Late Summer 2005 DVD Recommendations
Just as the summer heat descended on our fair city of Chicago, so did a slew of great DVDs. Just
the excuse your devoted DVD disciple needed to crank up the air conditioning and dig in with two
months worth of great flicks. As always, everything on this list is worth at least a cursory perusal,
if not hours and hours of your leisure time. And, as usual, I’ve tried to put together an off the
beaten path list of recommendations to choose from. A picnic’s worth of DVDs you might say. If
I've reviewed the theatrical release of the film in my regular column, "Knight at the Movies" you can
read it by clicking on the DVD box cover (when I get the archives online, that is). Click on the
highlighted title to order the title online. Categories this month are GAY AND LESBIAN, GAY AND
LESBIAN RELATED, RECENTLY IN THEATRES, TV ON DVD, CLASSICS, GUILTY PLEASURES, and
MISCELLANEOUS. Something for everyone!
Just as the summer heat descended on our fair city of Chicago, so did a slew of great DVDs. Just
the excuse your devoted DVD disciple needed to crank up the air conditioning and dig in with two
months worth of great flicks. As always, everything on this list is worth at least a cursory perusal,
if not hours and hours of your leisure time. And, as usual, I’ve tried to put together an off the
beaten path list of recommendations to choose from. A picnic’s worth of DVDs you might say. If
I've reviewed the theatrical release of the film in my regular column, "Knight at the Movies" you can
read it by clicking on the DVD box cover (when I get the archives online, that is). Click on the
highlighted title to order the title online. Categories this month are GAY AND LESBIAN, GAY AND
LESBIAN RELATED, RECENTLY IN THEATRES, TV ON DVD, CLASSICS, GUILTY PLEASURES, and
MISCELLANEOUS. Something for everyone!
GAY AND LESBIAN
Anthony Mackie broke through last year thanks to star performances
in Spike Lee’s She Hate Me and Rodney Evans’ debut feature,
Brother to Brother. The DVD from Wolfe Video arrives in a
director’s cut edition that adds more flavor to this already rich story
of a young gay black poet who is mentored by an original member of
the Harlem Renaissance writers group. A nice assortment of deleted
scenes, an interesting on camera interview with Evans detailing many
of the problems trying to get the low budget feature made and an
interesting commentary by Evans and Mackie are great additions to a
terrific film. Highly recommended.
I also highly recommend Palm Pictures release of The Nomi Song
(2004), the documentary about the 80s new wave opera singer/alien
Klaus Nomi. A host of extras include Nomi’s riveting, complete
performance of “The Cold Song,” a heartbreaking story by a friend
who visited him on his deathbed, and even Nomi’s lime tart recipe!
Zeitgeist has released a documentary that will have you nodding
your head in remembrance. After watching Prom Night in
Kansas City (2002) which details several different prom nights I
found myself awash in memories – and not all so good. Did I really
dance full tilt boogie to “We’re An American Band” with my date while
ogling the butt of the football jock shakin’ a tail feather next to me?
Oh yes I did. There are a lot of those icky/fascinating moments in the
film thanks to the director’s excellent eye for detail. Apparently not
all prom nights are the same – and the doc focuses on everything
from a black high school, an extremely conservative Christian school
(where dancing is not even allowed) and best of all, naturally, a gay
and lesbian high school. The lesbian couple that the movie follows
are like real life D.E.B.S. – and it's wonderful to see how far prom
night has come (and stayed the same) since mine in 1975!
Speaking of D.E.B.S. (2004), it seems that queer director Angela
Robinson’s lesbian spy spoof was universally hated by my colleagues
but loved by yours truly. This still confounds me – what’s not to love
in this dead on parody that still manages to stay sweet and doesn’t
pretend to be anything other than that? I’m hoping the film finds
new life in its terrific DVD version from Columbia Tri-Star. With a cast
this luscious and funny, it would be a shame not to waste 90
minutes on it.
in Spike Lee’s She Hate Me and Rodney Evans’ debut feature,
Brother to Brother. The DVD from Wolfe Video arrives in a
director’s cut edition that adds more flavor to this already rich story
of a young gay black poet who is mentored by an original member of
the Harlem Renaissance writers group. A nice assortment of deleted
scenes, an interesting on camera interview with Evans detailing many
of the problems trying to get the low budget feature made and an
interesting commentary by Evans and Mackie are great additions to a
terrific film. Highly recommended.
