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Home » Blogs » Trish Bendix's blog » Reto Reviewing: "Boys on the Side"

Reto Reviewing: "Boys on the Side"

by
Trish Bendix

This episode, the Retro Reviewers experienced the very 1990s joy of Boys on the Side starring Whoopi Goldberg, Mary Louise-Parker and Drew Barrymore.

Everyone loved the film's blend of comedy, drama, and serious issue-exploration, as well as Whoopi's fantastic turn as an especially awesome lesbian circa 1995.

Retro Reviewing: "Boys on the Side"

Check back in two weeks for a review of Mulholland Drive and watch previous episodes here.

Come back next time for a review of the twisted, trippy David Lynch masterpiece "Mulholland Drive"
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    • Submitted by
    Trish Bendix
    on March 7, 2009 - 3:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    anythingLes...Otalia FTW's picture

    Thanks!

    Submitted by
    anythingLes...O... (17 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 4:56pm.
    Thanks for doing these vlogs. It's the first time I've commented on one of yours but I have seen them all. I've learned about a lot of  great and not so great movies from them so thanks! And I absolutely love Boys On the Side. But like you said, poor Mary Louise-Parker, she dies in all her movies. Can't wait for the Mulholland Drive review. Maybe you can explain that movie to me. I was so confused by the end.  :  )
    Alisha's picture

    Yeah,..

    Submitted by
    Alisha (288 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 5:01pm.

    ...I can't wait to see their review on Mulholland Dr. and their explanation. It was a confusing movie. I had to watch it a few times before I *think* I figured out what it all meant.

     

    -- 

    http://www.drunkduck.com/Empathy/

    Alisha's picture

    I liked this movie as well.

    Submitted by
    Alisha (288 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 4:59pm.

    I liked this movie as well. Let's see....it came out in 1995. I was 15/16..that makes me feel a little old haha. Mary Louis-Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Berrymore...I mean come on! They couldn't have gone wrong with this movie and they didn't. I can't wait for your review on Mulholland Drive!

     

    -- 

    http://www.drunkduck.com/Empathy/

    schedulinggoddess's picture

    This is one of my favorite movies

    Submitted by
    schedulinggoddess (50 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 5:42pm.
    on so many levels for me. It is so gay,INDIGO GIRLS are not only on the soundtrack but are also IN IT,and the ambulance company (Rural/Metro) I work for is also in it. I think the message boils down to (and I paraphrase) when Robin and her mom are having the heart to heart and her mom Elaine says something like you end up with someone who loves and cares for you and it's not always who you expect. I think we can all wish for that. Even tho Robin and Jane did not have a sexual relationship that was TRUE love nonetheless. This movie has always been underrated,if you babydykes have not seen it, run to blockbuster :) The cast is amazing. Kudos Herbert Ross. Clove cigarettes for ALL <3
    amaya's picture

    I'm so sorry for this

    Submitted by
    amaya (71 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 6:03pm.

    Yeah I kind of want to hit myself for this but I have to point out that there's a spelling mistake in the title.

    But don't worry, you're still awesome!

    Kelli's picture

    Looking good as always

    Submitted by
    Kelli (27 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 7:45pm.

    Looking good as always ladies, nice job

     

    Kelli's picture

    Oh and by the way you must

    Submitted by
    Kelli (27 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 9:57pm.
    Oh and by the way you must have a great shoe collection Katie cause you ware some awesome boots/shoes.
    Danielle Riendeau's picture

    Ha!

    Submitted by
    Danielle Riendeau, Contributing Writer (67 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 11:31am.
    You have no idea how happy Katie will be to see this comment. Her shoe collection is the stuff of legends.
    Kelli's picture

    Oh and by the way you must

    Submitted by
    Kelli (27 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 9:57pm.
    Oh and by the way you must have a great shoe collection Katie cause you ware some awesome boots/shoes.
    JenBen's picture

    your thoughts

    Submitted by
    JenBen (17 posts)
    on March 7, 2009 - 10:56pm.

    i love your vlog. it's turned me onto so many good movies. thanks for doing it.

    i would like to hear your reviews of The Truth About Jane, The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, and Imagine You and Me.

