Recently in Out Movies Category

Dustin Lance Black is such an impressive person and at the age of 28, already quite accomplished. He will very likely be nominated for an Oscar for writing "Milk" (I'm finally seeing it on Monday!) and has become an outspoken activist - especially since the passage of Prop. 8 earlier this month.

I spoke with Mr. Black, a writer for the three years on the HBO series "Big Love," recently about "Milk," the movie he wrote about Harvey Milk, the San Francisco city official and gay rights activist who was gunned down in his office in 1978. It opens Wednesday and is especially timely considering the passing of Prop. 8, which overturned the legalization of same-sex marriages in California.

"I was thinking about it in terms of today but did I know that Proposition 8 would happen? No," he said. "I started it about four years ago. But you probably know when you're listening to the arguments going on across the country starting with Massachusetts and New York, any of these battles are being waged over gay and lesbian rights, they're using the same arguments that were used in 1978. They're sort of scaring people into thinking somehow it would harm their children which is very similar to what was happening in 1978 with Anita Bryant."

In 1978, it was Prop. 6 which tried to ban gay people from teaching in schools and during the weeks leading up to Nov. 4, Black saw history repeating itself in terms of tactics: "If you look at the people who are standing up and opposing gay rights and trying to break them down and take them back, it's really striking to see how similar they speak and it only takes a YouTube search between Anita Bryant and Sarah Palin and you start to get sort of echoes."

So how was it for him as a writer to be with Milk and research all the things he went through?

"It was very deep, it was super deep," he said. "When I first heard about Harvey Milk, I was a closeted young guy from a very conservative home in Texas and you get a little dark. You think about if it's really worth it to keep going. I was really lucky that we moved to the Bay area and I heard the story of Harvey Milk and his message was one of hope which we're hearing echoes of today in this political campaign. And that message of hope almost literally helps keep me alive and helps me in that struggle. So being able to know the man who, for me, was very much a father figure in my adolescence, getting to know him posthumously through all of his friends, through all of this research, was really profound, really deep. I know it sounds corny but I absolutely felt his spirit while I was writing and shooting and certainly when I was surrounded by his friends."

What a wonderful, smart and thoughtful new voice to have in the ongoing LGBT battle for equal rights.

What's really interesting about Matthew Montgomery's film career so far is that while his most significant leading roles have been gay men, they have been in various genres ranging from romantic comedy to drama to sci-fi. We talked about some of his best films in part two of our interview. Click HERE to read part one. But first, Matthew tells me about his inspiration for gay roles: Not long after "Gone But Not Forgotten was released, he started getting fan mail: "I got this letter from this kid one that that said that he really liked the movie and that it made him confident and gave him the courage to come out to his family and accept who he was. Man, are like you kidding? To have that kind of effect on somebody, It was when I got that first email - and subsequently I've gotten many, I have a purpose now. It's more than about me and how many movies I can do what character I can play. It's also about having a voice and standing up for something important and being a part of helping us move forward and integrating us into society... The younger gay generation looks us to up with respect and see that they can be open about who they are and that they can have aspirations and dreams and not have to mask who they are in order to succeed in the world."

Long-Term Relationship: "I loved it and thought it was very funny, the characters very rich. I felt very strongly about the script." The film also marked Matthew's debut as a producer with Guest House Films: "I don't claim to be an expert in the industry but as an actor, when you're on enough sets, you pick up on things and you do know how to run the show and you do know how to put the pieces together. It's all up there in your head. You just have to access it and that's what happened. ... It aso helps me to be very realistic about how it happens. I don't have any illusion of the glamour, I get my hands dirty getting in it and making it work, making it happen. It's a lot of hard work but it's well worth it."

"Gone, But Not Forgotten" "It's about this guy with amnesia who is found in the woods sort of wandering around when he's rescued by a ranger in the area. He has no recollection of his past. The movie is about him trying to recapture whatever his history is. At the start of the movie he doesn't even know what his name is. It's about him rediscovering who he is, where he came from and what that means. And in the meantime he stays with this ranger and, of course they fall in love. For as low budget and low production values as it is, it's surprisingly stayed as one of the top 10 gay movies of all time which is shocking to me."