I also highly recommend Palm Pictures release of The Nomi Song
(2004), the documentary about the 80s new wave opera singer/alien
Klaus Nomi. A host of extras include Nomi’s riveting, complete
performance of “The Cold Song,” a heartbreaking story by a friend
who visited him on his deathbed, and even Nomi’s lime tart recipe!
Zeitgeist has released a documentary that will have you nodding
your head in remembrance. After watching Prom Night in
Kansas City (2002) which details several different prom nights I
found myself awash in memories – and not all so good. Did I really
dance full tilt boogie to “We’re An American Band” with my date while
ogling the butt of the football jock shakin’ a tail feather next to me?
Oh yes I did. There are a lot of those icky/fascinating moments in the
film thanks to the director’s excellent eye for detail. Apparently not
all prom nights are the same – and the doc focuses on everything
from a black high school, an extremely conservative Christian school
(where dancing is not even allowed) and best of all, naturally, a gay
and lesbian high school. The lesbian couple that the movie follows
are like real life D.E.B.S. – and it's wonderful to see how far prom
night has come (and stayed the same) since mine in 1975!
Speaking of D.E.B.S. (2004), it seems that queer director Angela
Robinson’s lesbian spy spoof was universally hated by my colleagues
but loved by yours truly. This still confounds me – what’s not to love
in this dead on parody that still manages to stay sweet and doesn’t
pretend to be anything other than that? I’m hoping the film finds
new life in its terrific DVD version from Columbia Tri-Star. With a cast
this luscious and funny, it would be a shame not to waste 90
minutes on it.
GAY AND LESBIAN RELATED
Gay camp film God John Waters also got short shrift from the
critics with his latest theatrical release. Once again, I fly in the face
of esteemed opinion. I LOVED A Dirty Shame (2004) and have
already watched New Line’s NC-17 DVD version multiple times (it
includes some full frontal male and female nudity and some
“problematic” language). Tracey Ullman heads a cast of crazed sex
maniacs (including Johnny Knoxville) getting it on in Waters’
beloved Baltimore. All the Waters stock company of Dreamlanders
are here, ready to “go sexin’!” Like Serial Mom, this is one Waters
film that’s going to improve with age and repeated viewings. And
love those bear cubs!
John Waters always does the drollest, funniest director’s
commentaries – and he delivers again on both A Dirty Shameand
the just released Director’s Cut of Cry Baby (1990) from
Universal. This delightful 50’s high school musical with Johnny
Depp as the leader of the delinquent “drapes” versus the clean cut
“squares” is fleshed out in this edition with additional scenes and
some lost musical sequences. The mad, marvelous Susan Tyrell
and the über sexy Iggy Pop are standouts in the supporting cast.
I loved finding out that Waters sold the movie to film executives
using photos from gay Beefcake magazines from the 50s – after
carefully cropping out the codpiece shots!
The Rock’s decision to play gay in Be Cool (2004), the sequel to
Get Shorty, was perhaps the best thing in the movie and the
inclusion of the full length video starring the character played by
the humpy wrestler with the mega watt smile is the best thing in
the DVD from MGM. If the film is not in the same class as its
progenitor (and I’m still a bit miffed about the exclusion of Rene
Russo and Gene Hackman), the two films make for a nice double
feature. And there are enough extras on both releases (Get
Shorty is available in a double disc edition) to make a night of it.
critics with his latest theatrical release. Once again, I fly in the face
of esteemed opinion. I LOVED A Dirty Shame (2004) and have
already watched New Line’s NC-17 DVD version multiple times (it
includes some full frontal male and female nudity and some
“problematic” language). Tracey Ullman heads a cast of crazed sex
maniacs (including Johnny Knoxville) getting it on in Waters’
beloved Baltimore. All the Waters stock company of Dreamlanders
are here, ready to “go sexin’!” Like Serial Mom, this is one Waters
film that’s going to improve with age and repeated viewings. And
love those bear cubs!
