The next generation...

Queer Cinema (SPOILERS INSIDE)

Ok, so ever since I got a Netflix account, I now have the opportunity to watch queer films. The 3 that stick out to me will be discussed here:

1. Lucky Bastard (written by Everett Lewis)

This is about a successful home designer, Rusty (Patrick Tatten) who is generally bored and dissatisfied with his life. While his bf Daniel (Johnny Kostrey) is out of town, Rusty meets a drifter, Denny (Dale Dymkoski), who engages in rampant partying, drug abuse, and indiscriminate sex. These 2 set out to have an illicit affair, where Rusty uses Denny to gain excitement in life, while Denny uses Rusty to get cash to support his meth addiction. In the end, Rusty realises that there is no growth with Denny and lets him go and goes back to a life of stability.

I like this flick for a couple of reasons:

*Timothy Cole plays Rusty's straight best friend Garrett. He ends up being the funniest, most charismatic, and cutest guy in the whole film (Patrick Tatten's Rusty is still the hottest, though). 

*Lucky Bastard really highlights the dark side of gay life. There is a reason why many social conservatives still despise the community and we need to be aware of the problems that affect the LGBT world in order to address them. I am really glad that Rusty chose to cut ties with that loser and leech Denny and come back to the life and the boyfriend who always served him well. I'm a sucker for happy endings. =]

2. Shut Up and Kiss Me (written by Ronnie Kerr)

The writer of this flick, Ronnie Kerr, stars as Ben, a lovesick dreamer who simply years for companionship and love. He goes through many duds till he meets Grey (Scott Gabelein), a charming man who he sees jogging everyday. Ben falls for Grey, but there's one catch: Grey refuses to be monogamous and outright warns Ben early on that he will screw around with other men, no questions asked. Ignoring it, Ben starts a relationship with Grey, only to be extremely hurt when Grey follows through with his inclinations to sleep with others. Breaking it off, Ben swears to never let Grey back into his life. However, he gets a change of heart and decides to accept Grey for who he is and reconcile with him.

I liked this film for these reasons:

*Shut Up and Kiss Me illustrated an example of the sacrifices we make for love. Ben, a romantic, thought that he could find someone who would always be faithful to him. Reality set in and he finds that what is truly important is having someone who is there when it counts and someone who is upfront. He knew that shutting off Grey would mean shutting off a chance at having that kind of relationship.

*Ben's friends were an awesome support system. They ran the gamut from a straight married couple, an adventurous straight girl, a bitchy gay (or bi) guy, and straight boy jock. However, they all cared about Ben and simply wanted the best for him...even if isn't always obvious.

*Ronnie Kerr's Ben is the most adorable fictitious gay guys I've ever seen (with Scott Evans' Fish being a close second). Ben's smile and gentle, meek nature make you want to just take him home and adopt him and protect him from the evil world. Seeing him weep in the break-up scene was quite the "aww" moment.

3. Role/Play (written by Rob Williams)

A gay ex-soap star, Graham Windsor (Steve Callahan), runs off to a resort after being outed by a sex tape that led to him losing his job. He meets gay activist Trey (Matthew Montgomery) who was disgraced after his marriage fell apart. As they fall in love, they journey through the lies and heartaches that hound them.

This what I liked about this film:

*Steve Callahan and Matthew Montgomery are a real-life couple, so one would expect the acting to be awkward. However, they made the chemistry work and made me care about Graham and Trey.

*It taught us that we can heal from the past by owning up to our shit and overcoming the machinations that took us there.

I recommend all 3. They all kick ass.

Make up your damn minds, folks.

Society needs to get its stereotypes right. I've heard this phrase thrown around: "No wonder he's gay. He's so nice."

I've also heard this phrase being said: "No wonder he's gay. He's so bitchy."

So, what is it? Nice or bitchy?

Yep, I did.

I must be one of the last folks in the world to have not watched the Prayers for Bobby flick. I had the chance to watch bits of it last Thursday and the rest Friday morning. Pretty moving flick. Ironically, I connected more with the mother (played by none other than Sigourney Weaver) than with Bobby. Her desperation rooted in the fear of having the family not full in the afterlife and the push-and-pull adventure with her personal journey with faith resonated with me.  The film should be informative for many "new" to the LGBT community, without steering into the preachy category. 




I think it's important that we keep on bring more love into this world.  Who may need it one never knows.

The whole world is watching...

Imagine yourself the biggest celebrity in the world. Your every move is put into scrutiny. Any misstep on your part will be a matter of public record. 


With that in mind, in our "outing" culture, it seems that everybody who is rumored to be gay, bi, anything but straight is pressured by the media and by the general public to "come out". Perez Hilton and his antics are only the tip of the iceberg.


Exhibit A-> Here's an "It Gets Better" video made by Zac Quinto (of Heroes fame):

I found it to be a thoughtful, sweet message of hope to any young guy or girl going through a rough patch when it comes to this life, but the Gay Mafia had to relentlessly attack him by calling him "two-faced", "damaging to the cause", as well as "duplicitous" for supposedly being in the closet while putting himself out there as a supporter of LGBT rights. Regardless of his sexuality (which he is frankly entitled to privacy on that matter), we shouldn't be tearing anybody down just 'cause they're not standing on top of the Empire State Building waving a rainbow flag and making out with a member of the same sex.


Exhibit B-> Here's a video of Matt Bomer (of White Collar) discussing his children in the daytime show Today.

Once again, instead of being happy for who seems to be a proud father who cares for his kids, the Pink Lynch Mob went after Matt for supposedly "hiding" his same sex partner with whom he's raising those kids. What happened to human decency? As someone who was outed to his family, I don't take kindly to anyone being "forced out". 

What is Love?

Cheesy mid 90's music aside, I've always pondered that question. What is it that love consists of?

Is it:

*Mutual respect?

*That song that's stuck in your head that won't ever leave...and you're OK with it?

*An assurance that somehow, someway, there's someone out there that has your back?

*Being safe in an unforgiving world?

*Being comfortable with yourself and the environment that surrounds you?

*Picking yourself up after letdowns and taking charge?

*The cool breeze from the A/C during midsummer?

Thinning the Herd.

Many are called, few are chosen.

               It seems to me that mental health issues affect tons of the GLBTQ community. A good friend once told me that only a small proportion ever come out of the closet with all their sanity intact. Why is that so? An unhappy childhood? A retroactively unhappy childhood (one that was happy when it was experienced, but hindsight changes the perception)?  Many queers (and I use this term in the non-pejorative, inclusive sense) still have the mindsets of teenagers, even those in their 40's. What the heck is going on?

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               Am I the only one who dabbles in pre-emptive sadness/anger/(insert negative emotion here) before the actual moment when it is fitting to express it? Is it a way of keeping those at a distance so that it wouldn't overtake me? Maybe I just don't like being too expressive. It's silly.

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               Wanna know what's fun? Walkin' around town at night with someone you care about; talking random nonsense that nobody else would understand and just taking in the fresh air without worrying about the darn sun sapping you of energy. I got to do that tons of times over the last week, including tonight. 

Happy August

This blog has been up for an amazing 608 days now. Here's to the next 608...