"Back Soon" "Both characters are supposedly straight and I took it with that approach anyway, I thought it was more interesting. They had never had wanted to have that kind of experience before with another guy. In the end, it's because you realize - and this is a spoiler - it's because my character is being possessed, so to speak, by the character of his dead wife."

Socket: I jumped in head first. I love sci-fi so the idea to combine the two genres of science fiction and gay was, I thought, a great opportunity. The thing I liked about "Socket" is I don't feel that it tries to be more than it really is. You can look at it and sort of interpret it as sort of these underlying elements of drug addiction in the gay world or addiction with relationships. But really on the surface it's just a really cool, creepy, cringe-worthy science fiction movie with gay elements that's a lot of fun. I really loved that we are sort of moving past the typical gay story of coming out. There's still definitely a place for that and I hope those stories continue to be told but it was nice to be a part of something different that was part of a very specific genre.

Pornography: A Thriller: (The film is in post-production and will most likely be released in the first quarter next year.) "This one's really trippy on a psychological basis. It's very non-linear. It;s based on this fictional legend of this former gay porn star who supposedly died in a snuff film. The character that I play is a writer who reviews gay pornography and he comes across footage that could potentially be the actual snuff film that this guy died in. It's really sort of (expletive) with your mind and makes you question what's real and what isn't and who's real and who isn't. I don't think there's anything out there that's ever been done like this. "

On nude scenes: "I'm still not comfortable with it. I'm very sefl conscious about my body so it's very strange to me. the thing thast I;ve been lucky with ius where every movie that I've done where they've asked me to be nude and I've agreed to it, the direvtor and actors i;ve wolrked with have been so considerate and sensitive., always checking my pulse to make sure that I'm ok. there;s been a lkot of talking and pre-planning before we get onto the set so that we do know what we're duty. It's not as sexy as people think. It's very robotic and mechanical. Move here, turn your butt cheek there. It's the very opppsite of romantic or hot - for us anyway. I've done so much nudity is my moveis that when I don't, sometimes I get letters from people who say, 'Why didn't you take your clothes off. I'm like, Are you kidding me? I just don't even respond to those kinds of emails. I didn't really think much about the nudity at the beginning.l If it was there, it was there. Now I think about it a lot more."

The future: Matthew has written his first screenplay about "Stick Figures" about a self-absorbed gay man who is battling through alcoholism who gioes back to his hometown and fins out he has inherited a little girl - his daughter. It's about someone learning how to be a parent."

To learn even more about Matthew, click HERE to get to his web site.

So, if you've seen "The Dark Knight" and "Mamma Mia" already and want to see something with subtitles this weekend, let me suggest "No Regrets."

Here's a synopsis: Set in Seoul, South Korea, the movie centers on Sumin (Lee Young-Hoon), who leaves the orphanage where he grew up and heads to the city to study art design. After losing his job at a factory due to layoffs, he finds himself working as a prostitute in a gay bar. Initially Sumin resists the advances of Jaemin (Lee Han), who comes from a rich and conservative family that doesn't accept his sexual identity. Eventually Sumin succumbs to Jaemin's advances, after they briefly experience happiness as passionate lovers, Sumin and Jaemin's relationship falls into heartache and tragedy.

"No Regret" begins exclusive engagements Friday at the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood and at Cinema Village in New York City. On August 1, it opens at Cinemas Palme d'Or
in Palm Desert, followed by Living Room Theatres in Portland Oregon (Aug. 22) and Landmark Lumiere in San Francisco (Aug. 29).

Here is the trailer:

I saw this movie last year during Outfest and was moved by it. "Holding Trevor, a dramedy focusing on the lives and loves of attractive twenty-somethings, premieres in Los Angeles and New York on July 4th.

The film stars writer and executive producer Brent Gorski and singer/songwriter Jay Brannan (Shortbus) and was directed and produced by Rosser Goodman (Daddy-O, Life's a Butch!, Wet Dress).