John Waters always does the drollest, funniest director’s
commentaries – and he delivers again on both A Dirty Shameand
the just released Director’s Cut of Cry Baby (1990) from
Universal. This delightful 50’s high school musical with Johnny
Depp as the leader of the delinquent “drapes” versus the clean cut
“squares” is fleshed out in this edition with additional scenes and
some lost musical sequences. The mad, marvelous Susan Tyrell
and the über sexy Iggy Pop are standouts in the supporting cast.
I loved finding out that Waters sold the movie to film executives
using photos from gay Beefcake magazines from the 50s – after
carefully cropping out the codpiece shots!
The Rock’s decision to play gay in Be Cool (2004), the sequel to
Get Shorty, was perhaps the best thing in the movie and the
inclusion of the full length video starring the character played by
the humpy wrestler with the mega watt smile is the best thing in
the DVD from MGM. If the film is not in the same class as its
progenitor (and I’m still a bit miffed about the exclusion of Rene
Russo and Gene Hackman), the two films make for a nice double
feature. And there are enough extras on both releases (Get
Shorty is available in a double disc edition) to make a night of it.
RECENTLY IN THEATRES
Bruce Willis plays an exhausted, gun shy hostage negotiator faced
with his greatest challenge in Hostage (2005) from Buena Vista.
That Willis, after playing action leads for nigh on 20 years, can still
make this stuff work is admirable to say the least. That he brings
great humanity to the usual attendant hokum is no surprise. He’s
our generation’s Clark Gable and is back on track with this and his
work in Sin City. The disc includes the usual assortment of extras.
I didn’t much care for Beyond the Sea (2004) when I saw it in
the theatres. And Lions Gate’s DVD release hasn’t changed my
opinion about the overall content of this film. It's a Kevin Spacey
vanity project, pure and simple, and would have worked had it
gone before the cameras when he was younger. But taken out of
context, the movie has some wonderful sequences – mainly the
musical numbers and Spacey has a good – though, oddly enough
– dispassionate voice and serviceable dance skills. Like Glenn
Close in “Sunset Boulevard,” what he lacks in natural ability, he
fakes with his incredible acting skills. That, along with the movie’s
art direction and costume achievements are reasons to check out
the disc.
with his greatest challenge in Hostage (2005) from Buena Vista.
That Willis, after playing action leads for nigh on 20 years, can still
make this stuff work is admirable to say the least. That he brings
great humanity to the usual attendant hokum is no surprise. He’s
our generation’s Clark Gable and is back on track with this and his
work in Sin City. The disc includes the usual assortment of extras.
I didn’t much care for Beyond the Sea (2004) when I saw it in
the theatres. And Lions Gate’s DVD release hasn’t changed my
opinion about the overall content of this film. It's a Kevin Spacey
vanity project, pure and simple, and would have worked had it
gone before the cameras when he was younger. But taken out of
context, the movie has some wonderful sequences – mainly the
musical numbers and Spacey has a good – though, oddly enough
– dispassionate voice and serviceable dance skills. Like Glenn
Close in “Sunset Boulevard,” what he lacks in natural ability, he
fakes with his incredible acting skills. That, along with the movie’s
art direction and costume achievements are reasons to check out
the disc.
TV ON DVD
Sexy Agent Mulder (David Duchovny with his covert bisexual
persona) and somnambulant Agent Scully (Gillian Anderson with
her repressed lesbian persona) first got together to explore a
possible government conspiracy to cover up a series of alien
abductions. For certain wary fans of the series (myself included)
Fox’s repackaging of 15 of those episodes in the 3-disc The X-
Files Mythology, Vol. 1 - Abduction finally lets viewers (and
I include myself again) to make heads and tails out of all the
confusing twists and turns that series creator Chris Carter kept
tossing out throughout the show’s run. These episodes focus on
the series first three seasons (the pilot is included) and are the
best of the lot. Sez me.
