Knight at the Movies ARCHIVES
Lots of Shoes and Lots of GLBT Movies:
In Her Shoes and 2005 Reeling Film Fest Highlights
10-5-05 Knight at the Movies/Windy City Times column
by Richard Knight, Jr.
Back off Bette, take a hike Meg, see you some other time JLo – chick flick central high has a new prom queen and
the vehicle of her anointment is In Her Shoes. Though Beaches, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle,
and The Wedding Planner are still contenders, Curtis Hanson’s new film has got legs as spectacular as its willowy
star, Cameron Diaz and should have a shelf life to rival its cinematic sisters. No self-respecting fan of the chick
flick (read: middle aged gay men and single, “still lookin’” women) will want to wait to revel in the
blissful…femaleness and dress up fantasies offer by In Her Shoes. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a REALLY good
shopping day that culminates in finding a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s on sale.
Along with Diaz, the film (based on the best selling chick lit novel) stars Toni Collette in the plain Jane, dumpy,
“fat” best friend/sister role and the dowager empress of chick flick movies, Shirley MacLaine as their
grandmother. It’s basically the story of a good, nose to the grindstone lawyer, Rose (Collette), Maggie, her bad,
party lovin’ sister (Diaz) who can’t hold a job and how the two are brought together by MacLaine as Ella, the
grandmother both girls thought long dead.
At the movie’s outset the sisters are tied together because “blood is thicker than water” but workhorse Rose is
tired of Maggie’s repeated exploits. Then Maggie, who is once again without a job, crashing at Rose’s place and
wearing pairs of her fabulous designer shoes without asking, pulls a stunt that breaks the camel’s back and Rose
kicks her out. But Maggie has found out about MacLaine and heads down to Florida to see her – taking along a bag
full of the shoes as well. Rose, not knowing about the grandmother, has no idea where she’s gone and claims not
to care.
We know better, of course, and so late in the movie when she finally says with a catch in her throat, “Without her I
don’t make sense” we feel vindicated. By the fade out Maggie will have finally grown up and Rose will have
loosened up (i.e. gotten rid of her glasses and dropped 25 pounds) but we knew that from the first five minutes –
this being chick flick territory, after all. Just as we know that the shoes, like a certain pair shared by some famous
Wicked Witches, are a handy metaphorical device to link the two together.
The movie’s helped enormously by the presence of the persistent Simon (Mark Feuerstein), a major factor in
loosening up Rose – and providing the female (and gay male) audience members the perfect fantasy man. Simon
is perhaps the most patient, sweet, loving, kind, sensitive man to ever grace a chick flick. Yet he’s also decidedly
masculine (loves sports), dresses well, and is also a dreamboat.
Director Curtis Hanson has a very interesting resume that includes the high concept, modern day thriller The Hand
That Rocks the Cradle, the under rated, masterful Chinatown like detective story, L.A. Confidential, the mid-life
crisis/relationship picture, the literary and little seen Wonder Boys, and the biographical rap picture 8 Mile with
Eminem. Hanson’s films have consistently provided audiences new sides of the personalities of his leading actors.
He provides that same opportunity to Diaz with In Her Shoes. We know that she’s a lot more than a great set of
legs – she was brainy but goofy (the Charlie’s Angels and Shrek pictures), tough yet uncompromising (Any Given
Sunday, Vanilla Sky), and not afraid to go out on a ledge for a character (Being John Malkovich, Gangs of New
York). Here she reveals new dimensions to the plight of the dumb blonde – no small feat.