Here's a synopsis: Trevor Holden (Gorski) is young, beautiful and intelligent, and desperately looking for himself in all the wrong places. Despite the well-meaning advice offered by his sexually promiscuous best friend and his self-righteous female roommate, Trevor still seems to come up short. Almost ready to throw in the towel, Trevor happens upon Mr. Right. He ends his unhealthy relationship with Darrell, a self-destructive heroin addict, and finds a potential new beginning in Ephram, a medical intern with ambition, a warm demeanor and stunningly good looks.

The movie had me at stunningly good looks. It opens in Denver on July 11th and Palm Springs on July 18th. Other select cities will follow.

Jim Carrey is gay...on-screen at least in the prison break comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris." In case there is any doubt that his character is gay, the actor certainly appears to be camping it up in terms of wardrobe. A gold lions head belt buckle? Pul-eeze! He is pictured with co-star Rodrigo Santoro during filming in Miami but the love of his life in the movie is plaed by Ewan McGregor.

This is gonna be interesting. Based on a true story, Jim plays a con artist who is sent to prison where he falls in love with his cellmate Phillip Morris (McGregor) who is freed from jail. Carrey's character, Steven Russell tries to escape four times in order to be with him. What I wanna know is, why would he ever leave Rodrigo Santoro!

James Franco talked to "Entertainment Weekly" mostly about the upcoming comedy "Pineapple Express" but a few questions about his role as Harvey Milk's lover in "The Mayor of Castro Street" were snuck in there. The film stars Sean Penn and is directed by Gus Van Sant. Here is that part of the exchange:

Now, you've had a number of onscreen love interests: Kirsten Dunst, Neve Campbell, Catherine Keener. In Milk, which comes out in the fall, you play Sean Penn's lover. Where does he rate in terms of your onscreen romances?
JAMES: The top! He's a little hairier than those other ones, but oh well...

That film has an amazing cast: Penn, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, and, of course, Gus Van Sant, who directed.
JAMES: It's hard to think of a director or actor who I regard more highly than [Gus and Sean]. Gus has been a hero of mine since "Drugstore Cowboy" and "My Own Private Idaho." And of course Sean is probably the best actor around. It was great. Surprisingly kind of comfortable and easy. Gus has a very soft-spoken, soft-handed approach, so he just brings everybody together, the right elements together, and then he doesn't really have to do much. It just kind of happens. At least that's how it feels.

Well, I will not ask you what sort of intense, hands-on research you had to do for this film. I'll leave that to the other reporters.
JAMES: I know the two main questions I'm going to be asked in the next year are ''How much pot did you smoke?'' (for 'Pineapple Express') and ''What was it like to kiss Sean Penn?''

The entire interview with James can be found at EW.com

If you only know Charlie David from his role on "Dante's Cove," then you don't know what a thoughtful and intelligent actor and writer that he is. But that will be apparent now his movie "Mulligans" is completed and ready for the film festival circuit. Charlie write the script, acts in the movie and produced it.

I got a note yesterday about what is happening with the movie which is about the father (Dan Payne) of a college student (Derek James) who enters into an affair with his son's best friend who is played by Charlie when he comes to stay with the family for the summer. Also in the film is the lovely Thea Gill of "Queer as Folk" and "Dante's Cove" fame. Here is the trailer:

The movie will be having its world premiere at the Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto on May 18th at 5pm. Other festival acceptances to date include Honolulu, Calgary, Fort Worth, and New York. And that's just for starters!

This next clip includes interviews with the cast and the director and is a good behind the scenes look at what looks to be a terrific film:

FROM DOOGIE TO KUMAR: Neil Patrick Harris and his boyfriend, actor David Burtka, are pictured here at the premiere of "Harold and Kumar go to Guantanamo Bay," a sequel that features NPH as an exaggerated version of himself. Very exaggerated...

KISSING THE GROOM: Here is actor Philipp Karner at last week's premiere of his new film "Kiss the Bride." He plays the high school best friend - and former lover - of the groom who shakes things up when he returns home for the wedding.

There could be a lot worse things that looking a lot like and sharing a first name with Brad Pitt.

That has been the unique experience of the handsome Brad Rowe, a busy actor with a lead role in "Shelter," a gay love story set in a surfing community that opens in limited release on Friday.

