At GayTravel, we continue to make lemonade out of lemons (or maybe in this case we’re making delicious popcorn – see recipe below). This is the third in a series of "Recommendations, Ratings, and Recipes" where GayTravel has paired movies with a popcorn recipe for you and yours to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
We've had fantastic feedback from you, and it's a pleasure to incorporate your wonderful recommendations within this week's selection. In case you missed the first two rounds of this epic series, you can always refer back here:
- Three Gay Travel Movies to Watch This Weekend
- Three More Gay Travel Movies to Watch This Weekend
- Three Magical Musical Movies to Watch This Weekend
- Three More Magical Musical Movies to Watch This Weekend
The GayTravel audience has consistently given all of the recommended movies in our series an average rating of 4+ out of 5 stars (5 being the best). Last week, The Birdcage was unanimously rated a 5! WOW!
Our theme of the “ridiculous to riveting” is proving to be a good mix for our discerning and cinematically-inclined audience, so we'll start off this week with "the riveting" and end with "the ridiculous."
Without further ado...let's roll the film....
IT'S SHOWTIME!
Moonlight
⭐⭐⭐⭐4+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 2016 by A24. Barry Jenkins is the Screenwriter and Director. Drama. Starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, and Trevante Rhodes.
Just to name a few of the prestigious awards bestowed upon this extraordinary film, Moonlight is a 6-category winner of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and Winner of 3 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It's based on "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by the playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. While the playwright McCraney and the screenwriter/director Jenkins are both from Liberty City, a rough neighborhood in Miami where Moonlight takes place, they didn't know each other prior to making this film. However, their similar and very challenging upbringing is what sets the tone of Moonlight. McCraney and Jenkin's own personal struggles at a young age are manifested by the film's main character, Chiron. Moonlight is a story that gently weaves in questions of self-identity as Chiron, a poor, black, gay boy from the projects moves through his teenage years and onto adulthood.
From a cinamatic perspective, Moonlight has been described as a "poem written in light" by New York Times film critic A. O. Scott. This can be attributed to Moonlight's masterful cinematographer, James Laxton. Here's a snippet of how Laxton describes the scene you will see in the trailer below: "Since one of the concepts of our visual language had to do with being immersive, it was a must to put the camera in the water, within the tides and waves of the ocean, to experience the swimming lesson as the characters do." At GayTravel, we feel there is no better to describe what Laxton is talking about other than to visually show you. That said, cut to the trailer...
Watch official trailer:
Maurice
⭐⭐⭐⭐4+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 1987 by Cohen Media Group and Directed by James Ivory. Drama/Romance. Starring James Wilby, Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves.
Maurice takes us across the pond to Edwardian England where, unlike Moonlight's characters, this film's characters live a "privileged" yet thoroughly repressive life.
Even though today in Great Britain, "Love is GREAT" -- equal rights did not exist during pre-World War One which is the time period when Maurice is set -- and homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment. This story portrays the struggle of love and conformity in the face of society's disapproval and misunderstanding.
You will enjoy the costumes which won a nod from the Academy Awards. The romantic musical score by Richard Robbins sets the stage beautifully. You may recall other films such as "A Room with a View" that were directed by James Ivory along with his producer Ismail Merchant whose collaboration has lasted over 25 years. As you will see in the trailer below, Maurice, in a similar fashion to other Merchant/Ivory films has their signature, visually-stunning sequences.
Watch official trailer:
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde
⭐⭐⭐3+ out of 5 stars as rated by Gay Travel's Audience
Released in 2013 by Type A Films, Marc Platt Productions, and MGM. Comedy. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Moonie, Sally Field, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Bruce Travis McGill, Dana Ivey, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bob Newhart, and Luke Wilson.
Legally Blonde 2 falls into the "ridiculous" category and is a sequel to the original blockbuster movie that had us at bend and snap (see tutorial below). To give you some context, this film picks up after Elle Woods (a sorority girl from Los Angeles) graduates from Harvard Law School.
SPOILER ALERT AHEAD: Elle and Bruiser (Elle's gay chihuahua) leave Boston in her Audi TT Roadster to take on Washington D.C. and find that it's even more difficult to navigate than an ivy league school. In her inimitable, pretty-in-pink-style, Elle brings "Bruiser's Bill" to Capitol Hill in an effort to speak for those who have no voice and to free Bruiser's mom from a make-up testing laboratory. At GayTravel.com, we can relate!
Watch official trailer:
BONUS: Bend and Snap Tutorial:
We are truly fortunate to live in a world where talented people make films that transport us somewhere else.
Sweet & Spicy Popcorn Recipe
You didn’t think we would serve up movie recommendations without the popcorn, did you? The week's perfect popcorn pairing is sweet n' spicy just like Elle and Bruiser!
Sweet and Spicy Popcorn, served up hot and yummy from the GayTravel Kitchen.
Cook time: 10 minutes. Yield: 2 quarts, serves 2
Ingredients
1/3 cup Multi-color (calico or rainbow), non-GMO popcorn
3 tablespoons coconut oil or other high-heat such as avocado oil
1 ½ tsp granulated brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garam masala (try a simple equal parts mix of Cumin, Coriander, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg)
2 tablespoons of butter (or more to taste)
Special Equipment
3-quart, thick-bottomed pot with cover
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: Ensure the inside of the pot is completely dry before heating the oil in it or else the oil will sputter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1) Heat the oil: Heat the oil in a 3-quart thick-bottomed saucepan on medium high heat. If you are using coconut oil, allow all of the solid oil to melt.
2) Place 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil. Wait for the popcorn kernels to pop.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: This step is important as it will help the kernels to heat up evenly, preventing burnt and un-popped kernels.
3) When the kernels pop, add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer.
4) Cover the pot, remove from heat and count 30 seconds.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: if you are multi-lingual or aspiring to be, please count in the language of your choice. Uno, due, tre, quattro!
5) Return pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan (and your booty) by moving it back and forth over the burner.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: For those who prefer a drier and crisper popcorn, keep the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to release.
6) Popping will start to slowdown to several seconds between pops. This indicates that it’s time to remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and immediately pour the popcorn into your favorite serving bowl.
7) Use the same hot and empty pan to melt butter.
GayTravel Kitchen Tip: More intense flavor will be infused into your popcorn if you allow the butter to get a tinge brown.
8) Combine sugar, salt, garam masala, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
8) Drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn, then add the sweet and spicy mixture.
9) Toss well and serve hot!
GOOD NEWS!
Eating popcorn can help boost your immune system! If done right, popcorn is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Popcorn is high in polyphenols which act similarly to antioxidants meaning they can neutralize harmful free radicals that would otherwise increase your risk for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Studies show that polyphenols can reduce some of the oxidative damage caused by strenuous exercise too! Popcorn experts and nutritionists tell us that a serving of popcorn contains 300 milligrams of polyphenols per serving which is more than what is found in most fruits and vegetables.
What's your favorite popcorn recipe? Share your recipes below in the "Join The Conversation" section below.
P.S.
Don't forget to become a GayTravel V.I.T. (Very Important Traveler) and receive the latest pearls of wisdom, perks, inspirations, and more!