Diaz is beautifully supported by MacLaine (no surprise there), and Collette who, once again is saddled with the fat
girl role. Only in the movies would Toni Collette be considered a fat girl but then again who would believe that she
and Diaz are real life sisters? Or that Midler and Hershey in Beaches would be real life, long life friends? That Meg
Ryan would WANT to end up with the schlumpy Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally or that Mary Louise Parker
and Mary Stuart Masterson were just “best friends” and nothing more in Fried Green Tomatoes? I’d better stop or
I’ll single handedly destroy my ability to suspend belief and enjoyment of all chick flicks – and that would be a
terrible thing for a gay man to have happen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The line-up for the 24th annual Reeling 2005: Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival has been
announced and it’s a doozy. This year the fest, which runs from November 3rd through the 12th, will present over
130 independent films and videos from 16 countries. Screenings will be held at Landmark’s Century Cinema,
Chicago Filmmakers, Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema and Columbia’s Third Floor theatre, and the Music Box.
Organizers of the festival have gathered an impressive list of films that touch on all aspects of GLBT life.
Filmmakers are increasingly breaking down the straight movie genre barrier as well – and the fest will highlight
gay thrillers, gay horror, and gay sports movies that reflect this. A selection of well chosen international titles –
from France to Hong Kong – will also add insight into the global GLBT experience. Many of the best of this year’s
queer cinema theatrical releases – Bear Cub, Walk on Water, Beautiful Boxer – documented gay life in other
countries and were originally seen in queer festivals like Reeling. As the opening date draws closer, I’ll focus more
in-depth on several of the festival’s offerings. For now, a few highlights:
Summer Storm, a German film by Marco Keruzpainter will kick off the fest on Thursday, November 3rd at
7:30pm at the Music Box on Southport followed by an after screening party up the street at Strega Nona. The
film's described as a coming of age/coming out drama focusing on two members of a rowing team gearing up for a
big regatta.
Unveiled, another German film (this one directed by Angelina Maccarone), is the Women’s Centerpiece
Screening of the fest (it’s scheduled for Monday, November 7th at 7pm at Film Row Cinema at Columbia College).
The film focuses on the journey of Fariba, a lesbian fleeing Iran for asylum in Germany who’s forced to assume a
male identity in order to escape detection. A reception follows the screening.
Say Uncle, the directorial and writing debut of Peter “Queer as Folk” Paige is the Men’s Centerpiece
Screening and is scheduled for 7pm, Wednesday, November 9th at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema. Paige,
who co-stars in the comedy-drama with Kathy Najimy, will attend a reception in his honor following the screening.
Location TBA.
Likewise, Adam and Steve is the feature writing/directing debut of out actor Craig Chester, memorable for
his leading performance in Swoon. The relationship comedy co-stars Parker Posey and Craig Kattan.
“Desperate Housewives” Emmy winner Felicity Huffman stars as a male-to-female transgender person in
the drama Transamerica that’s getting a lot of buzz on the festival circuit.
Wilby Wonderful from Canada features the always delightful Sandra Oh from “Grey’s Anatomy” and
Sideways in a supporting role.
Scab, an entry in the suddenly hot gay horror genre is about a gay vampire loose in Las Vegas. The film
features several gay porn stars as victims!
Hate Crime, featuring Susan Blakley, Bruce Davison, and Cindy Pickett and Strange Fruit are two entries in
the gay suspense thriller genre.
Guys and Balls, from Germany, is just one of several sports related films.
A few documentary highlights would include Little Man, Gay Republicans, Fag Hag: Women Who Love Gay
Men, and Bad Girls Behind Bars. This last is Chicago filmmaker Sharon Zurek’s camp reedit of four women in
prison films and features lesbian icons Barbara Stanwyck, Pam Grier and Anne Heche.
When I’m 64 is a two part mini-series from the BBC that focuses on love among the geriatric gay set.
The closing night entry, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green stars David Letterle, the teenage
heartthrob from out director Todd Graff’s Camp. The film, based on the gay comic strip, is described as a “hilarious
comedy” in which Letterle plays a “gay everyman.” Meredith Baxter plays Letterle’s mom. This will screen on
November 12th at 8:45 at the Film Row Cinema at Columbia College with an after party at the college.
Complete list of film titles, screening schedule, ticket information (they go on sale October 22nd), and related
festival events are available by phoning 773-293-1447 or online at www.reelingfilmfestival.org.