"It's definitely been something that's referenced a lot," Brad told me last week. "I wouldn't venture to guess whehter it's hurt or hindered me. It's been something people have latched onto but I think it's waned as I've gotten a little older. Physically, I have changed and he has changed. But anytime people have a little hook to think about, it can never be a bad thing."

Brad, 37, got his first big break 10 years ago in another gay-themed indie film: "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" opposite a pre-"Will & Grace" Sean Hayes. In between has been roles in major feature films ("National Treasure: Book of Secrets"), television series ("Leap of Faith," "1-800-MISSING" ""Wasteland") and scores of TV movies and parts in lower-budget films.

In "Shelter," Brad has, in my opinion, one of the best roles of his career. He plays a Hollywood screenwriter who returns from Los Angeles after a break-up and begins surfing with his younger brother's best friend Trevor Wright.

The two men begin an unexpected romance and embark on an emotional and sometimes exhilarating journey that involves family, artistic dreams and choices.Brad is so good in "Shelter" - winner of the audience award at several film festivals in 2007 - that I found it astonishing that he was brought on board just a week before the movie was due to begin production.

"I didn't have a whole lot of time to mull it over," he said. "I read the script and instantly fell in love with it. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be some beefcake surf film, you never know. I met with (director Jonah Markowitz) and he had a specific vision...Jonah was remarkable. He gave everyone a lot of leeway to bring their own thing. He had a pretty amazing maturity for a first-time feature director. When you go in to doing a project like this, someone who has written it is so invested. But Jonah said, 'This is by all means not my story.'"

So how were two straight actors able to pull of the love scenes in the movie which was shot in just three weeks?

"When you get to the love scene, the physical part on the stairs and on the bed, it's very intense but it was really fun," Brad said. "We had a great time with it. Trevor and I committed to it as actors, the producers committed to making it a safe place with a closed set, and Jonah gave us the freedom to figure it out. He said, 'You guys make it happen in the way that you make it happen' then just sort of let us have at it."

Brad and Trevor's off-screen bond helped the performances: "It's always a crap shoot when you put two actors together who don't know each other. Trevor is a really open, fun goofy person from Southern California and definitely fit that surfer skater punk kid vibe. We just had a great time. We had a light-hearted fun time hanging out and being friends outside of work. It was totally easy and totally fun and I think that does translate onto the screen."

Here is a clip:

Married to Lisa Fiori since 1999, Brad got a bit of a late start in Hollywood because he had an earlier career as a finance manager for political campaigns in Washington, D.C. He's made up for lost time though. In the past year alone, Brad has guested on some of the most popular series on television including "CSI: NY," "How I Met Your Mother," "Ghost Whisperer" and "CSI: Miami."

While those gigs pay the bills, he is trying to be more than an actor for hire and taking a shot at producing, co-writing and acting in the upcoming screwball comedy "For Better or for Worse" that is set to begin shooting in June.

"It's in the vein of 'The Anniversay Party' and 'The Big Chill' - a weekend event film that all takes place in one house," he said. "Rather than being a funeral or a birthday party, the central event of the weekend is a gay wedding."

Here is a another trailer from "Shelter" ....

A gay wedding is the setting for an independent screwball comedy called "For Better or for Worse" that is set to begin shooting in June with a terrific cast that so far includes Chad Allen, Janeane Garofalo, Rebecca Gayheart, Soleil Moon Frye, Patrick Muldoon and Brad Rowe who is also writing and producing.

I'm always happy to see Chad Allen cast in a project because he is always good and I want out actors like him to enjoy as much success as possible. As for Patrick Muldoon, sheesh, I've had a crush on him since before he did "Melrose Place." Those blue eyes are to die for.

I talked to Brad last week about the movie (our interivew will be posted on Sunday) and he is really excited about the project which will be directed by Joshua Tunick: "It's in the vein of 'The Anniversay Party,' 'The Big Chill' - a weekend event film that all takes place in one house," he said. "Rather than being a funeral or a birthday party, the central event of the weekend is a gay wedding."

