It is truely a classic.

Anyone who has not seen it yet, you need to go now and rent it.

Just saw the trailer for Camp. It looks good, but doesn't open in Toronto until this Friday. Also want to see Shaolin Soccer, a Hong Kong movie that combines martial arts and soccer.

Did see
The Magdalene Sisters. What struck me was not just the Dickensian conditions (evil nuns, perverted priests, prison-like conditions), but that in many cases these girls' families disowned their daughters, forcing them to give up their babies for adoption and sending them to these horrific places. And all because of their faith. It actually made me think of parents who disown their gay children. And I can't understand how people can be so unspeakably cruel as to hurt the people they love the most. And it's a wonder that these young women were able to survive such a cruel blow to their self worth.

-----------------

Saw Camp. The reviews were so-so, and indeed the movie is full of flaws. BUT, it's very likeable and I enjoyed it. Two of the actors from the movie were on a recent cover of The Advocate.

[ August 08, 2003, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Haven't seen it yet, but the trailers looked promising. :cool:

Has anybody else seen "Three to Tango", with Matthew Perry? Remember -?- he'd been assumed to be gay, and the whole misunderstanding got blown out of proportion.

Anyway, never saw it originally because it didn't look too good - and believe you me, it ain't. But that's not why I posted.

There's a wierd sort of gay-positive message in there, despite a missed opportunity for two men kissing about 2/3rd a way through. Between Matthew Perry and the character of a Chicago Bears football player.

I'd like to hear from some of you guys who may have seen it as to your opinion. I was left unsure.

I just saw Freaky Friday and i LOVED it. Gr8 remake. Jamie Lee Curtis & Lindsey Lohan are amazing. And DAMN! Mark Harmon still looks good.

How many of us saw Summer School more than once just to see him in shorts? ME ME ME ME!

Anyway, a gr8 summer movie full of laughs and some wonderful acting by the 2 lead ladies.I hope Lindsey Lohan sticks around for awhile.

I give it 2 wrists up!

I saw Three to Tango in theatres (free passes), and I barely remember a thing about it, much less any message it may contain. Unless illustrating the unpleasant result of eating nasty-looking tuna melts is a message, that is...

Speaking of passes, the Village Voice sent me a pair for a screening of Thirteen this Tuesday. Haven't heard much about it, other than it's a teen drama (meaning a drama about teens, not for teens) starring Holly Hunter.

Thirteen was quite a controversial film at Sundance(?). It's co-written by a 14 or 15-year old, and I believe it's about a girl straying into sex and drugs etc. at 13.

I saw a Spanish movie a few weeks ago called Km.O, a fun light movies, many sub plots, nice gay themes. I would recommend it if it comes to your neck of the woods.

This isn't a movie in theaters, but just got the chance to catch "All Over the Guy" which I think came out last year - for those who didn't hear about it/don't remember it, basic premise is straight couple meets and sets up their two gay friends, who proceed to have a very up-and-down relationship.

Was totally impressed by this flick, although it is by no means perfect. The script is a little ragged, and issues come up, get resolved and you're not sure why, but overall I really enjoyed it - mainly because of its characterizations of the two gay men, who were wonderfully whole, funny, insipid, dysfunctional human beings. Their sexuality was part of, but not the basis for, their characters, and their dysfunctions arose not from their sexuality, but run-of-the mill other life crap that everyone goes through (hysterical cameo by Andrea Martin as one of the guy's mothers - totally overly touchy-feely psychologist with bizarre parenting ways).

It is refreshing to see a film that has such complete gay characters, and really liked that they still had their flaws at the end, and you aren't really sure if the "happy ending" will last, just a really nice flick - I recommend catching it on cable or renting it if you get the chance.

I LOVE that movie! and Richard Ruccolo is an absolute baby doll. I'm still grieving over the fact that he's marrying that slut, Tiffany Amber-Thiessen. He's MINE damnit! Mine!

anyway..... it was a sweet movie.

SPELLBOUND!!!!!!! Gr8 Movie.

Swimming Pool is pretty good. Very interesting character study of a 50ish English British murder mystery writer that turns into a suspense story. One or two too many plot twists for my taste but overall Swimming Pool is well worth seeing.

Saturday I saw Step Into Liquid, a documentary promoting the surfing culture. There is some great cinematography and great surfer dude eye candy.

I found the two gay characters in "All Over The Guy" to be extremely annoying. They'd pick fights, make up, pick fights again, make up, pick fights again...and always over the dumbest or most inconsequential things.

Whale Rider...beautiful movie.

I rented the DVD for a movie called "The Grey Zone" last weekend.

It's a VERY good movie. Very disturbing, very graphic, but is thought provoking.

It's about a group of Sonderkommandos at Aushwitz-Birkenau in December 1944.

