(Dir. William Clift. US, 2011. 118 mins).

The title to this recommended new gay movie release might suggest a fluffy rom-com, but what you get is a smart, stylish and highly original ‘Proposition 8′ dramedy with another stand-out performance from Matthew Montgomery.

He stars as lonely, awkward, obsessive advertising exec Paul Roll. It’s at his friends’ gay wedding that he meets handsome, charming activist Jim and starts to hear wedding bells, but first he must clear the hurdle of his shy, self-doubting nature. Not helping the situation are Paul’s rich, bickering parents and a new advertising contract with an ultra right wing, pro-Prop 8 organisation – something he’s keen to hide from Jim and his circle of friends.

Baby Jane? writer/director William Clift provides us with a fresh, aslant take on a momentous event in recent LGBT history and fills it with delicious humour, passionate sentiment and great characters. Clift is a scene-crafter in the vein of filmmakers like Greg Arakki, creating great moments rather than treating scenes as points from Plot A to Plot B – a fun side-story sees Paul’s shambolic mum marooned in the desert with a wise, enigmatic drag queen as she journeys to see her son.

It’s one of the best made gay movies of 2011: the cast are excellent and cinematographer John Lore makes the whole thing look retro gorgeous. It’s also another notch up for Montgomery who clearly relishes playing such an unflattering, idiosyncratic character.