With winter FINALLY here (hello New York -- recovered from that avalanche I trust), the time
has finally arrived for the 2006 Winter DVD Roundup. This includes several titles (definitely
worth repeating) that I included in last week's Valentine's Day column and many more besides.
Here's 16 sweet reasons to stay at home and snuggle up with your DVD player:
a major studio with box office stars, look no further than 1982’s Making
Love, making its DVD debut courtesy of Fox Home Video. Okay, so Michael
Ontkean wasn’t exactly A-List box office. Okay, so Harry Hamlin wasn’t either
(though he had made a fetching debut in Clash of the Titans the previous year).
But in retrospect, the career risk these two took over 20 years ago is pretty
astonishing. The film, written by the openly gay Barry Sandler, is a character
study that follows the story of a successful doctor deliriously in love with wife
Kate Jackson who suddenly finds himself attracted to men. And when he meets
Harry Hamlin wild horses, let alone a former Charlie’s Angel, can’t stop him from
jumping the fence. This is a full on gay romance complete with love scenes.
The film tracks the dissolution of the heterosexual relationship in favor of a
happy, healthy gay one – albeit with a few bumps and some partner changes
on the road. And that still hasn’t been matched by any mainstream Hollywood
release. Kudos to all involved -- and a plug for Roberta Flack's beautiful title
song. Further background on the reception of the film is included in The
Celluloid Closet – which always gains my highest recommendation. Check that
out in lieu of any extras on this DVD.
From Wolfe Video comes The Journey, a sensual story of forbidden lesbien
love. Set in the lush, rural Kerala, Chicagoan Ligy J. Pullapally’s lyrical, lesbian-
themed story covers territory rarely visited by Malayalam filmmakers. The film
begins with the childhood friendship between beautiful, outgoing Delilah, and
her new neighbor, the shy Kiran. As the two girls grow into young adulthood,
their friendship intensifies into the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name and in
rural Malaysia, you’d better believe that lesbian taboos still exist. The sensitive
story is integrated with great details of local customs and the film is beautifully
photographed. Those with a penchant for world cinema should look no further
than this poetic movie. The DVD includes a director's commentary and the
trailer. For those looking to explore the "L" lifestyle look no further than
another release from Wolfe Video, The Ultimate Lesbian Short Film
Festival. The DVD cover promises "10 short films full of intrigue! Fantasy!
Suspense! and of course, SEX!" and let me tell ya ladies (and lovers of ladies
together), it delivers!
At the other end of the spectrum is the sexy and silly eXposed: the
making of a legend just out from TLA Releasing. Is it possible that the
creation of a porn film could be anything more than titillating and potential J/O
material? This jocular documentary cheerfully attempts to debunk that notion.
Mr. Pam, the film’s female director, was with the cast and crew of the Colt
Studios production of BuckleRoos. She captures seemingly everything you’d ever
want to know and a lot that you don’t particularly care about. Stupid and sexy
and kinda fun nonetheless. That and the weight that the "screenwiter" and
"director" bring to their observations about their "film" are unintentionally
hilarious. The ironies abound throughout -- as do the hot guys. Aptly grouped
in TLA's "Guilty Pleasures Collection." The disc includes a nice assortment of
extras. Obviously, there's plenty of nudity and strong sexual content.
Another title from TLA Video focuses on gay porn, this is the documentary
Sex/Life In L.A. 2, the follow-up to director Jochen Hick's original
examination of the lives of several members of the porn industry. This is a
fascinating, sexy, sad, and disgusting (the segment on the bareback video
producers scouting the country in their motor home looking for fresh "actors")
film worth checking out.
Hellman memoir "Pentimento" that according to some scholars makes James
Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" look as honest as Abe, this is the story of the
intense friendship of playwright Hellman and her girlhood friend, the
mysterious, wealthy and politically active Julia. During WWII Julia asks her old
friend Lillian to smuggle bribe money into Berlin to help free political prisoners.