The Sonderkommandos were normally Jewish inmates, who processed the other Jews for extermination. They were normally allowed to live 4 months, then they were killed and new ones were chosen.

The story is about a rebellion by the Sonderkommandos in Dec 1944. It is also about the tension between peoples, ethnic hatred, intolerance, and the eventual destruction this all causes.

There were some scenes that made me look away, but I reccomend the movie highly.

And the most important part of the movie.

It's a true story.

Stars Harvey keitel, amongst others.

Saw Seabiscuit over the weekend. Made my cry like a little gurrrl. Gonna buy it when it comes out.

Saw SWAT this weekend, not so much for the movie itself but for who is in it. Colin Farrell is THE hottest man alive.

(Cut/Paste) http://www.geocities.com/guidetofarrell/im...ges/colin01.jpg

[ August 18, 2003, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: UW Fan ]

I am loving Queen Latifah more and more - she was funny as hell in Bringing Down the House. A good rental. And if Saturday Night Live reruns when she hosted, catch it. She was fantastic in some of the skits and the best SNL I've seen in years.

American Splendor. Don't know rock I have been living under that I knew nothing about Harvey Pekar before this movie. Thought it was good, but not as great as some of the reviews would have you believe.

Le Divorce. From what I could tell the movie wasn't about anything. Merchant/Ivory need to stick to E.M. Forster adaptations.

[ August 21, 2003, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Thirteen turned out to be your run-of-the-mill "edgy" indie flick. It's well-acted (Holly Hunter is her usual excellent self), but there's nothing in this movie you haven't seen before.

Oh, you mean teen girls pierce their navels, shoplift, stay out after dark, make out, and smoke pot? Don't stop the presses.

Anyway, after the Thirteen screening I snuck into Freddy Vs. Jason, which is by far the goriest, most violent chapter in either series. I can't believe this got an R rating - it was extremely violent from beginning to end.

I don't care to discuss this movie any more. I will, however, mention the family a few rows away. The kid couldn't have been more than 12, but what I want to note is that Mom apparently had no problem with her son watching the graphic, wall-to-wall violence, but felt compelled to tell him to cover his eyes during the skinny-dipping scene. Sad, really, but indicative of the warped values that the majority of Americans hold.

I finally saw "Signs" over the weekend (i'm always way behind on the movie-watching). Not as good as it could have been, but still really entertaining.

This really doesn't have anything to do with the actual plot, but for some reason i liked the chemistry between Mel and Joaquin. Actually, i probably do know the reason. Gibson seemed much less robot-like than usual, and i wouldn't mind if Phoenix wanted to live over my garage. I guess i'm a sucker for hot pairs of brothers. God knows, the straight guys love the sister fantasies!

I saw "Swimming Pool" over the weekend. I want to take the people who recommended it to me and my friends out back and hit them between the eyes with a 2-by-4. It was awful!!!
I'm going to see a movie tonight at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival called "Eden's Curve". I hope to God it's not the usual schlock this over-hyped festival has shown in the past. Out of more than 50 movies offered this year, this is the only one I plan on seeing.

Bobby,

I hope you will post what you think about Eden's Curve, it is a very indie film made here in the wilds of Virginia and North Carolina. I have several friends that are part of the movie as extras, know the family of the star (he is soooo beautiful) and am friends with the writer/producer. Also the mother of the kid is a good friend and not a professional actress. I am biased but thought it was the best of the North Carolina film festival. Some of the editing and cinematography needed work (the movie is about 10 minutes too long) but the characters are well-developed and interesting and there are some pretty hot scenes. They need a distributer, it is currently shown only at glbt film festivals. I was presently surprised how much I enjoyed it.

bballrib,
Thanks for the info. I am looking forward to seeing it. I'll report in tomorrow with what I think.

Am looking forward to seeing "The Magdalen Sisters" this weekend. Should bring back all kinds of fond memories of the good sisters during my two years - 1st and 2nd grade - of Catholic School! Am still trying to get to "Winged Migration" too; I'm a sucker for nature flicks!

BTW, "28 Days Later" is one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. I highly recommend it.

bballrob,
Well, I went to see "Eden's Curve" last night. I think it is very well-intentioned movie, but it needs quite a bit of cleaning up (film editing and story tightening). I would like to see the movie transform into something even darker. I kept wanting more and more of Billy (Bryan Carroll) screen-time and less and less of Joe (Trevor Lissauer) even though Joe is a central part of the film. Peter (Sam Levine) is freakin' beautiful -- and a very good actor (I see he likes naked suntanning like I do, too). I can't wait to see where Levine's career goes. Billy's Southern Gentleman bitchiness was VERY entertaining; plus, he is adorable in a Chad Allen sort-of-way. I look forward to seeing him in other films, too. So, which actor are you a friend of the family?