Frye, best-known as television's "Punky Brewster," will play the lesbian minister presiding over the ceremony at the home of one groom's mother (Ruta Lee). The guests include the jilted ex of one of the grooms and his new beau (Muldoon and Allen), a closeted neighbor (Stanley Kamel), a wallflower sister (Gayheart), a family-man brother (Rowe) and his nanny (Garofalo), who has a bombshell to drop.

There is still a key role to be cast - one of the grooms - but Brad's lips were sealed on who it might be.

I see naked people.
I saw so many of them for so long that after awhile, I actually began to mostly pay attention to the songs they were singing in the new film "Naked Boys Singing" which had a high-energy premiere last night at the Regency Landmark Theatre on LaBrea.
Virtually the entire cast of talented singers and dancers were there (with their clothes on) but I missed their introduction, getting there just in time to give producer Kirkland Tibbles a hug before the movie started.
The movie is based on the long-running off-Broadway musical comedy review featuring 16 original songs and director Troy Christian landed some real talent for the production. Obviously they had to look good naked which wasn't really a problem since these are first-rate singers and dancers. Things start off very fun with the number "Gratuitous Nudity" and it is true, early on in the film, you do start to forget (a little bit) that they are naked. This is a movie I want the soundtrack from - especially for the numbers "The Naked Maid," "Fight the Urge," "Jack's Song," "Nothin' But the Radio On" and my absolute fave: "Perky Little Porn Star." Also really loved the soaring ballad "Kris Look What You've Missed."
Since I missed the arrivals line before the film and wanted to skip the after-party (enough parties for me this week!), I snagged interviews with three cast members as they made their way out of the theater.
Jason Curie, whose big numbers were "The Entertainer" (a real show-stopper), ""Robert Mitchum," and "Fight the Urge" told me he had absolutely no hestiation about being nude on the big screen.
"I've been nude on stage before and actually in some short films. Nudity to me isn't an issue, it's kind of never been a big deal," said Jason (pictured, above). "It was really exciting to watch it with everybody here and see the positive response. I wasn't nervous until 'The Entertainer' came on then it was kind of a rush of, 'Oh God, here we go.' People laughed once the heels got up on the piano and there we go."
After the opening number, Kevin Stea kicks things off wonderfully with the upbeat and fun "The Naked Maid" which had great choregraphy and props. For Stea, the opening night was "kind of nerve-racking. I have lots of friends here and I definitely feel my shyness coming out. Most of my work that I do for camera, you don't ever get to see the audience reaction to it. Being here with the audience and being naked in front of everybody, it's, startling. I'm happy that the reaction is really positive. If they were booing me then I'd be really upset. I'd be running out the door."
He is confident that gay men will like the movie but he is hopeful for widespread appeal: "Give it a go, leave your inhibitions at home and enjoy the ride. Enjoy the courage of the csst asnd the insight of the writers who wrote the songs. There's a lot of entertainment as well as a really strong message. Hopefully, when people come they won't necessarily just be looking for nudity and that by the end of the film, they won't even notice the nudity anymore because hopefully the pieces will stand on their own."
I had to know: is it hard to dance naked?
Said Kevin: "It depends on the temprature (laughs). Yeah, there are definitely other considerations that you have to think about when you're dancing naked - especially dancing as much as I was dancing.

As I left the theater, I spotted Joseph Keane (pictured, above) waiting for his car. He had brought the house down with his big number "Perky Porn Star" and I wanted to get his thoughts about the night.
"I was really excited about my number so I wasn't really nervous," he said. "It's difficult to do anything naked in front of anyone but yourself. But the process was really fun but it was really nerve-racking at first."
Joseph added: "I didn't have any trepitdation about beiing nude. I more was concerned about the material having not seen it before auditioning. But after talking with Kirkland Tibbles and Troy Christian about their vision, I was really excited."
The title is provocative and the actors certainly are nude, but Joseph assures there is nothing to be afraid of: "Personally for me, I wouldn't have signed on unless I could show this to my mom and my grandma and all my family members so I say go out and see it. I think there's a lot of stereotypes with male nudity and this is just a funloving show that happens to show a lot of make nudity. I think that "The Full Monty" was a big success and I think this is gonna be too."