As Lillian (Jane Fonda) goes on her dangerous journey, she remembers the
friendship with Julia (Vanessa Redgrave). Fred Zinnemann's film is gorgeously
photographed and acted (both Redgrave and Jason Robards as Hellman's lover,
novelist Dashiel Hammett received Supporting Oscars). The core of the film is
the detail in the friendship between the two women -- which many have
interpreted as being lesbian in nature. Whether such a relationship existed
between the two (or, more honestly, even at all), this still falls into the Tragic
Romance category. If subtext is your thing -- this is the one for you. Redgrave
is stunning and Fonda gives it her best shot as the tough talking, boozing,
drinking Hellman. Meryl Streep as a small role early in her career. No extras.
which tracks the lingering effects of alleged sexual abuse by a Catholic Priest on
a now grown man and his family when he discovers that the Priest has moved
down the street from him. Hard hitting and tough to watch, but redeemed by
the subject's humanity and courage. Click HERE for my original review.
Robin Williams gives a rare understated performance (not unlike the one he
gave in The World According to Garp) in Peter Weir's literary drama, Dead
Poets Society. The 1989 film co-stars Ethan Hawke and a host of hot
young cuties who find a role model in their poetry teacher (Williams) while
attending a rigid boarding academy in the 1950s. They gather together in a
secret cave near the boarding school to read poetry and embolden each other
to acts of independence. Robert Sean Leonard is memorable as the natural
born leader of the group who wants to be an actor against the wishes of his
tyrannical father. Though neither Leonard nor the rest of his cohorts so much
as utter the word "gay" you can cut the subtext with a knife. This Special
Edition from Touchstone/Disney includes a host of featurettes including a look
back documentary with contributions from Hawke, Leonard and others in the
cast.
followed the traditional conventions of the onscreen musical. The story—that of
a group of bohemians trying to survive during the Go Go ‘80s in Manhattan—I
was less enthusiastic about. But for fans of both the show and the movie, the 2-
disc DVD release from Sony Pictures is going to be nothing less than Rent
nirvana. With more than three hours of extras, this might be the ultimate
history of the show, and its creator Jonathon Larson.
Neither Cameron Diaz nor Toni Collette got Oscar nods for their wonderful work
as battling sisters in the chick flick In Her Shoes, just out from Fox Home
Video, though the performances of both are stellar. Shirley MacLaine, who didn’t
get a nod either, is also very effective and quietly subdued (a rarity for her) as
their long-lost grandmother. Three long documentaries are included on the
disc. Chick flick nirvana indeed!
Charlize Theron and company act out the true story of female miners sexually
harassed during that same period in the mines in northern Minnesota,
otherwise known as North Country. The just-released disc from Warner
Home Video includes the usual smattering of documentaries and the Oscar-
nominated performances from Theron and Frances McDormand. Sissy Spacek,
Richard Jenkins, and Rusty Schwimmer offer terrific support.
I had the pleasure of speaking with old friend Rusty Schwimmer about the
making of the film during its theatrical run. Click HERE to read the interview and
click HERE for my review of the film.
Faye, dream boat John Payne, Brazilian Bombshell Carmen Miranda, and closeted gay actor Cesar Romero,
all having a blazing technicolor Weekend in Havana from 1941. Next, the frisky Betty Grable proves
why the soldiers in WWII gave her the title Pin-Up Girl, which serves as the excuse for this 1944 musical
in which Grable is supported by Martha Raye and Joe E. Brown. Daddy Long Legs from 1955 features
the French gamin Leslie Caron in her last musical paired with the masterful Fred Astaire, support by Thelma
Ritter and tuneful Johnny Mercer songs including “Something’s Gotta Give.” Each contains vintage poster art
reproductions and film historian Jeannie Basinger’s insightful commentaries.
And don't forget to check out the wonderful Cary Grant box set which contains five of Grant's best films: The
Awful Truth, Holiday (DVD Premiere), Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, and the often overlooked but
delightful The Talk of the Town. Click HERE to read my extensive review of the set and to order.
(Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty respectively ) to
savor in The Golden Girls—Season 4 which, in my estimation, one of the
funniest sitcoms to ever grace the small screen. This 3-disc set includes 24
episodes including the one in which Blanche’s brother Clayton ( played by Monte
Markham ) comes out—ground breaking stuff in 1985.
