Pageant is a documentary about The Miss Gay America Pageant, apparently THE high stakes competition for female impersonators. We meet a few of the contestants and follow them on a bizarre, funny, poignant and exhilarating journey. It's fascinating to see what support they have, from a very close straight friend to parents and their partners. It obviously takes courage for these guys to do what they do and they give it their all, it's exhausting just to watch them. They come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Imaginative with over the top performances and costumes, subtlety has no place here. If you've never seen anything like this,check it out. Entertaining from start to finish.
3 Reviews
Ladies & Gentlemen! Step Right Up!
mst3kr10 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A new film that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the 34th Annual Miss Gay America contest in Memphis, TN. 52 men from around the U.S. compete for the title, and the documentary focuses on key competitors as they prepare to win the crown.
The film introduces the viewer to some of the contestants, their families and supporters, and we get a chance to hear not only their take on the participants but also hear personal interviews of the contestants themselves and how they feel about not only themselves but about various things like being gay, the art of drag, competition, prejudice, bravery, and acceptance.
The docu is very well done, in all technical elements, and actually makes you care about the participants rather than making them look like freaks or fools, which could easily happen in something as, what many COULD consider, outlandish or cartoonish as men dressing up as women. Frankly, most of the men are articulate, funny, educated, compassionate, and downright smart. They're simply human beings, with all the flaws as everyone else, and the doc portrays them as such. But in the end, you'll be surprised at just how good these (wo)men actually are!
My ONLY complaint with the documentary was who was ultimately crowned Miss Gay America. Not the winner, per se, but how the documentary was shot about the winner. The winner was hardly mentioned at all in the film; just a handful of shots in the entire movie compared to the complete coverage of the "main characters" of the pageant. So, while the winner was a complete surprise, it was also a "What the...? Who was THAT person? I don't remember them." kind of a moment.
Still, that TINY gripe aside, this is a fascinating look into a world that helps to break down not only the stereotypes that the gay culture has/have of themselves, but also what the rest of the world may perceive of the gay culture in general. It is a definite must-see!
The film introduces the viewer to some of the contestants, their families and supporters, and we get a chance to hear not only their take on the participants but also hear personal interviews of the contestants themselves and how they feel about not only themselves but about various things like being gay, the art of drag, competition, prejudice, bravery, and acceptance.
The docu is very well done, in all technical elements, and actually makes you care about the participants rather than making them look like freaks or fools, which could easily happen in something as, what many COULD consider, outlandish or cartoonish as men dressing up as women. Frankly, most of the men are articulate, funny, educated, compassionate, and downright smart. They're simply human beings, with all the flaws as everyone else, and the doc portrays them as such. But in the end, you'll be surprised at just how good these (wo)men actually are!
My ONLY complaint with the documentary was who was ultimately crowned Miss Gay America. Not the winner, per se, but how the documentary was shot about the winner. The winner was hardly mentioned at all in the film; just a handful of shots in the entire movie compared to the complete coverage of the "main characters" of the pageant. So, while the winner was a complete surprise, it was also a "What the...? Who was THAT person? I don't remember them." kind of a moment.
Still, that TINY gripe aside, this is a fascinating look into a world that helps to break down not only the stereotypes that the gay culture has/have of themselves, but also what the rest of the world may perceive of the gay culture in general. It is a definite must-see!
Sound all but ruins the film
butaneggbert16 October 2011
I'm stunned to see an earlier review specify that "Pageant" is "well done, in all technical elements". I found just the opposite, with poorly-mastered sound all but ruining the film for me.
The music swelled over the voices, the voices fought the ambiance, and the man who spoke in the lowest register forced me to crank up the volume every time he spoke. In fact, I don't recall ever before having to ride the levels during the entire length of a movie, never letting go of the remote for its entire length. I'd get the voices to a volume level that allowed me to make out the words, then the music would crash in and wake my companion. I'd hastily drop the level, then some poor soul on the screen would start mouthing silent words again.
Of course this would be more bearable if the film were closed captioned, but the version that ran on Sundance this week was not.
I enjoyed the film overall despite this handicap but it certainly colored the experience for me. I can't imagine how it got major-market release like this.
The music swelled over the voices, the voices fought the ambiance, and the man who spoke in the lowest register forced me to crank up the volume every time he spoke. In fact, I don't recall ever before having to ride the levels during the entire length of a movie, never letting go of the remote for its entire length. I'd get the voices to a volume level that allowed me to make out the words, then the music would crash in and wake my companion. I'd hastily drop the level, then some poor soul on the screen would start mouthing silent words again.
Of course this would be more bearable if the film were closed captioned, but the version that ran on Sundance this week was not.
I enjoyed the film overall despite this handicap but it certainly colored the experience for me. I can't imagine how it got major-market release like this.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