It's taken an awful long time for writer-director Ryan Shiraki's comedy "Freshman Orientation" to make it to theaters but it is a film that is worth the wait. I saw it at Outfest (I think it was last summer) and again on DVD recently and it is a sweet and funny film with a very talented cast led by Sam Huntington as college student, Clay, who pretends to be gay in order to get the girl of his dreams.
Also in the cast is the hilarious out actress Heather Matarazzo ("Welcome to My Dollhouse," "Princess Diaries"), a very funny Marla Sokoloff as a militant campus lesbian, SNL's Rachel Dratch as a middle-aged campus slut, Kaitlin Doubleday as the object of Huntington's affection, Mike Erwin as Clay's closeted roommate, and a terrific John Goodman as a big-hearted gay bar owner who shows Clay the ropes.
The film will begin playing at the Regent Showcase Theater, 614 N. La Brea (at Melrose) on Agu. 31 and I do recommend it. It will also premiere in New York and a gradual rollout is planned.
I spoke with Shiraki, a former head of talent for "Saturday Night Live" about his movie recently. "Orientation" is his first film and was made in 23 days on a budget of $1 million.
“I’m happy that it's coming out. I had no idea what was going to happen to the film after [its 2004 debut at] Sundance," he said. I’m really thrilled that the movie is going to be seen by more than my inner circle of friends and that people like it.”

So how was a first-time filmmaker able to assemble such a high-caliber cast with so little money?
"I used to work at 'Saturday Night Live' as head of talent so I knew Rachel and John and we were just able to attract these actors based on the material. Heather made the part her own, she really took it and ran with it. Same with Marla Sokoloff. I felt really lucky to get her in the film. She's very talented and funny. And Sam Huntington, I’ve always been a fan of. It was always seen as an ensemble film and I wanted to cast it as an ensemble and not give anyone short-shrift. I tried to write it so each had their own big scene.”
Getting Goodman was made easier because the film was shot in New Orleans where the actor lives: "I had worked with him at least once a year in SNL. He was in town for a few days and I asked if I’d get a few days in this movie. He was really great to work withb for the younger actors. He's an incredibly deft comedian and always in character and really knows the heart of a scene.”

While Huntington's character is straight pretending to be gay, his is an open-m inded character who ends up being a poster boy for fighting violence against gays and handles things with much care when his best friend and roomate Matt (Mike Irwin), confesses his true feelings for Clay and kisses him. Clay let's the kiss go on for a bit because he's curious to see if he likes it.
“The financiers didn't want to make some big coming out narrative, they wanted something broad, which I respected," the director said. "But I didn't want him to kiss aniother man and then barf all over him. So there was just one moment of, 'Hmmm. But not for me.”
Adds the 37-year-old Shiraki: “Matt is the idealized version of myself. I didn't get the hot frat guy in the end nor was I was hot. But we did have the same glasses.”

The titles are tacky and the movies raunchy but the "Eating Out" franchise has so far been surprisingly funny, boasted hot and talented casts, and had a little bit of heart. I have learned EXCLUSIVELY (I've been itching to say that) that yes, there will be an "Eating Out 3."
"I never would have imagined it," Q Allan Brocka, who directed the first movie and wrote and produced both films, told me last week. (What am I doing holding an EXCLUSIVE for an entire week?)
"It will be next year. Nothing is official yet with who's coming back and who's not and we're going to base the story on who we can get and who's available," he said. "We just know we're doing it, we don't know more than that."

The first two films featured "American Idol" season one finalist Jim Verarros as well as the very funny actresses Rebeka Kochan and Emily Stiles (now known as Emily Brooke Hands). Ryan Carnres, who starred in the first film before his role as Andrew Van de Kamp's lover on "Desperate Housewives." He declined the sequel and was replaced by Brett Chuckerman.
Each film also have this in common: a hunky straight guy pretending to be gay in order to get a girl.In the firsat film it was Scott Lunsford and the second, Marco Dapper. Producer Michael Shoal tells me it's not crucial that the same leads return since "We always bring new meat to the market. The first two films were a success in their own way. One of the nice things about doing another sequel is that it can be completely different but just as intriguing, just as sexy, just as completely out there and just as politically incorrect. It's the type of film that nobody else would make but us."
After the jump, check out some sexy stills from the first two "Eating Out" films and if you have not seen either one, you can get an idea of why they have been so successful...

