Was Josh Hartnett a Millennial Gay Stepping-Stone? An Investigation.

As a queer woman who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, I have to say that Josh Hartnett was definitely a crush of mine. The way he played Ethan Chandler on “Penny Dreadful” was absolutely captivating, and his character hooking up with Dorian Gray was indeed the hottest thing ever!

Originally published on November 24, 2020, we’re sharing this piece again in connection with the upcoming launch of Trap.

The genre of Christmas romantic comedies can be tricky, with many more misses than hits. Often, filmmakers try to recreate the success of previous ones but usually fall short. For every “The Holiday”, there’s a “Holidate”; for every “The Family Stone”, there’s a “Love the Coopers”. This is why I felt a mix of fear and excitement when I learned about Clea DuVall’s “Happiest Season”. It aims to refresh the genre by doing what should have been done all along: making it LGBTQ+ focused, with a blonde Kristen Stewart character eager to propose to her tall girlfriend, Mackenzie Davis. As a queer Jewish woman who loves Christmas and Kristen Stewart, this movie seemed made just for me; its flop would, to put it bluntly, be devastating.

I was pleasantly surprised when the movie “Happiest Season” turned out not only to be sweet and endearing but also featured Kristen Stewart in a stylish tuxedo with an untucked tie, allowing her to stumble around for a bit. My main issue with the film is its central plot: Harper, played by Mackenzie Davis, is too afraid to tell her traditional family that she’s gay and dating Abby, played by Kristen Stewart. While I understand and respect personal struggles, it’s hard for me to imagine any family being upset about their member dating Kristen Stewart, even if your father is a prominent church leader. Heck, I think he’d probably say something like, “… alright, that’s cool.”

Moving on from my previous point, let’s discuss another aspect of the movie. “Happiest Season” predominantly revolves around two lesbian characters. However, there’s a subtle gay moment that I found quite thoughtful. This scene involves Harper’s mother (played by Mary Steenburgen) showing Abby (perceived as Harper’s roommate) around their home, which is typical of Christmas movie families. The tour ends in Harper’s old bedroom where her eccentric sister, Jane (Mary Holland), opens Harper’s closet door to reveal a collage of unidentifiable male models. Among them, a large central photo of 1998’s most popular heartthrob, Joshua D. Hartnett, stands out. A poster next to him reads, “Teen Beat,” indicating it was torn from that magazine. Abby seems taken aback and says, “Wow.” Jane then playfully presses her face against Josh’s photo, commenting, “Is it hot in here, or is it just him?”

In the given scene, it seems clear that Harper’s closet, adorned with pictures of muscular men, symbolizes her deep-rooted closetedness. However, upon closer observation, I suspect there might be a hidden layer to this portrayal. Queer themes often rely on subtle hints, so I believe that director-writer DuVall, who is herself queer, wouldn’t casually include a picture of Josh Hartnett without adding additional meanings. The two actors previously worked together in the movie “The Faculty,” which emphasized the significance of scrutinizing heteronormative figures and their motives. Moreover, there appears to be a strong resemblance between them.

Growing up as a budding bisexual, I initially attributed my strong feelings towards Josh Hartnett on “Boy Meets World” to simple hair admiration. However, these emotions were far from tame; they were borderline obsessive. A favorite pastime of mine during my adolescence was to collect Hartnett’s photos from magazines, meticulously arranging them on poster boards that adorned various spots in my room. While the internet was emerging at this time, it wasn’t yet the Josh Hartnett information hub we know today. Instead, I kept up with his career through updates sent by my mom’s friend DeDe who lived in Minneapolis, Hartnett’s hometown.

Moving on to the topic of Hartnett’s allure, it’s clear why he was so appealing to individuals from the ’90s with romantic feelings: his distinctive features such as squinty eyes, brooding silence, flowing hair, and the unibrow that showed he didn’t care about societal norms. Even those in megachurches found themselves drawn to Joshua Hartnett during his prime years. However, after watching Happiest Season, I propose a theory: Hartnett was especially captivating for young, perplexed lesbians growing up in the ’90s. This attraction can be largely attributed to his resemblance to DuVall, who, through movies like But I’m a Cheerleader, was becoming a symbol of the queer community despite not yet coming out (as you may have noticed, there are many layers to this).

Not only did it aid in the impact, but it was also significant that Josh Hartnett’s films subtly conveyed queer themes: Movies such as “Here on Earth” and “Pearl Harbor ” portray two men who are unable to be together, with their rivalry revolving around Kate Beckinsale and Leelee Sobieski. Additionally, he starred in a film about a British hairdressing competition. From an astronaut’s perspective, Hartnett’s career trajectory could be seen as a form of queer storyline: He shone intensely before fading into self-imposed exile in Europe, much like Oscar Wilde. In any case, I came to understand that Josh Hartnett served as an ideal introduction for those exploring homosexuality.

As a fellow admirer, I couldn’t help but wonder: has there ever been a time when your lesbian journey was marked by an undeniable fascination with Josh Hartnett? Well, it seems like I stumbled upon the question I’ve unknowingly longed to ask! Jessica shared her thoughts, “I never knew I was waiting for this question, but here we are.” She confessed, “Oh yes, I was smitten. Just rewatching ‘The Virgin Suicides’ after 15 years reminded me of how captivated I was when the film first released. Josh Hartnett is in that league of men – the Heath Ledger, Keanu Reeves, Tom Hardy category – that women who are into women find irresistible.”

