Pageant (2008)

One of my all time favorites.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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 transformations of most of these men were pretty impressive.But shouldn't this tacky contest invoke transvestites, cross-dressers, or impersonators rather than gay people?I also wish the filmmakers were even a bit critical of the contest's tacky conception of women -- one of garish, lip-lined, sequined stereotypes.Yes, I know this is supposed to be about illusion, but why must the illusion be so radically caricaturish ? Some of the profiles are interesting; the guy doing Reba and the man attended by an ultra-understanding hetero assistant, for example. (The involvement of young brothers and sons is somewhat troubling.) This paean to platitudinous narcissism is only 1.5 hours long but starts to feel a little one-note long before its finale. The minimal suspense of who would win this silly competition is all that kept me from checking out early...

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!

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.