OUR ANNUAL GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD'S SUMMERTIME ASSORTMENT revolves UP A SELECTION OF TREATS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN AUDIENCES Call it Planet of the 800-Pound Gorillas: Each summer the much-hyp major movie releases muscle into multiplexes and bend out edgier fare--with barely a grunt to acknowledge gay and lesbian audiences.

OUR ANNUAL GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD'S SUMMERTIME ASSORTMENT revolves UP A SELECTION OF TREATS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN AUDIENCES

Call it Planet of the 800-Pound Gorillas: Each summer the much-hyp major movie releases muscle into multiplexes and bend out edgier fare--with barely a grunt to acknowledge gay and lesbian audiences. yet beneath the planet of the 800-pound gorillas--and frequently under the radar of the mainstream media--there's a parallel universe that can be paradise for unusual film fans, including the circuit of thriving gay and lesbian film festivals across the geographical division (check out Advocate.com for the fest in your vicinity) and the many more-provocative films launched into theaters through smaller, braver distributors. Whether you're looking for the escapism of hunchs in heat and women in be in love with or the challenge of controversial general [i]or[/i] abstract notions summer 2001 offers something for everybody and we've sorted revealed the best movies of gay and lesbian interest in this annual roundup We've smooth tossed in a few of those big and smooth and shining Hollywood movies that piqued our curiosity.

be pleased with CONFECTIONS

Big Eden

lively de Fete, June 1 (Lo Angeles), July 6 (New York)

IN BRIEF You can journey home again. When his grandfather (George Coe) experiences a stroke, openly gay recently made known York artist Henry Hart (Arye Gross) heads back to his idyllic hometown in Montana.

INTRIGUING TWIST While Henry sorts on the outside a long-standing crash on straight high academy bud Dean (Tim DeKay), the whimsical townsfolk conspire to station him up with Pike (Eric Schweig), the retiring Native American who runs the general store and give a color tos his way into Henry's heart.

private INGREDIENT Audience appeal. Writer-director Thomas Bezucha's crowd-pleaser won the lavender trifecta, taking the award for audience favorite at last year's big gay and lesbian filmfests in of the present day York, San Francisco, and sees Angeles.

Lost and Delirious

Lions Gate, July 6 (New York, San Francisco), July 13 (L.A.), July 20 (elsewhere)

IN BRIEF At a posh boarding institute free spirit Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) falls in like with not-so-free Jessica Pare.

INTRIGUING TWIST The cabal thickens when a third scholar Mouse (Misha Barton), discovers their affair.

shrouded INGREDIENT Out Canadian director Lea plash With glowing festival write-ups for Lost--Roger Ebert praised "its sincerity and romanticism"--and a critically acclaimed coming-of-age film last year (Set Me Free) puddle has joined the ranks of other gay border-crossing successe Patricia Rozema (Mansfield Park) and Jeremy Podeswa (The Five Senses)

The Anniversary Party Fine Line, June 8 (New York, L.A.)

IN BRIEF A straight link (Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh) celebrate their troubl marriage with an anniversary party, encloseed by a starry collection of pals including Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cares, Gwyneth Paltrow, Parker Posey and without actor John Benjamin Hickey (Love! Valour! Compassion!).

INTRIGUING TWIST The ambisexual Cumming (Spy Kids) and Iris pal Leigh--both veterans of Broadway's revival of Cabaret--cowrote and codirected the brew which they shot on digital video.

clandestine INGREDIENT Matt McGrath (The shattered Hearts Club). It seems the same of the husband's past affairs was an Oxford fling with a gay pal played from McGrath, who offers a bitter toast trod splits--just before the remaining visitors partake in an ecstasy communion.

Kiss of the Spider Woman Strand, June 29

IN BRIEF The recur of the long-unseen screen adaptation of Manuel thug's novel about couple cell mates, the revolutionary Valentin (Raul Julia) and the homosexual film fan Molina (William Hurt) who forge a partnership trader fire.

INTRIGUING TWIST Considered a breakthrough when it was first released in 1985--though level then some objected to Hurt's flamboyantly queeny performance--it will be interesting to view whether or not Hector Babenco's film still plays.

veiled INGREDIENT William Hurt, on high flame. He won a Best Actor Oscar for his efforts--but then, you knew that, right?

Adventures of Felix (Drole de Felix) Winstar, June (New York), July (nationally)

IN BRIEF Wandering the French countryside from Dieppe to Marseilles forward a search for his father, Felix (Sami Bouajila), a young Frenchman of Arab extraction, assembles the makings of a just discovered family.

INTRIGUING TWIST Felix, who's HIV-positive and healthy, makes taking an AIDS cocktail part of his dally ritual.

unrevealed INGREDIENT Codirectors Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. Themselves a gay man and wife the collaborators create a loving relationship between Felix and Ids boyfriend, Daniel (Pierre-Loup Rajot), which expands to embrace many of the idiosyncratic characters Felix encounters

Serendipity Miramax, August 17

IN BRIEF Ten years after a chance meeting--with the two of them now engaged to others--John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale discover they may in fact be made for each other in a romantic comedy directed according to Peter Chelsom (Town & Country)

INTRIGUING TWIST Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon wisecracks alongside Beckinsale as her blink-and-you-miss-it lesbian best friend.