Try to see it on a big screen, as it's visually stunning. As a movie, however, I found it lacking. You'd learn more about animal behavior watching a rerun of Wild Kingdom.

Bobby78751,

Sam Levine is one son of a family here in Danville, Virginia, a very nice and interesting family, his father is a doctor here. Sam was co-captain of the high school football team, good actor, and you should see his younger brother, the wrestler. I hope Sam goes far, he is now living in LA and trying to break big. His mom and dad are very proud of him but a bit squeamish about the content. Oh, and the nude sunbathing scene was shot on the roof of a friend's house about 3 blocks from my house. I wish they had told me, I would have been there to hold the ladder for that day of shooting.

I agree with your criticisms, the editing could have been better, and I didn't like the end, it dwindled instead of climaxing. The strengths are the story and the acting. It was just so amazing to me that a film of that caliber could come out of my little town on a shoestring budget. It shows the indie filmmaking is alive and well. I love the story, it passed my test of a good movie--half way through can you guess the end?

Thanks for your thoughts, I hope "Eden's Curve" gets picked up by a distributor.

Sam's bio says he also participated in ballet, too. That's cool!

I am originally from a small town near Knoxville, Tennessee. I've heard of Danville, I guess from people I knew in college. Also, one of the new Survivor contestants is from Danville!

[ August 28, 2003, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

Damn, never heard of Jon Dalton, and god knows we don't have much art here to consult about. I have got to find out about this guy, will get back to you on that, he is pretty cute. Thanks for the heads-up, Bobby. Danville is a small city in the south of the state, best known for textiles and tobacco, the reason that the economy is headed down.

Dirty Pretty Things is a humane neo-noir about immigrants in London and a human organ smuggling ring! And Audrey (Amelie) Tautou is actually bearable in it.

I liked 28 Days Later also, the blurry digital video suits the material... stay for the "alternate ending" after the end credits. (I must say the last third is a bit weak, like a more conventional action movie.)

Pekar has been left alone by the mainstream since his '80s shouting matches with Letterman ended. I liked the film, but Ghost World it ain't.

I haven't seen Le Divorce, but the only Forster book M&I did justice to was A Room with a View! Too much furniture, too few people!

I agree about the cinematography being right on with the subject matter and the score was perfect. However, I was sort of disappointed with the new alternate ending (which was the original ending that failed during test sceenings). I thought the first ending was appropriate because it sort of leaves room for interpretation, and I thought the alternate ending was sort of disappointing and didn't really live up to the hype. I have seen the film 4 times with four different sets of friends. I'll be buying it when it comes out on DVD on Oct. 21!

[ August 28, 2003, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

While I'm not much of a movie theatre goer, I do visit blockbuster frequently. The week I rented Daredevil, really stupid movie. Even Ben in red leather couldn't help this one. Also rented 'Gangs of New York'. Brilliant film. Martin did a fantastic job. Great performance by Daniel Day Lewis. I loved the final shot; showing the New York skyline grow slowy over the past 150 years, and the fact he left the twin towers in the shot. Coincedently, I rented '9/11'. Powerful!! I didn't rent, but had to buy LOTR The Two Towers. I must not have been in the mood to watch it yet, not that impressed. Seems like it was one long battle scene. Am watching it over again now. Much better the second time around. Saw the trailer for 'Return of the King'. Looks awesome. Only have to wait a few more months for it to come out. I also noticed that Blockbuster is stocking more gay themed movies now like Fluffer and Steam. Though still waiting for a gay porno film starring Lopez.

Never saw it, but it tanked fast. The only good thing that came out of it was that Evanescence song.

Dirty Pretty Things.......Audrey Tatou
I saw "Dirty Pretty Things" starring Audrey Tatou. Very interesting,yet odd film ,about the strange happenings at a West London Hotel.
Audrey Tatou is best remembered for the film "Amelie" in which she starred as "Amelie", a young French girl who does little things to improve the lives of others. "Amelie" was a break-out role for Audrey Tatou and it is great to see her on the screen again.
"Dirty Pretty Things" is no "Amelie". While it has it's comedic moments, it is a more darker film. But once again, Tatou is awesome.

Just saw P.S. Your Cat is Dead.

Not a bad movie. Lombardo Moyar is really cute and I enjoyed seeing his butt most of the movie. I enjoyed his dialogue more than Jimmy Zoole (Steve Gutenberg). He made me like the character, even though I never saw the play or read the book.

The ending was cute and it made me smile.

The Secret Lives of Dentists: upscale couple's marriage threatens to tanks when he (Campbell Scott) suspects her (Hope Davis) of an affair; an aggressive alter-ego (Denis Leary) urges him to confront the situation. Adapted by gay playwright Craig Lucas, directed by the prolific Alan Rudolph... Subtle, thoughtful (hence doomed to art houses). Maybe a little too much comedic puking.