Most of my friends’ responses suggested that the film “40 Days and 40 Nights” significantly contributes to Hartnett’s queer allure. They considered it a cinematic representation that is inherently gay, much like how playing video games might inaccurately label someone as violent. Haley particularly enjoyed the scene where Hartnett makes Shannyn Sossamon react to a flower (or feather, according to her), stating it was exceptionally gay. Teo initially hesitated to admit her attraction to Hartnett but discussed the film’s lesbian undertones, believing its storyline about abstinence was a unique perspective on female sexuality. She also noted Hartnett’s androgynous appearance in the movie. Our conversation soon veered towards appreciating Sossamon’s beauty, with Teo stating that she resembled a woman who should be in a relationship with another woman, and Hartnett appeared to be one as well.

A few days passed, and I managed to chat with Sossamon for another story. Seizing the moment, I inquired if she was aware that her on-screen partnership with Hartnett symbolized a sexual awakening for countless women worldwide (an unverified claim). With grace, she evaded the question, saying, “Josh is very charming, and it’s understandable. It was only my second film.” She added that she hasn’t spoken to him in ages but remembered him as warm and endearing. When I sensed a unique opportunity, I asked about her memories of the love-making scene with a flower. “I was apprehensive, wondering how on earth we would pull this off,” she chuckled. “In my personal life, I can’t imagine it happening. Different preferences exist for everyone. On set, it was hard not to laugh. I thought, ‘Who would do this?’ The director kept reassuring us, saying, ‘Some people might, some people might.’ And I replied, ‘Alright.'”

Some individuals I surveyed had reservations about the film “40 Days and 40 Nights,” stating that Josh Hartnett’s appeal as a queer character might be found elsewhere. My friend Claire, who admired him in “The Virgin Suicides” and other projects during his younger years, expressed dissatisfaction with the movie, feeling that Hartnett was betraying her by playing that character. When asked why, she explained that she enjoyed the denial aspect (longing/celibacy – very queer), but found him off-putting as a fraternity type, even though he showed his sensitive side. She also mentioned that she preferred the celibate Josh Hartnett and felt that he had a “queer vibe,” with his “Penny Dreadful” character hooking up with Dorian Gray being the most captivating. (See below.)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=mMjihwKsqW0&feature=youtu.be

Without prompting, several friends brought up the fact that Hartnett and
DuVall are twins. “I do think there’s something sort of girlie about him,” said Marian. “He looks like the dyke from But I’m a Cheerleader a little bit.” My friend Jamie did not want to get into it any further, except to say, “Ya, he’s gay. Everyone is gay, Rachel. You can quote me on that,” followed by a flamingo emoji. (To be clear, I do not think Hartnett himself is gay, though I don’t think he’s not not gay. Josh, call me. Just to tell me if you’re gay.)

In a casual conversation, it was mentioned that Josh Hartnett might not fit the stereotype of queer roots some people associate with him. My friend Hallie, referring to Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal in “Romeo + Juliet,” suggested that Hartnett has a certain squint that could be interpreted as gay. I agreed that squinting is indeed a common characteristic in gay representations. Hallie humorously added that if someone squints hard enough, everyone appears to be gay. Estelle found Hartnett’s American charm overpowering, describing him as too wholesome for her taste. When asked who she considered Hartnett’s counterpart, she mentioned unassuming figures like JTT and Jonathan Brandis. Madison admitted that she was too young to fully appreciate Hartnett during his prime, while Clio, who doesn’t watch movies, had forgotten Hartnett’s name.

To ensure a well-rounded perspective on my rigorous study, I consulted Hazel, my only straight female friend, about her feelings towards Hartnett. She responded that she had never been attracted to him. Next, I reached out to several gay male friends, and while many showed mixed or mild interest, some mentioned ambivalence or a faint liking. Dan, for instance, expressed no attraction to Brad Pitt, so his feelings towards Hartnett were minimal. Chanan shared similar sentiments, hinting at a resemblance to Ashton Kutcher. The Ryans, who must always be quoted as one unit, suggested they might have had a small interest due to Hartnett’s Ethan Hawke-like vibe, but admitted they hadn’t thought much about him until now. However, David Michael was an exception, reminiscing about his sister’s magazines featuring shots from Pearl Harbor and expressing that Hartnett is attractive and would make a gentle lover. (I find the label “scraggly” inappropriate for Hartnett; he is more square-shaped.)

As a queer millennial woman who grew up in the ’90s, I can attest to the powerful impact of Tiger Beat magazine and the heartthrobs it featured. The images of these idolized celebrities adorning our walls served as both inspiration and a symbol of our secret desires. In the case of “Happiest Season,” I believe that Clea DuVall, a fellow queer icon, intentionally included Josh Hartnett in her film to create a subtle nod to our shared experiences. By casting him as a character, she was sending a message to young, queer girls like myself who once plastered their rooms with pictures of Josh and dreamt of being more like him. It’s a small gesture, but one that speaks volumes about the power of representation and the importance of visibility in our community. I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and validation when I see this kind of acknowledgment from someone who understands our struggles and triumphs.

2024-08-02 16:54

Was Josh Hartnett a Millennial Gay Stepping-Stone? An Investigation.

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