    Danielle Riendeau's picture

    Thanks!

    Submitted by
    Danielle Riendeau, Contributing Writer (67 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 11:30am.
    Why, thank you for those kind words. We have a blast doing it! And don't worry - we've got a hefty backlog of suggestions, and we plan to get through everything (if we can!)
    frosted_fraggle's picture

    Boys on the Side

    Submitted by
    frosted_fraggle (86 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 4:59am.

    was one of the first lesbian themed movies I watched. Bought it while I was living in Belfast in '99 - mainly because I had heard that the Indigo Girls had a brief cameo in it and because I adore Whoopi Goldberg (who I still maintain was robbed in the 1985 Academy Awards - she should have won Best Actress for her work in 'The Color Purple').

    To this day 'Boys on the Side' remains one of my all time favorites. The acting was inspired and the characters - with very few exceptions - were thoroughly likable (I even liked Matthew McConaughey, which never happens). The soundtrack is awesome and the scenery gorgeous. Also the theme of searching for love, a family and belonging and sometimes finding it in the least likely of places is something that really resonates with me.

    Off the top of my head I can only think of one other HIV positive woman in a major hollywood movie: Jenny in 1994's 'Forrest Gump'. At that time depicting not only women but generally people with AIDS was a huge deal in major productions - groundbreaking 'Philadelphia' had hit the screens only two years earlier. Hats off for tackling this issue.

    So looking forward to your review of 'Mulholland Drive'! I'm a huge David Lynch fan and this movie is my favorite.

    EmmaCariad's picture

    Boys on the side

    Submitted by
    EmmaCariad (203 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 2:18pm.

    Great review, as always. There is so much to love about this film, the performances are fantastic all around, and it really did take me through every emotion. At the end where Robyn is singing 'You got it' to Jane and she can't finish it because of being breathless, so Jane takes over and sings it back to her, has me bawling every time. I love the way all the other guests are looking the other way because they know that it is a personal moment just between the two of them. I also find the moment when Jane confesses to Robyn that she loved her and Robyn suggested that she had loved her too, very touching. I agree though, that I don't think Robyn was gay, she had very strong feelings for Jane, but they weren't sexual. They were a family. It has to be 4.75 gay magics!

    Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Mullholland Drive! I love that film (Naomi Watts for goodness sake) although I have to admit to feeling a little confused by the end of it, but that is David Lynch I guess!   

     

    Chips's picture

    I like

    Submitted by
    Chips (27 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 2:20pm.

    The reinactments. They are the best. I also like the flash backs to where you guys were and what you were doing when this movie came out. And the fact that you all are cute makes it even better.

     

    + I Like Chips! Chips Are Yummy!+

    uraveragewhitehomo's picture

    ...i SO love your julie

    Submitted by
    uraveragewhitehomo (60 posts)
    on June 21, 2009 - 10:31pm.

    ...i SO love your julie goldman reference...she is probably one of the funniest comedians i have ever seen..and the pic to match!!! lol

    Katie's picture

    Thanks!

    Submitted by
    Katie (11 posts)
    on March 8, 2009 - 5:23pm.
    The shoes comment totally made my day!
    Kelli's picture

    I'm glad, other then the

    Submitted by
    Kelli (27 posts)
    on March 10, 2009 - 8:46pm.

    I'm glad, other then the fact you guys do a good job with the movies seeing those shoes makes the vblog for me, I want those Poke-a-dot boot you had a couple of videos ago, I’m a park ranger and I think those boots would look great with my uniform - green, tan and poke-a-dot … I’m serious I want a pair of those boots.

     

    Rina's picture

    GREAT JOB

    Submitted by
    Rina (79 posts)
    on March 9, 2009 - 6:18pm.

