1980's Cruising is perhaps one of Pacino's lesser known films and one of his most controversial.

It is about the leather/s&m homosexual club scene in New York City where a serial killer is preying on its members. Al Pacino is a detective who goes undercover as a leatherman to infiltrate the scene and find out what's going on.

The film was heavily protested against by the gay scene. Did you see this one? Did it live up to all of the hype and reputation that it has?

I have never seen it, but I wouldn't refuse to see it because it's "offensive" like a lot of people would. I think a lot of gay rights activists forget that 1980 was practically a different world than we live in today, back then The Village People were practically the only notable gay entertainers (remember that Elton John immediately denied being gay after the fallout from his Rolling Stone interview and even got into a sham marriage in the 80's to save face) and the series Soap was shocking the hell out of everyone despite Jodie's lack of a sex life, but because he was gay and it was said out there, it was seen as immoral filth. I think a lot of gays like to play the role of martyrs and any mainstream movie that might have a gay villian is going to ruffle some feathers (see Basic Instinct and The Silence Of The Lambs for further reference) but I think that if a movie is well-done and has a gay villian without making him a "sissyfied homo", so be it. Gays want to be seen as equals, but in that cast, wouldn't have gay and lesbian villians in movies only be a step towards that?

If it ever comes on tv I'd watch it and look at it from the perspective that it was made almost thirty years ago in an entirely different climate.