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Just four DVD releases in January 2010 I'm recommending
film from a queer perspective
DVDs
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Roundup:
January at the Movies
1-20-10 KATM Windy City Times Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
January at the Movies
1-20-10 KATM Windy City Times Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
| Though tradition dictates that many of the new films in theatres this month are, ahem, not exactly in a league with their December forebears, each year there are exceptions to the rule. Lately I’ve been happily recommending the Ethan Hawke vampire flick Daybreakers, a nice little b-picture addition to the genre, Heath Ledger’s final movie, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus with its eye popping visuals and starry cast, and for the more adventurous (read: those who are okay with subtitles) I strongly recommend the strangely hypnotic The White Ribbon, with its stunning black and white cinematography and decidedly unsettling story (it’s a sort of weird hybrid of Village of the Damned and the classic Kings Row). January is also the month when many moviegoers finally find time to take in those talked about, highly anticipated holiday releases. You already known about a certain sci-fi megaflick called Avatar (I missed the Imax version but friends insist that’s the way to go), Alec Baldwin showing off his tuckus in It’s Complicated and the homoerotic undertone in Sherlock Holmes so here’s another shout out for Tom Ford’s A Single Man and Lee Daniels’ Precious – two movies that are both challenging, thought provoking and entertaining. As you’re putting away all the holiday decorations and finishing up the thank you notes, this is also a good month to explore several of the potential award contenders now out on DVD. The Hurt Locker with a star making performance by Jeremy Renner who played gay serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in an indie release is at the top of my list (I think it was 2009’s best film) along with the light as a feather romance 500 Days of Summer with Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who gay audiences remember from his amazing lead performance in Mysterious Skin) and Meryl Streep and Amy Adams re-teaming again in the delightful Julie & Julia. A flurry of LGBT-themed releases are worth adding to the mix as well. I’m strongly recommending Kirby Dick’s documentary Outrage which focuses on closeted conservative politicians who have repeatedly supported anti-gay legislation. The film is an incendiary experience that isn’t afraid to name names. The DVD includes several deleted scenes, a fascinating after screening Q&A with the filmmaker and gay activists Roger McFarlane, Michaelangelo Signorile, and Larry Kramer (still spitting fire thank God), as well as a heartfelt tribute to gay activist McFarlane, who committed suicide shortly after the film premiered. Though GLAAD chose to ignore Outrage in its documentary category (shame on you GLAAD), it’s a really galvanizing movie and was one of my LGBT Top Ten for 2009. Streamers, basically a filmed version of the critically acclaimed 1975 play by David Rabe, is also worth looking into. The film, from acclaimed director Robert Altman, features strong performances from its six-man cast and will especially appeal to theatre devotees. The material focuses on a group of soldiers waiting to be shipped to Viet Nam. Stuck in their barracks with nothing to do and with tensions and fears mounting, their cultural differences come to light. Matthew Modine stars as the rural bumpkin struggling to resolve racist and homophobic views, David Alan Grier is his best friend, out actor Mitchell Lichtenstein (who later co-starred in The Wedding Banquet) plays the gay urbanite, the son of privilege, who reads Sylvia Plath, isn’t embarrassed to wear Japanese klogs in the shower and easily throws off the taunts of the others. Shot in 1983 on a limited budget by the late director Robert Altman, in a time before “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the film touches on many of the issues that the policy would bring to the forefront. A new making of documentary includes Modine and Lichtenstein. Those with a taste for the offbeat will surely appreciate Flexing with Monty which is being released by Breaking Glass Pictures, a new distributor of GLBT themed DVDs. The movie, which began in 1994 and wasn’t completed for 14 years, has to be seen to be believed. It stars the late Trevor Goddard, victim of a heroin-cocaine overdose in 2003, who plays the title character, a self-absorbed narcissist who spends the bulk of his time working out, gazing at his perfect physique in the mirror while having sex with a blow up doll, fantasizing about his rather strange brother (who keeps a naked midget in a cage), and taking calls as a leather escort. Then Sally Kirkland as a nun with her own agenda enters the picture and things get really weird. This psycho-sexual fantasia – perfect midnight movie fare – is part camp, part turn on (Goddard struts around naked much of the time) and complete oddity. Two movies with primarily female casts are also worth adding to the queue. The first, St. Trinian’s, is a wacky Brit comedy starring Rupert Everett (who also Executive Produced) in two roles – one in drag as the head mistress of a notorious school for girls. It’s a sort of female variation on frat house comedies (especially Animal House) with lots of the tongue in cheek insanity of the lesbian comedy D.E.B.S. The movie features a raft of expert British comedic actors (including Colin Firth) and a hot soundtrack. The second is Whip It, Drew Barrymore’s unfairly overlooked directorial debut, the gentle coming of age comedy about a teenage girl (Ellen Page) who finds herself via the bone crushing sport of roller derby. Both arrive on DVD on Jan. 26. Also out that day is the Michael Jackson documentary This Is It and speaking of music themed releases, what self-respecting former high school choir member or Thespian won’t want to add Glee – Season 1, Vol. 1 – Road to Sectionals to their collection? The pilot, the first 13 episodes and a batch of special features of out co-creator-writer-producer Ryan Murphy’s tremendously entertaining show – featuring the delightful Jane Lynch as the butch cheerleading coach, hottie Matthew Morrison in the lead, Chris Colfer as the sweet voiced gay soprano, et al – are included in this must have release. That should be enough to hold you until February’s chill arrives – along with another release eagerly anticipated by show tune queens – Liza's at the Palace, the DVD of Minnelli’s Tony-winning 2009 concert on Feb. 2. |
