dictatorship/regime are real. They are disappearing brown people and imprisoning innocent people across our country. They are attacking students that protest, attacking our freedom of speech, attacking trans and queer rights, attacking women’s rights, and using violence against innocent people. This movie and the timeliness of it feel like a gift from the universe, maybe even God (if you believe- and I do).
Why would I take such a leap? Because I left there with hope in my Mexican American heart and a better understanding that evil may win some battles, but it doesn’t win the war. We can’t give up. It also shows the raw humanity that is all of us(a) that come together and stand up united against the evil of tyranny.
Love that is shared between two people can be life changing and its love that should be our motivating factor. Love for ourselves, but even more than that- love for each other, and love for freedom and equality.
Tonatiuh (Molina) uses Jennifer Lopez’s character (La Luna) to escape a dismal prison reality,
“You’ve got to learn how not to be
Where you are
The more you face reality, the more you scar
So close your eyes and you’ll become a movie star
Why must you stay where you are?”
Reflecting, I think this is why I love J to the Lo so much. I’ve gone through some tough times in my life and she’s where I go to for reprieve. Racism, bigotry and religious oppression have plagued different facets of my brown queer existence. Although, I’ve never let them destroy me- they have hurt me. But I’ve been escaping with Jennifer through her various art forms since “Selena” and have found healing in it and in her.
“Come up here, play with me, play with me!”
Gurrrl, I’ve been using my imagination, her movies and music to escape poverty, sadness, depression, and hard times forever! That’s the beauty of film. We get to escape for a moment. Here we get to escape for 2 wonderful hours. We get to leave our own reality, our American woes and daily violence that the fat orange piece of shit has plagued America with.
Yes, Jennifer I’ll play with you and super fan gay out with you all the days of my life. And oh my gosh, to see queer stories up on that big screen makes me so happy. I hope you all go see it, because if we don’t support queer/brown/minority stories that bring us(a) hope- we do a disservice to future generations to come. Don’t lose your hope and if you do…go get refilled by this movie.
I also hope you get the same message I did from this film- QUEER people can be the hero/shero/theyro of the mother fuckin story. YOU can be the American…. Latino -American…. Queer hero that we need to win this war against evil, the oligarchy, racism, and bigotry. Love can unite us(a) and love does in fact conquer all.
I look forward to justice being served to our oppressors. I pray for it! “Viva la revolucion.”
In God and JLo I Trust,
The Happy Homo
PS I bought the soundtrack album. Its going on my wall to remind me that happy homos and trans people are the heroes in our everyday lives. So often no one comes to save us(a)- we have to save ourselves. And right now- it feels like no one is coming to save us(a)- and We the People have to save ourselves. YOU deserve to be here! YOU are deserving of love, equality, and opportunity- AND HEALTH CARE!
PSS When this film came out in Utah (@ Sundance) I was watching friend’s posts critiquing the film from right here in PS. I remember one person who absolutely hated it. They said something like, “Her worst film. She sounded terrible and the acting was terrible. Jennifer Lopez’s career is over.” This was also a gay Latino that said this. I am so glad I got to watch this in the theater, and I promise- that bish was wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
This was brilliant. It leaves me wondering, what the fuck did he watch? And is he one of the many who fall in line and believe the online faceless attacks on her career led by white supremacists like F-Elon Muskrat? There is an active campaign against those artists who bring us(a) hope (like JLo, Beyonce, Taylor and Pedro Pascal). They don’t want you to have hope or inspiration. You are easier to control if you have none.
I hope people pull their heads out of their assess, and realize Jennifer Lopez and others are instillers of hope, a hope dealer. (My Rev uses that term and now it’s part of my vernacular.) Jennifer Lopez is just the goddess that I need(ed).) Jesus, JLo, puppies, hummingbirds and repeat. It works for me.
PSSS Go support queer stories!!!!
PSSSS Love- you are loved. God bless Diane Keaton and her family. May she rest in power. I love her work too!
PSX5