Thank Merciful Heaven....

I'll be attending the Toronto International Film Festival (though I got a bad number in the advance tix draw!) beginning Friday. I will mostly be chasing down obscure international gems, not Hollywood product. May not even have time to squeeze in a Blue Jays-Tigers thriller.

[ September 03, 2003, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: Bill W ]

Oh. My. Gawd. Did anybody catch TCM's lineup last night (Friday)? Naked Gun, Top Secret, Airplane!, and...a movie that's never been on home video called Zero Hour!

Zero Hour!, a drama/thriller from 1957, is the first time I've watched a movie I've never seen before but could quote the dialogue along with. Examples:

"Sluggish, like a wet sponge."

"I just want to say 'good luck'."

"I guess I picked the wrong week to give up smoking."

"You're a member of this crew. Can you face some unpleasant facts?"

"Flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle."

"You ever been in a cockpit before?" "No sir, I've never been up in a plane before!"

"The survival of everyone on board depends on just one thing: finding someone on board who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner."

Sound familiar? In addition to the verbatim dialogue (and the exclamation point in its title), Airplane! contained many other similarities. The co-pilot played by a former Los Angeles pro-ball player (Elroy Hirsch, a retired L.A. Ram). The female passenger in hysterics. Little Joey visiting the cockpit (where the pilot puts his arm around him with perhaps too much affection). The unmarried stewardess. A wife being awoken in the middle of the night by a phone call telling her to come to the airport immediately. Ted Stryker (yes, the same name!) flashing back to the war and recovering in a veterans' hospital. Newspaper headlines prognosticating disaster. Inclement weather. The plane landing while losing its wheels. I could go on, but, really, the only things missing were a jive-talking black duo and a crucial moment in which the heroine's bobby pin saves the day.

Zero Hour! was never intended to provoke laughs, but how can anyone watch this story now with a straight face? It's just as impossible watching an old Leslie Nielsen drama without cracking up. It was actually a delight learning where the ZAZ boys got their material (and AMC occasionally runs Airport 1975, which is where the nun, sickly little girl and singing stewardess originated).

If TCM ever runs Zero Hour! again, I implore every fan of Airplane! to sit down for eighty minutes and watch it. It's an eyepopping experience, in a whole new way.

One of my favorite TV shows, Mystery Science Theater 3000, took on a couple of Leslie Nielsen movies, as well as Peter Graves. Too damned funny watching these guys try and be all serious is just sooo funny.

I'll have to look for Zero Hour. Perhaps its available on video.

Was pleasantly surprised with Matchstick Men. Better than I thought it would be. Nicholas Cage is adorable.

I saw one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. Luster features some of the worst acting and dialogue I have ever seen! Just glad I didn't have to pay as a friend had passes.

did anyone see Once Upon a Time in Mexico when it came out last week?

LOVED IT!!!!!!

Also loved Camp.

Want to see the new Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone, aka the former Mrs. Phil Bronstein (SF joke--never mind)and my partner wants to see the new vampire girl meets werewolf boy movie

That will be good for a two hour nap

Mambo Italiano. Lightweight comedy, being billed as a gay-Italian sort-of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (both were based on Canadian stage plays). Interestingly, although ostensibly gay it's being given wide distribution and I was able to see it in a suburban theatre along with giggling teenagers, seniors, and parents with young children (it's rated 14-A in Canada; R in the U.S., despite no sex or violence). While not great, it's likeable... a gay film you could take your grandmother or niece to.

Oh, and I almost forgot: Peter Miller--who plays Nino, the frequently shirtless closeted cop boyfriend (does copman look anything like this guy?)--is total eye candy. wink

[ September 20, 2003, 06:53 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Camp was overrated. It's Fame, but not as good.

Once Upon A Time in Mexico is excellent, tongue-in-cheek action movie. Depp steals it, of course. I recommend it.

once upon a time is a good movie and Johnny Depp steals the show, very good performance

The last movie I saw was Freaky Friday. Was much better than I anticipated. I thought it was actually better than the Jodie Foster version. Jamie Lee Curtis was great and so was her co-star. Right now, the only movies I'ved liked over the summer have been Freaky Friday, X2: Xmen United, Pirates of the Carribean, and Finding Nemo. Never saw Daredevil or the Hulk. I wish I never saw Tomb Raider, a big waste! Right now the only movie I'm waiting for is the Return of the King. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only thing worth waiting for in the Fall season. I'd even pass up playoff tickets if I could be in New Zealand on premiere night!

American wedding, My partner and I thought it was very funny...
Also saw the trailer for the Lord of the Rings, the Return of the king on the Two Towers DVD I can not wait till the midnight showing!