Here's some Bi rep for Pride month.
Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) grew up admiring and being surrounded by art but never considered herself an artist until a major injury and the resulting medical bills forced her to look into the commercial aspects of her "little paintings". She asks renowned muralist Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina) for his professional opinion and is introduced to major players in the artistic and political spheres. Their love and mutual admiration are inspirational but Rivera's constant womanizing threatens to come between them.
Unfortunately for this movie, the stench of Harvey Weinstein is all over it. Director Julie Taymor does an incredible job but there's a skeevy male gaze component that just can't be shaken off. And it's a shame because Hayek is doing some of the best work of her career in what was obviously a passion project. Molina is great and there are star turns from Diego Luna and Mia Maestro, as well as powerhouse cameos from Edward Norton, Geoffrey Rush, and Ashley Judd.
Maybe I'll enjoy it more once Weinstein dies. I like many of Taymor's other works; I love her use of color and how she recreates Kahlo's paintings with the actors. I just couldn't love this one. It's currently streaming on Paramount+.
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