The Boys in the Band: A “Gay” Birthday Party (Netflix)

"The Boys in the Band," a play written by Marc Crowley, premiered "Off-Broadway" in 1968.  There was a Broadway revival of the play in 2018 celebrating its 50th anniversary, and this movie is essentially that play (with the same cast) on film.  All the actors in the film are also gay in real life.  The film is still set in about 1968 (this is revealed by the corded, dial phones!) Michael (Jim Parsons) is gay, and he is hosting a birthday party for his gay friend, Harold (Zachary Quinto).  Also coming to the party are several other friends – all of them gay.  Michael is growing older and is very concerned about his receding hairline and his loss of attractiveness.  He is trying to take his health seriously and has even stopped drinking.  The guests arrive one by one as expected – except for Harold, who eventually arrives very "Late to the Party" (great song by Kacey Musgraves), infuriating Michael. The first thirty minutes of the movie has superficial banter and kidding around amongst the guests, which I didn't enjoy much, but, after an unexpected person arrives the party, it gets much more interesting.  Michael receives a phone call from his straight college roomate, Alan (Brian Hutchison), who is in town and wants to see Michael that night.  Michael was "in the closet" in college, and Alan thinks he is straight, so Michael doesn't want Alan coming over to mingle with his gay friends at the party.  However, Alan breaks down into tears over the phone, so Michael invites him over, wanting to be there for his friend.  Although Alan changes his mind and cancels, bringing Michael some temporarily relief, Alan still ends up coming over anyway! The film has various themes, including that gay men struggle with self-hatred, which sometimes gets externalized onto their closest friends.  I have seldom seen dialogue that was this vicious.  There is plenty of humor, but it is of the hostile, sarcastic variety.  The party tension reaches a crescendo when Harold and Michael have a confrontation and nothing is held back. The cast is excellent, as is the screenplay.  The film gave me a glimpse of what is was like to be a gay man at that time, and I think that understanding and putting ourselves in others' shoes is something that we could all use in the current climate.  Stay safe, everyone.