THE BIRDCAGE
5 out of 5 stars

“you do an eclectic celebration of the dance! you do fosse, fosse, fosse! you do martha graham, martha graham, martha graham! or twyla, twyla, twyla! or michael kidd, michael kidd, michael kidd, michael kidd! or madonna, madonna, madonna!...but you keep it all inside.” – armand goldman



i guess this week i’m theming it up with marriage related movies: weddings, meeting the in-laws, romantic comedies, whathaveyou… why not include funny gay couples…like armand and albert from the birdcage? ;)


i would think most people have seen the birdcage by now, since it’s such a cult classic. (both the french and this version) but for those who haven’t… it’s about a gay miami club owner named armand (played BRILLIANTLY by robin williams) who lives with his partner and drag star of the birdcage named albert. (also played BRILLIANTLY by nathan lane- couldn’t have cast it better myself!) their son val returns from college (my guess is winter break), and announces that he wants to get married. the only problem is that the girl happens to be the daughter of a VERY conservative senator. (played by gene hackman who is sort of out of his usual general/army role here) the real star of the show is agador, armand and albert’s flamboyantly gay and fabulously guatamalan house “maid.” (best part is when he’s singing lady marmalade in nothing but a man-thong BUT cleaning the pool at the same time) hank azaria is HILARIOUS, but then… when is he not? even on the simpsons!


i, for one, thought the american version translated over very nicely hitting all the political issues right on point (i.e. abortion, gays in the military, political scandal) especially since these things happen to be what we’re STILL dealing with a decade later… so much for political progress, right? the best scene is when “mother coleman” provides her own POV that tugs at senator keeley’s political AND moral heartstrings… the gay china is also another favorite scene of mine when they’re all trying to figure out what’s going on on those bowls! GREAT movie that’s got memorable lines, comedic situations, and a gay-friendly storyline… can’t go wrong with this one! :P


but… the best line of all is this: (you go, armand!)


armand: “yes, I wear foundation. yes, I live with a man. yes, I’m a middle-aged fag. but I know who I am, val. it took me twenty years to get here, and I’m not gonna let some idiot senator destroy that. fuck the senator, I don’t give a damn what he thinks.”