Related posts:
- Meet Marco Dapper
- Jim Varraros: From American Idol to Eating Out
- A tacky title but a funny movie

Kind of tough to imagine anyone but Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as the leads in "Brokeback Mountain" with Ang Lee directing. But, if director Gus Van Sant had his way, he would have been behind the camera with Matt Damon and Joaquin Pheonix as the two cowboys in love.
In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, Damon confesses it is a regret of his:
“... Years ago, [Good Will Hunting director] Gus Van Sant wanted to do it with me and Joaquin Phoenix. But I was on my way to Italy to do "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and then "All the Pretty Horses." And Gus wanted to do "Brokeback" right after. And I was like, ‘Gus, I’m going to do a gay movie, then a cowboy movie. I can’t follow it up with a gay-cowboy movie!”[Laughs]

The Adam Sandler-Kevin James comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" came out while I was knee-deep in Outfest coverage so I just got around to seeing it on Sunday afternoon. And I gotta say, there was nothing in the movie that bothered me as much as the fact the premiere for the "Bratz" movie was going on at the same time at The Grove. One of the mom's snapping a picture of her precious one swung around and her backpack collided with me. She looks at me and says impatiently: "EXCUSE me." I just kept walking, muttering "bitch" under my breath. I don't know who the actresses are who play the Bratz but they were all there along with an odd smattering of celebs ranging from Oscar winner Jon Voight to "American Idol" also-ran Ace Young.
Oh yeah, the movie. It's about a pair of firefighters, best friends, pretending to be gay in order to secure benefits for the widowed firefighter's (Kevin James) kids in case he is killed. But they undergo scrutiny by the state's pensiion board so get married in Canada and even sleep in the same bed in order to pull off the ruse.
I know there are some people who thought the movie to be homophobic which it is, at first. But it really does come around and in the end, makes a good statement against homophobia. Does that make it a good movie? No. But I always like Adam Sandler and I can't think of a movie where I found him more adorable. He'd make a terrific gay man. What I liked best was how Sandler's character handles the effeminate son of James's character. The boy wants to sing and dance - just like Justin on "Ugly Betty" and he ends up being his biggest champion - encouraging him to be who he is.
If every child who is "different" was embraced this way rather than shunned or made fun of - even by their own families - this world would be a much happier place.
Other good things: Jessica Biel, Richard Chamberlain and Lance Bass (in a cameo) are also in the cast.

I love sharing this news. here! Films has just announced that it has acquired North American distribution rights to the award-winning comedy Fat Girls, written, directed, starring and produced by emerging filmmaker Ash ChristianI saw this movie at last year's Outfest and was absolutely charmed by it. Read my year-old post: Channeling Your Inner Fat Girl.The comedy focuses on the trials and tribulations of Rodney Miller (Christian), a gay theater-obsessed high school senior who has his heart set on becoming a Broadway star. With his overweight best friend and fellow social outcast Sabrina (Ashley Fink) by his side, the pair tries to find dates for their high school graduation dance sending them on a journey of self-discovery.
Says Mark Reinhart of here! Films:“We are thrilled to help bring Mr. Christian’s debut project to theaters across the country. "Fat Girls" explores the angst and social isolation so many teenagers face as they struggle to fit in during the tough high school years. We hope audiences will fall in love with these characters.”

Well, well, imagine my delight when I clicked over to the terrific AfterElton.com site this morning to see their lead story: Gay Movie Sex Scenes that Made History.Now most of them in the article, I'm seen and loved - including the photo at right of Daniel Day Lewis and another actor whose name I can't recall in "My Beautiful Launderette."
But one movie I had never heard of and now absolutely must see (I mean, look at the pictures!) is "Wet Hot American Summer. Set in 1981, the article states that "Summer" has become a cult favorite (sign me up for that cult!), especially among gay viewers for its unabashedly positive portrayal of a gay couple — sex and all. In fact, the gay couple is the only one in the film who even has a sex scene, and it's played more for heat than laughs.
The camp's hottest preppy (played by Alias' Bradley Cooper) is in love with another counselor (comedian Michael Ian Black), and they even get married, to the supposed dismay of the straight colleagues who — in true summer camp form — have been trying to get one of the men laid with a girl counselor all summer (the straight guys, far from horrified, actually buy the newlywed gay couple a chaise lounge for a wedding present)."
So sweet! How did I not ever see this movie? In addition to Cooper and Black, the cast also includes Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Molly Shannon ands Amy Poehler.
Check out the article, lots of video clips with it too!