In Her Shoes and 2005 Reeling Film Fest Highlights
10-5-05 Knight at the Movies/Windy City Times column
by Richard Knight, Jr.
Back off Bette, take a hike Meg, see you some other time JLo – chick flick central high has a new prom queen and
the vehicle of her anointment is In Her Shoes. Though Beaches, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle,
and The Wedding Planner are still contenders, Curtis Hanson’s new film has got legs as spectacular as its willowy
star, Cameron Diaz and should have a shelf life to rival its cinematic sisters. No self-respecting fan of the chick
flick (read: middle aged gay men and single, “still lookin’” women) will want to wait to revel in the
blissful…femaleness and dress up fantasies offer by In Her Shoes. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a REALLY good
shopping day that culminates in finding a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s on sale.
Along with Diaz, the film (based on the best selling chick lit novel) stars Toni Collette in the plain Jane, dumpy,
“fat” best friend/sister role and the dowager empress of chick flick movies, Shirley MacLaine as their
grandmother. It’s basically the story of a good, nose to the grindstone lawyer, Rose (Collette), Maggie, her bad,
party lovin’ sister (Diaz) who can’t hold a job and how the two are brought together by MacLaine as Ella, the
grandmother both girls thought long dead.
At the movie’s outset the sisters are tied together because “blood is thicker than water” but workhorse Rose is
tired of Maggie’s repeated exploits. Then Maggie, who is once again without a job, crashing at Rose’s place and
wearing pairs of her fabulous designer shoes without asking, pulls a stunt that breaks the camel’s back and Rose
kicks her out. But Maggie has found out about MacLaine and heads down to Florida to see her – taking along a bag
full of the shoes as well. Rose, not knowing about the grandmother, has no idea where she’s gone and claims not
to care.
We know better, of course, and so late in the movie when she finally says with a catch in her throat, “Without her I
don’t make sense” we feel vindicated. By the fade out Maggie will have finally grown up and Rose will have
loosened up (i.e. gotten rid of her glasses and dropped 25 pounds) but we knew that from the first five minutes –
this being chick flick territory, after all. Just as we know that the shoes, like a certain pair shared by some famous
Wicked Witches, are a handy metaphorical device to link the two together.
The movie’s helped enormously by the presence of the persistent Simon (Mark Feuerstein), a major factor in
loosening up Rose – and providing the female (and gay male) audience members the perfect fantasy man. Simon
is perhaps the most patient, sweet, loving, kind, sensitive man to ever grace a chick flick. Yet he’s also decidedly
masculine (loves sports), dresses well, and is also a dreamboat.
Director Curtis Hanson has a very interesting resume that includes the high concept, modern day thriller The Hand
That Rocks the Cradle, the under rated, masterful Chinatown like detective story, L.A. Confidential, the mid-life
crisis/relationship picture, the literary and little seen Wonder Boys, and the biographical rap picture 8 Mile with
Eminem. Hanson’s films have consistently provided audiences new sides of the personalities of his leading actors.
He provides that same opportunity to Diaz with In Her Shoes. We know that she’s a lot more than a great set of
legs – she was brainy but goofy (the Charlie’s Angels and Shrek pictures), tough yet uncompromising (Any Given
Sunday, Vanilla Sky), and not afraid to go out on a ledge for a character (Being John Malkovich, Gangs of New
York). Here she reveals new dimensions to the plight of the dumb blonde – no small feat.
Diaz is beautifully supported by MacLaine (no surprise there), and Collette who, once again is saddled with the fat
girl role. Only in the movies would Toni Collette be considered a fat girl but then again who would believe that she
and Diaz are real life sisters? Or that Midler and Hershey in Beaches would be real life, long life friends? That Meg
Ryan would WANT to end up with the schlumpy Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally or that Mary Louise Parker
and Mary Stuart Masterson were just “best friends” and nothing more in Fried Green Tomatoes? I’d better stop or
I’ll single handedly destroy my ability to suspend belief and enjoyment of all chick flicks – and that would be a
terrible thing for a gay man to have happen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The line-up for the 24th annual Reeling 2005: Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival has been
announced and it’s a doozy. This year the fest, which runs from November 3rd through the 12th, will present over
130 independent films and videos from 16 countries. Screenings will be held at Landmark’s Century Cinema,
Chicago Filmmakers, Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema and Columbia’s Third Floor theatre, and the Music Box.