    Oh my gosh Denae I loved your little note on your VHS tape.. You are too funny. This movie was great..It's so tragic that I wasn't able to make it. MUCH LOVE!!

    EmmaCariad's picture

    Rina

    Submitted by
    EmmaCariad (203 posts)
    on March 9, 2009 - 7:18pm.

    Hey Rina, its good to know that you are not still circling around Boston!

     

    Rina's picture

    Thanks for the comment.

    Submitted by
    Rina (79 posts)
    on March 10, 2009 - 12:06pm.
    The airplane I was in had Mechanical problems, there was something wrong with the engine. So they had us in an airplane for three hours then got us off the airplane, then back on to the same airplane with the new engine parts... So needless to say I wasn't able to make it to do the Retro Review show. Not to mention the fact that I'm already terrified of flying..*tear* Boys on the side is a great movie. OH man, I saw "The Women" last night that was awful.
    1cor13's picture

    A nice film, indeed. Jane is

    Submitted by
    1cor13 (152 posts)
    on March 13, 2009 - 10:59pm.
    A nice film, indeed. Jane is great; down to earth, warm and caring. Funny, too. I like the Robin-Jane chemistry very much. I suspect Robin had a decent job and her league of distant friends. And yet she was so lonely and on the verge of going insane with AIDS until she met Jane, who probably was quite out of her usual circle of friends. The film doesn't explain how Robin got AIDS; a "not so liberated" woman as she described herself who wanted to have a husband with a decent job and two kids. Or, her life just didn't go the way she imagined it to be... I can relate to that. It's nice of Jane to set Robin up with a guy, even though she has feelings for her..... Carpenters' songs were used effectively to convey the feelings between Robin and Jane. Particularly, "Superstar". Oh, not to forget about the cop, Abe. He is as a great character as Jane. Thank you for introducing this movie to me, guys. 
    uraveragewhitehomo's picture

    ...i could be wrong...

    Submitted by
    uraveragewhitehomo (60 posts)
    on June 21, 2009 - 10:35pm.

    ...bc i haven't seen the movie in forever...but i think that they say something about her getting aids from a bartender she slept w previously...again...don't quote me...

    Cazz's picture

    Right On!

    Submitted by
    Cazz (17 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 9:24am.

    Well done guys!!

    Great review, one if not my fave lesbian movie of all time!! thanks for the review!! 

    uraveragewhitehomo's picture

    ...great vlog...as always...

    Submitted by
    uraveragewhitehomo (60 posts)
    on June 21, 2009 - 10:56pm.

    ...yeah...def one of my fav lesbian movie...even if it was just lesbian undertones...i TOTALLY ball my eyes out everytime i watch the scence when jane is singing to robyn...i agree w you ladies...it executed the 'issues' of being black and gay...having aids as a white woman....and abusive partners...i think that it was just so real and believeable...almost like you were ACUTALLY watching the lives of these people...

     ...as far as coming out at a young age...i kinda knew around 12 or 13...circa 95 '96...i sorta came out to my mom around 15...kinda by accident (sister found out and told her)...didn't really except the fact that i was a lesbian until around 16...and was almost completely out around 18 or 19...i consider myself very lucky to have such a wonderful support system...it REALLY helped me through my self-loathing phase...and i also consider myself VERY lucky at 26 to not only except that i am a lesbian...but to totally embrace it...

    uraveragewhitehomo's picture

    ...and i wish there was a

    Submitted by
    uraveragewhitehomo (60 posts)
    on June 21, 2009 - 10:59pm.
    ...and i wish there was a site like afterellen when i was younger...but i am so glad that i found it about a year ago...it still helps me to see all the out celebs and wonderful people who will one day be famous (yes...you ladies...i have seen some of your sort films on youtube....and you all are extremely talented...)...and i think it is wonderful that this is available now to all the young lesbians around the world...

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