Al Pacino’s Jock Strap Party

Posted by blainegarrett

April 11, 2008

I’ve never thought myself to be homophobic. I’m normally pretty supportive of LGBT issues. I even might be a wee bit flattered when I get hit on by a guy. I’m usually pretty cool about “gender” issues in general, even though the idea of trans-men giving birth and half sex changes is odd territory for me (as was touched upon in Krapp’s Last ‘Cast #6).

However, last night I started watching Al Pacino’s 1980 film “Crusin‘” on the NetFlix Watch Now and had to turn it off within a few minutes. The movie is about a killer preying on gays. Al Pacino plays the hardened cop that comes in and tracks down the killer. Pretty quickly into the movie, there are scenes from a NY underground gay bar where all the men look like body builders and are running around in leather S&M gear or simply Jacques Straps. Two of the guys leave together and find a room. I cut shortly into the pre-forplay banter.

Perhaps it was the horrible dialog. Perhaps it was that the clothes were so out of fashion (and jock straps? When was that clubbing gear?) Perhaps it was the fact I had no idea what the movie was about going into it. Either way, at the very least, it wasn’t the time nor place to be watching it. I find this slightly odd, because normally, very little is shocking to me.

Maybe, I am just getting old. Maybe I have a thing against Jock Straps. Who knows.