Organizers of the festival have gathered an impressive list of films that touch on all aspects of GLBT life.
Filmmakers are increasingly breaking down the straight movie genre barrier as well – and the fest will highlight
gay thrillers, gay horror, and gay sports movies that reflect this. A selection of well chosen international titles –
from France to Hong Kong – will also add insight into the global GLBT experience. Many of the best of this year’s
queer cinema theatrical releases – Bear Cub, Walk on Water, Beautiful Boxer – documented gay life in other
countries and were originally seen in queer festivals like Reeling. As the opening date draws closer, I’ll focus more
in-depth on several of the festival’s offerings. For now, a few highlights:
Summer Storm, a German film by Marco Keruzpainter will kick off the fest on Thursday, November 3rd at
7:30pm at the Music Box on Southport followed by an after screening party up the street at Strega Nona. The
film's described as a coming of age/coming out drama focusing on two members of a rowing team gearing up for a
big regatta.
Unveiled, another German film (this one directed by Angelina Maccarone), is the Women’s Centerpiece
Screening of the fest (it’s scheduled for Monday, November 7th at 7pm at Film Row Cinema at Columbia College).
The film focuses on the journey of Fariba, a lesbian fleeing Iran for asylum in Germany who’s forced to assume a
male identity in order to escape detection. A reception follows the screening.
Say Uncle, the directorial and writing debut of Peter “Queer as Folk” Paige is the Men’s Centerpiece
Screening and is scheduled for 7pm, Wednesday, November 9th at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema. Paige,
who co-stars in the comedy-drama with Kathy Najimy, will attend a reception in his honor following the screening.
Location TBA.
Likewise, Adam and Steve is the feature writing/directing debut of out actor Craig Chester, memorable for
his leading performance in Swoon. The relationship comedy co-stars Parker Posey and Craig Kattan.
“Desperate Housewives” Emmy winner Felicity Huffman stars as a male-to-female transgender person in
the drama Transamerica that’s getting a lot of buzz on the festival circuit.
Wilby Wonderful from Canada features the always delightful Sandra Oh from “Grey’s Anatomy” and
Sideways in a supporting role.
Scab, an entry in the suddenly hot gay horror genre is about a gay vampire loose in Las Vegas. The film
features several gay porn stars as victims!
Hate Crime, featuring Susan Blakley, Bruce Davison, and Cindy Pickett and Strange Fruit are two entries in
the gay suspense thriller genre.
Guys and Balls, from Germany, is just one of several sports related films.
A few documentary highlights would include Little Man, Gay Republicans, Fag Hag: Women Who Love Gay
Men, and Bad Girls Behind Bars. This last is Chicago filmmaker Sharon Zurek’s camp reedit of four women in
prison films and features lesbian icons Barbara Stanwyck, Pam Grier and Anne Heche.
When I’m 64 is a two part mini-series from the BBC that focuses on love among the geriatric gay set.
The closing night entry, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green stars David Letterle, the teenage
heartthrob from out director Todd Graff’s Camp. The film, based on the gay comic strip, is described as a “hilarious
comedy” in which Letterle plays a “gay everyman.” Meredith Baxter plays Letterle’s mom. This will screen on
November 12th at 8:45 at the Film Row Cinema at Columbia College with an after party at the college.
Complete list of film titles, screening schedule, ticket information (they go on sale October 22nd), and related
festival events are available by phoning 773-293-1447 or online at www.reelingfilmfestival.org.
Sisters with the same shoe size and Reeling reels in terrific movies
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