Netflix

With the passing of James Ivory, I've decided to check out Merchant Ivory productions beyond the BIG THREE (Room with a View, Howard's End, Remains of the Day).

Maurice kicks ass. Hugh Grant, before he became that stuttering blinking commodity known as "Hugh Grant," was actually a gifted actor. Maurice features many such specimens aside from Hugh, whose performance is wonderful. Yes, there is some hot gay kissing and fondling--if you find that troubling then I pity your insecurity, because by not seeing Maurice you're missing out on a challenging love story which avoids the typical gay stereotypes that make gay films palatable to Hollywood audiences. The idea of having to hide one's true nature or go to jail--the idea of not allowing oneself to love because of societal expectations, or of risking public humiliation by secretly loving--Maurice sympathetically presents the argument for gay civil rights better than a whole season's worth of In the Life editorials with Harvey Fierstein rasping away could. Excellent.