Arts & Entertainment
Summer movie preview
From Green Lantern to Harry Potter, a big-budget season
Summer is usually the time for shoot-‘em-up, big budget, special effects-laden blockbusters. Hardly the climate for LGBT fare. But there are a few highlights of the summer movie season gays may want to check out.
‘The Hangover 2’
This weekend, Bradley Cooper returns as Phil in the second offering of ‘The Hangover.’ Best buddies, Phil, Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) head to Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate Stu’s wedding. Leaving the antics in Vegas behind them, the group hopes for a more subdued celebration in Thailand. Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of laughs as the group presumably tries to recount their experiences.
What soon came to pass though is apparently unimaginable. Oh Bradley, what are we going to do with you? Out now.
‘Beginners’
Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor star in this tale of a father and son faced with adjusting the preconceived notions of each other. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Hal (Plummer) announces to his son that not only is he dying, but he is also with a young male lover. Should be interesting to see Plummer and McGregor take on these challenging roles and undoubtedly tough resolutions. June 3
‘Green Lantern’
Ryan Reynolds brings the DC Comics superhero to the big screen. Reynolds finds himself in possession of a mystical green ring that gives him otherworldly powers. As a new member of an intergalactic squadron of peacekeepers, Ryan must train to harness his humanity combined with new extraordinary powers in the effort to fight to save earth from destruction. About the suit: it’s not so much amazing spandex, but rather CGI technology used to create the appearance of a skin-tight superhero costume. June 17
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’
Yes, believe it or not, the beloved “Potter” series comes to an end this summer. Die-hard fans can expect the biggest battle yet between Voldemort and Harry, Ron and Hermione. While the first installment of “Deathly Hallows” set the stage for the final showdown, part two promises to be an action-packed (if not surprising!) finale. In keeping with the summer blockbuster feel of the film, rumors are swirling that the trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises” will be shown prior to the film. This next installment of the “Batman” series stars Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway, as Catwoman. July 15
‘Snow Flower and The Secret Fan’
Wayne Wang, director of “Joy Luck Club,” brings to the screen a story of a friendship between two women in 19th-century Shanghai contrasted with a similar story shared by two of their descendants in present-day China. The movie demonstrates the incredible commitment and emotional bonds between the two sets of women in two very different eras of China. “Secret Fan” could prove to be an Oscar contender for at least Best Cinematography and Best Adapted Screenplay, if not more. Aug. 19
‘Circumstance’
The movie takes place in present day Tehran and tells the story of two high school girls who fall in love. The movie is said to be visually stunning with witty dialogue and a fabulous sountrack. The two free-spirited girls experiment with drugs, go to underground parties, flirt with boys. They seem inseparable. To the frustration of their families, it seems they are in love. Aug. 19
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)










a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)


























