An all-star ensemble lights this sparkling adaptation of the long-running play. Harvey Fierstein (Independence Day, Death to Smoochy, Mrs. Doubtfire) makes the conversion from...

In the Back Row

with Allison McKinley © 2005

Wild Child Publishing.com © 2005

Film: Torch Song Trilogy
(New Line Home Entertainment)

Allison's review in ten words or fewer: Top of the genre; Harvey Fierstein's finest hour.

Grade: A+

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Gender-bender
Rating (USA): MPAA- R (sexuality, some violence)
Runtime: 120 minutes
Language(s): English
Director: Paul Bogart
Writer: Harvey Fierstein
Starring: Harvey Fierstein, Anne Bancroft, Mathew Broderick, Brian Kerwin, Karen Young

* * *

An all-star ensemble lights this sparkling adaptation of the long-running play. Harvey Fierstein (Independence Day, Death to Smoochy, Mrs. Doubtfire) makes the conversion from the bigness required of stage acting to the intimacy of performing for the camera with all the finesse you'd expect of a lady -- of sorts.

Never one to be laughed at, Harvey Fierstein as drag queen Arnold makes sure you are laughing with him. His self-effacing jokes are almost too painful at times, but no more so than the life that Arnold leads: born gay in a straight and heartless world. From the day his mum (Anne Bancroft in her most convincing performance of recent years) finds him in her closet, a five year old in six-inch heels and two layers of make up, she fights him, fights against what she perceives him to be, fights what he becomes.

The tale is told in three segments, but the troika blends as seamlessly as Arnold's makeup; the story of Arnold's first love with bisexually-confused school teacher Ed (Brian Kerwin) who also loves Laurel (Karen Young), and then his heartthrob Alan (Matthew Broderick), and then Ed again as a friend. Together they adopt a son who is gay, and Arnold begins to display the characteristics of his own mother.

In a pre-aids gay world, Arnold guides us through the heartbreak of being different and the joy of being in love, no matter who it is that you love.

This film is recommended viewing for families with children 14 and over. There is nothing alarming about the sex, but there is one brief scene of violence known as gay-bashing which is very disturbing.