IN & OUT

US, 1997, 97 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilford Brimley, Bob Newhart, Shawn Hatosy.
Directed by Frank Oz.

Director, Frank Oz, cut his teeth with the Muppets before moving on to comedies like Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Housesitter. He knows how to entertain and make people laugh. And he does it again here, although underneath the light and sometimes farcical surface there are serious themes of understanding and tolerance.

You might remember that when Tom Hanks won his Oscar for portraying a gay lawyer in Philadelphia, he thanked an old drama teacher, virtually 'outing' him. Playwright Paul Rudnick (Jeffrey) imagines what might happen when this kind of announcement is made to the world and the teacher is just about to be married.

Kevin Kline gives a funny, thoughtful and sympathetic performance which means that the audience does not simply
enjoy some cheap laughs, but has to wonder how they would handle a similar situation. The supporting cast is very good with Matt Dillon as the actor (and some scenes from his award-winning film which looks like a send up of Forrest Gump), Tom Selleck as a TV reporter, Debbie Reynolds as Kline's mother and Joan Cusack as his bemused fiancee.

1. The origins of the film? Tom Hanks’ Oscar speech? Philadelphia? His tribute to the gay teacher?

2. The work of the writer, films, plays? The film using the sitcom style? Home in Indiana?

3. Homosexuality, issues of tolerance and understanding, misconceptions, homophobia? The role of the boys in college, the principal and his being unable to say the word?

4. Comedy as a vehicle for a message? For the ordinary audience? For audiences ingrained with homophobia? The characters, the stars portraying these roles, the ending?

5. The strengths of the screenplay, the dialogue, the wit, the sharp dialogue? Stereotypes but beyond?

6. Kevin Kline’s portrait of Howard, seeing him in class, his love of poetry, Jack and the letter for the scholarship, the town’s admiration for Cameron Drake as an actor, the Oscar nomination? His having taught him? The students wanting to know more about Cameron Drake than poetry? The preparation for the wedding, the long engagement, Emily and the dress, his mother and father and their preparations, all the town interested, the extended family? The real-life situation as a setting for the comedy and the fantasy?

7. The build-up to the Oscars, Peter Molloy and his covering the Oscars, Whoopi Goldberg, the various celebrities interviewed, Cameron and his girlfriend? His talking about art and the movies?

8. Glenn Close as the compere of the Oscars, Cameron Drake and his career, the sequences from the film, To Protect and Serve? The parody of Saving Private Ryan, the parody of Forrest Gump and its parallels (and the references to Tom Hanks and his character)? The legless officer, the court-martial, the declaration of his being gay, the two at the end? Cameron Drake being nominated for an Oscar, the jokes about Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, and the joke about Steven Seagal being nominated for Snowball in Hell? Glenn Close waving to Michael Douglas and the parody of Fatal Attraction?

9. Cameron Drake’s speech, about the film, about gay people, the references to his teacher, naming Howard Brackett? The response, Howard and the family all watching the television? His mother and her being upset? His own hand dropping limp? Emily and her surprise?

10. Howard’s attempts at reassurance, puzzle over his own behaviour, the behaviour of the kids in class, their saying that he was prissy, the characteristics of a decent man seeming to be the characteristics of somebody homosexual? The stereotypes about the male? The bucks’ party and Howard’s friends, the references to Barbra Streisand, the Barbra Streisand Festival, Yentl? Mr Halliwell and his reaction, his inability to pronounce the word ‘homosexual’, Howard’s response to him? The interviews?

11. Howard in denial, the meeting with Peter Molloy, his being out, his explanation of his coming out? His work as a journalist? Howard’s attack? The crash, the discussion, the kiss, its effect? Emily and her response? His using the tape, following the sayings to become more macho, moving against the stereotype, his being tricked by the questions? ‘I Will Survive’ and his dance? His going into the locker room, the young men’s reaction, their pretence? His father and Barbra Streisand? The effect of all of this on him, the wedding?

12. The preparations for the wedding, Emily, her not having eaten, her dress? Her going into distress? Peter Molloy and his interviewing all the people in the town, their support of Howard, the postman? The stylist? The comedy in the comments from the small town?

13. The build-up to the ceremony, his mother fussing, the vows, his coming out, his having to break off the marriage, Emily and her distress, the talk and the anger, her punching him?

14. The women’s group, their chatter, playing cards, Howard’s mother as part of the group, their discussing their secrets, all revealing their secrets?

15. Peter and his talk-TV, the nationwide interest? Howard, his dismay, his father’s visit and support?

16. Emily, her eating, her meeting Peter, the discussion, her dismay at what should have been happening on her wedding night, in the bar, talking to Peter and making advances? What she learnt?

17. Cameron Drake and his girlfriend, her daffiness, her vomiting, wanting to be thin, model, the motel, not understanding a dial phone? Meeting Emily? Cameron and his discussions with Emily, memories of the classes, affirmation?

17. The build-up to the graduation, Howard to go, the rival teacher and his getting the award? Cameron Drake and his speech, his winning the group over to supporting Howard?

18. Jack, the scholarship, his being afraid of Howard? Mike and his friendship, the girls, the discussion of bias? The speech, Jack and the others all claiming that they were gay, the fireman, the postman, Howard’s brother, his parents – everyone?

19. The principal, the teacher and his wanting the award, the members of the staffroom, their previous discussion, the prize?

20. The renewal of vows by Howard’s parents? The happy ending with the wedding? Peter and his having helped Howard? Howard and his coming out?

21. The range of songs, the final credits and everybody joining in “Macho Man”?