Well, now I really can't wait to see this flick. Page Six reports: "ALAN Cumming may love his new flick, "Suffering Man's Charity" - but not too many others did at its premiere at the Core Club. Some scenes in the dark comedy - about a "failed composer turned music teacher with a weakness for impoverished young men" - were too much for the crowd. During a gruesome torture scene involving a scantily clad David Boreanaz and a whip, several people left and a woman fainted. Cumming - who adapted, directed, produced and stars in the movie - was unfazed and partied with Paper magazine execs afterward."
I'm sorry people fainted but a "Scantily clad Davi9d Boreanaz" I gotta see!

One of my favorite things to do when in Palm Springs is to take in an afternoon movie at the Camelot, an arthouse theater where you can sip on wine while watching a film and escape from the scorching afternoon sun. On Saturday, I took in "Waitress" starring Keri Russell, a movie that is one of the sleeper hits of the summer. It just quietly, week after week, hovers around the bottom of the top 10.
My friend Sue and I have been planning to see it soon but I jumped the gun. Sorry Sue! "Waitress" initially got my attention because of the murder of writer-director and co-star Adrienne Shelly who was killed a month before this wonderful film made a triumphant debut at Sundance.
What a gem she left behind. Keri Russell leaves "Felicity" behind for good with her wonderous performance as Jenna, a diner waitress who is something of a pie genius who names her creations after the tumultuous events and emotions of life. An example: "I Don't Want Earl's Baby" Pie--a quiche of egg and cheese with a smoked ham center.
The close-knit relationships she has with the diner's two other waitresses (portrayed by Charyl Hines and Shelley) help get her through the hell that is her life with her annoying, needy, controlling and abusive husband (Jeremy Sisto, even creepier than he was in "Six Feet Under.").

Jim Carrey has played many people in his very interesting career - characters both light and dark - but the only gay-themed project I remember him acting in was the superb telefim "Doing Time on Maple Drive" directed by Ken Olin way back in the early 90s when Carrey was a cast member on "In Living Color." In "Maple," he played the alcoholic brother of a closeted gay college kid played by the wonderful William McNamara.
But Carrey is about to play gay, something reported in Daily Variety yesterday which was then posted on Towleroad.com. Carrey will play Steven Russell, a real-life gay convict currently serving a 144 year prison sentence in Texas, "in I Love you Phillip Morris," based on the Steve McVicker book of the same name.

A few years ago, I actually FELL ASLEEP while watching "Ocean's Twelve" at The Grove. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Hated it. Was bored by it. Was actually pissed off by it because it was such a bad follow-up to "Ocean's Eleven" which I had absolutely loved.
Well, good news: "Ocean's Thirteen" is terrific.
I attended a packed screening Monday night at the Bruin Mann Theatre in Westwood of the film, which opens on Friday. As I walked out, I heard people say things like: 'That was so much better than the second one" and "That was pretty good!" and a few 'I loved it!" It's fun to hear that kind of positive buzz about a movie that deserves it.
Brad Pitt, George Clooney and to a lesser degree Matt Damon are the heart of this franchise and have a wonderful, easy chemistry on-screen. Clooney and Pitt in particular play off each other well - literally finishing each other's sentences at some points and ribbing each other at the end with some not-so-inside jokes. As they part ways at the end, Pitt says to Clooney someting like: "Don't let your weight go between jobs" (a reference to the weight Clooney gained for his Oscar winning role in "Syrianna" and Clooney responded with: "Why don't you have a couple of kids." The preview audence laughed knowingly.
Another comic highlight: the Oprah moments. That's all I'm saying on that.