Throwback Tilda Thursday

While absentmindedly flipping through my feed recently, I came across a vintage photo of Tilda Swinton from the 90s. Which, of course, got me thinking about her 90s gender-queer masterpieces “Orlando” and “Female Perversions.” While aggressively chauvinistic pseudo-sexual thrillers (for some reason mostly starring Michael Douglas) were all the rage at the mainstream box office, Tilda was blowing my little gay socks off with a female-gaze/verging on nonbinary vision of sexuality that defied easy definition. Also, both films are examples of using queer themes for genuine exploration, and not just titillation. (Ahem, Anne and Dakota, ahem.)

Now I haven’t watched either movie in a good decade, if not much longer. And, naturally, neither appear readily available on major streamers. So I’ll have to go off memory. But I just remember feeling so engrossed and so awed by both movies. I’m sure there are things in these 30+-year old films that don’t hold up. But the intoxicating rush of unexpected sexuality, well, that will stay with me forever. Also, hot damn, I forgot how stacked the cast of “Female Perversions” was in particular. Tilda (Oscar winner), Amy Madigan (Oscar winner), Frances Fisher, Paulina Porizkova, Marcia Cross. I think, as I continue to rummage thrift store DVD racks in search of physical media we can own and keep (because, truly, fuck subscriptions and never owning anything outright), I will add both movies to my “Must Find” list. Until then, here’s a little reminder. Yeah, 90s Tilda could get it (2026 Tilda too, but she’s been in a long-term relationship for a while so, you know, respect).

Gender Fuck Thursday: Aunt Gladys Edition

While I haven’t seen “Weapons” (because I’m a horror weenie), I have seen Aunt Gladys – especially around Halloween when I saw so many incarnations of her on adult women, and men, in person. Still I was a little shocked to read that the character was played by Amy Madigan. That is what I call disappearing into a character. From “Field of Dreams” to “Uncle Buck” and “Female Perversions," she has put in the work over the years. Now, the 75-year-old consummate working actress has more than earned her hit.

And she credits the LGBTQ+ community with some of Aunt Gladys’s success. She told The Hollywood Reporter:

“As you very well know, the gay community has really taken to Gladys. That’s really great — especially in this framework of the demonization of anybody other than a cis person — for the trans community. I think they really appreciate Gladys’ drag and makeup and how confident she is. So that’s a really nice cherry on top of all this.”

And she looks amazing in a suit to boot. Yeah, it’s good when good things happen good people. Remember that?