The LGBTQ+ community has had a tough time receiving positive representation in the media but to make matters worse when a queer character finally gets a chance to shine, the roles are usually awarded to cis actors. The defense generally involves the (false) fact that adequate performers were simply unavailable, so sorry, but their hands are tied. However, things have changed, and there has been an increase in the queer talent pool, and it's about time that some remakes start happening!
Numerous movies are so completely offensive that they should be left well alone, such as Girl, Gigli, or Demolition (and so many more!) Be that as it may, other films have a more moving and sincere storyline but suffer from poor casting choices. The LGBTQ+ community is tired of seeing their stories created by straight people for straight people, and Pride does not exist simply to entertain the masses.
10 The World According To Garp (1982)
This classic tale successfully explores the dynamics of gender stereotypes and gets people asking important questions, but it is unlikely to be seen by any fresh-faced Millenials. So many members of the LGBTQ+ community would likely fall in love with Roberta Muldoon's character, especially if she gets the appropriate transgendered actress.
The World According to Garp is an empowering tale about building community and rejecting oppression, while also being sex-positive and empathetic toward Roberta (thanks to John Lithgow's stellar, albeit cis male, performance.) These strong women merit another chance to have their stories heard, particularly since female leads are being prioritized in many remakes lately.
9 The Crying Game (1992)
With a narrative that could normalize the concept of transgender acceptance, The Crying Game slaps the very community it's attempting to represent right in the face with a flurry of offensive moments. With the stunning Dil at the center of all the action, so many great opportunities are missed, and the overall message is poorly executed, particularly during the tragic faux-pax vomit scene when Dil's status is revealed.
In this day and age, the story of a self-proclaimed straight man falling head-over-heels for a transgender woman could be the cutest thing ever, as long as it is handled with sensitivity. The Crying Game is still a hot topic within the LGBTQ+ community some 30 odd years later, so they must have done something right!
8 The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (1994)
Although The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is generally well-received by the LGBTQ+ community, it would be amazing to see a transgender actress take ownership of this iconic role. Who could deny that Laverne Cox would make the perfect Bernadette, and RuPaul as Anthony, right?
This classic adventure takes a pair of drag queens and their transgender friend on an eventful trip across the Australian desert, assaulting the local homophobic senses as they go. Stephan Elliott arguably created the first positive depiction of queer characters in this story and with an updated LGBTQ+ cast, this film could do so much more for the LGBTQ+ community!
7 Stonewall (1995)
Stonewall was so poorly executed that it received a measly 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is shocking considering it tells the story of such a revolutionary movement. The Stonewall Riots initiated the entire American gay rights movement after all, so how could a movie depicting these events upset the LGBTQ+ community so intensely?
Not only is this film unashamedly whitewashed, but pivotal characters such as Marsha P Johnson (a black, transgender activist) were completely sidelined to let the cis male lead, Jeremy Irvine, claim the spotlight. Courageous historical figures such as Ray Castro, Craig Rodwell, and the likes, deserve to have their true accounts told and preferably featuring an LGBTQ+ cast this time around.
(Not so) Fun Fact: Jeremy Irvine is set to take on another LGBTQ+ role as DC's gay Green Lantern, Alan Scott.
6 Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Based on a true-life story, Hilary Swank did the best she could to honor the memory of Brandon Teena with this multiple-award-winning performance. Sadly, even as one of the first lead transgender characters on the big screen, the topic of sexual identity is not addressed directly, which resulted in Bradon's whole journey of self-discovery being grossly misunderstood at the time of the film's release.
If Boys Don't Cry is lucky enough to get a remake with a transgender lead, the storyline will likely also be altered somewhat so that the assumption is not made again that Bradon was merely being deceptive by changing his appearance. The relationship between Bradon and Lana could be explored on another level, having already thrown Brandon's ambiguity out the window.
5 Transamerica (2005)
As the title suggests, Transamericaprioritizes the transgender experience but, unlike so many other narratives before (and since), this is not a tragically violent tale, but rather focuses on exploring relationships. Bree, who is days away from undergoing gender reassignment surgery, is handled with sensitivity and elegance, but her character lacks that authenticity that Felicity Huffman could never truly capture, despite her best efforts.
In Transamerica, Bree's transition is a non-issue and her surgery is not questioned but is instead an overall accepted goal and the ideal way to end the unexpected mother-son-bonding road trip. This story is vital to help re-establish relationships that avert from the heteronormative ideology, and with it, children growing up in LGBTQ+ households can find their voices too.
4 Brokeback Mountain (2006)
Regardless of how good an actor somebody is, it can often be painfully uncomfortable watching an infamously straight person pretends to be gay, as it takes more than going through the motions to create chemistry. However, Brokeback Mountain cannot be discredited for the groundbreaking developments it made concerning the media's (reluctant) acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, seeing as the infamous Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal advocated this message.
As with many other movies, a remake of Brokeback Mountain featuring an openly gay cast would probably be more successful than the original, although they should wait a few years for the memory to fade before attempting to take this project on.
3 Blue Is The Warmest Colour (2013)
This film may explore the lesbian experience, but it is clearly captured in a way that aims to satisfy the male gaze and, well, there are websites that cater for that. This adaption by Abdellatif Kechiche falls short with the blatant objectification of its female leads by seemingly using this provocative storyline as a guise for fulfilling particular fantasies (of a straight man).
The original graphic novel by Julie Maroh is generally well-received by the LGBTQ+ community, so it's evidently not the content of "Blue Is the Warmest Colour" that is upsetting. Maybe some lesbian actresses and a more knowledgeable director would be able to recreate the subtleties of this explorative coming-of-age love story.
2 Dallas Buyers Club (2014)
This film isn't even old enough to use the excuse of inaccessible LGBTQ+ performers, but somehow Jarel Leto landed the lead transgender role. As celebrated as Dallas Buyers Club may be, it has received mixed reviews from queer audiences, who were displeased by Leto's "trans-misogyny."
Despite the sub-par performances, some crucial topics are discussed through this feature, emphasizing the fact that the AIDS pandemic is not exclusive to the LGBTQ+ community and calling out homophobia for the backward, outdated mindset that it is. Maybe the next generation can take a bash at working out all the kinks to ensure these lessons are not forgotten.
1 The Danish Girl (2015)
The fact that a cis actor is deemed heroic for portraying a transgender role is nonsensical at best, for it is those who are courageous enough to be true to themselves (from the trans stories they are monetizing) that are the legitimate heroes. Lili Elbe's autobiography, "Man into Woman: The First Sex Change" warrants more authenticity in its film adaptation than Eddie Redmayne could deliver.
Candis Cayne, Hari Nef, or one of the many other talented actresses out there could undoubtedly revitalize this transition story by adequately exploring the experience by drawing from their own lives. If all the absurdly stereotypical tropes get thrown out of the window, filmmakers would have greater success in their overall portrayal of the queer narrative.