My Beautiful Laundrette
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Has anybody else seen this? I watched it when I heard Criterion was releasing it in July. Despite nonstop positive reviews, I don't think I really understood it. The whole story seems a bit scatterbrained, and hardly moralistic beside the gay love story that's buried underneath a lot of totally useless social commentary. It was nice to see a cute gay couple who aren't presented tragically for a change. Also Daniel Day-Lewis is pretty hot in this.
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It's my favorite movie full stop, for many reasons. For one the romance is cute and hot, but not only that, it also seems realistic in the sense that the dynamic the two have makes the relationship work on a fundamental level. Johnny needs Omo to give him something to strive for in life and Omo needs him as support, as someone who can get stuff done and who is also not afraid to play dirty.
Of course, their relationship stays hidden, and I wonder how the story might have continued past the end. I imagine that their business would have to go bust sooner or later considering that they are operating in a poor neighborhood where a deluxe laundrette doesn't seem like something that could be profitable…well, maybe they might continue to steal and sell drugs? Lol...
Omo's idea of how to run the business didn't seem to mesh with Johnny's, and it seems unclear to me if this was resolved. Also, how would they deal with the secrecy of their relationship? There's a lot of potential conflict brewing closely past the ending point of the movie.There are a few things I'm not particularly hot about. For one it's that we never get to see Johnny change. He was Omo's friend back in the day, but then he became a fascist, or at least hung out with fascists? We never saw him be a fascist really?
Then there's the scene where Omo and Johnny see each other again for the first time since childhood days and it's absolutely ridiculous how Omo can just get out of the car and go over to him while Johnny's friends molest Omo's passengers in the car. Still, I love this scene nevertheless. I guess there's something magical about it...it just doesn't mesh with the realism the movie otherwise showcases.
And then there's a relative of Omo who is maybe played too much as a villain.I also love how well the movie portrays Pakistani immigrants integrating into British society, figuring out their way, bringing with them their own values. It feels so truthful, and while the movie is certainly about a lot of things, its message or commentary doesn't get in the way of a nuanced and realistic depiction.
Wow, I guess I really have a lot to say about this movie! XD
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I saw the movie when I was a teenager and loved it. I saw it again in recent years and still enjoyed it. I liked the story and thought the guys were hot!!!
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I've seen this many years back (think to have it on Laserdisc) and have a positve memory about it. I liked it.
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Yeah, I get that those elements exist in the film, but I also feel that they are so buried underneath a lot of underdeveloped layers, the movie seemed a mess. Not to say anything about the realism, it was the burry tone that turned me off. Is it a comedy? That score seems to say so, even though nothing funny really happens in the movie. Is it a thriller? Is Omo in danger? If anything his naivete puts him there.
I don't mean to bash the film. I really wanted to like it, but the glue didn't do it for me, but the bricks seem solid.
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I'd say its an odd movie, if we compare it to "now" time, but in that time, I think it was an original story gay theme movie. Once scene that it hard to forgot is the "wine exchange, mouth to mouth". It was really hot.
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Saw it when I was a teen & instilled a desire to have my own laundrette. Still on my wish list only now I think bathhouse/laundry 'come do a load and get a load' or 'drop off all your loads' as potential slogans.
Also from that era "Another Country" and both linked in my mind.
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I'd say its an odd movie, if we compare it to "now" time, but in that time, I think it was an original story gay theme movie. Once scene that it hard to forgot is the "wine exchange, mouth to mouth". It was really hot.
Agreed! ;D
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Didn't seen it yet:-[
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Those were the days when 3 times Oscar Best Actor winner, Daniel Day Lewis was just a secondary lead and very believable gay man