I think perhaps only something like Paramount’s three disc boxed
set of The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 could make me
laugh again after the tragedy that I think was last November’s
presidential election. Thankfully, Jon Stewart and his nimble, quick
thinking correspondents and writers sharpened up their razor wits
and put together episodes (there are 10 here) that have stood the
test of time. And the additional disc packed with deleted material is
priceless.
Classic TV fans have had lots to celebrate the last few months:
Columbia Tristar has released the four-disc, whopping 36 episode
Bewitched (Season One) from the early 60s that includes
the pilot episode along with a new documentary about the series
and a couple of other extras. One episode features Paul Lynde in a
pre-Uncle Arthur episode as a nervous nellie driving instructor.
Stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Darren Number One Dick York are
supported by the acidic Agnes Morehead as Endora and the
sublime comedic genius Alice Pearce as the first Mrs. Kravitz. The
sets are available in glorious black and white or a colorized version
for the classic TV impaired.
For 70s sitcom fans, the sophomore seasons of Mary, Rhoda and
Phyllis and the Bradys have arrived. Paramount brings us the
further “happenings” of the conjoined familial unit with the 24
episode, 4 disc The Brady Bunch – The Complete Second
Season. Tiger the dog may have disappeared but Mr. Brady (the
closeted late actor Robert Reed) and the bubble haired Florence
Henderson “and the rest” were just getting up to speed. Includes
the Jan gets a wig to forge a new identity and Greg’s groovy
bachelor pad bedroom episodes.
And get out your credit card because after a long delay, Fox’s 3
disc, 24-episode The Mary Tyler Moore Show – The
Complete Second Season is finally here! It’s been almost
three years between releases (apparently the first Season didn’t
meet sales expectations) but the wait is worth it. Aside from the
still fresh episodes, the set includes an all new documentary
(though Mary’s not part of it, inexplicably) and a great, retro piece
done for a Minneapolis station about the revision of the opening
credit sequence.
persona) and somnambulant Agent Scully (Gillian Anderson with
her repressed lesbian persona) first got together to explore a
possible government conspiracy to cover up a series of alien
abductions. For certain wary fans of the series (myself included)
Fox’s repackaging of 15 of those episodes in the 3-disc The X-
Files Mythology, Vol. 1 - Abduction finally lets viewers (and
I include myself again) to make heads and tails out of all the
confusing twists and turns that series creator Chris Carter kept
tossing out throughout the show’s run. These episodes focus on
the series first three seasons (the pilot is included) and are the
best of the lot. Sez me.
I think perhaps only something like Paramount’s three disc boxed
set of The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 could make me
laugh again after the tragedy that I think was last November’s
presidential election. Thankfully, Jon Stewart and his nimble, quick
thinking correspondents and writers sharpened up their razor wits
and put together episodes (there are 10 here) that have stood the
test of time. And the additional disc packed with deleted material is
priceless.
Classic TV fans have had lots to celebrate the last few months:
Columbia Tristar has released the four-disc, whopping 36 episode
Bewitched (Season One) from the early 60s that includes
the pilot episode along with a new documentary about the series
and a couple of other extras. One episode features Paul Lynde in a
pre-Uncle Arthur episode as a nervous nellie driving instructor.
Stars Elizabeth Montgomery and Darren Number One Dick York are
supported by the acidic Agnes Morehead as Endora and the
sublime comedic genius Alice Pearce as the first Mrs. Kravitz. The
sets are available in glorious black and white or a colorized version
for the classic TV impaired.
For 70s sitcom fans, the sophomore seasons of Mary, Rhoda and
Phyllis and the Bradys have arrived. Paramount brings us the
further “happenings” of the conjoined familial unit with the 24
episode, 4 disc The Brady Bunch – The Complete Second
Season. Tiger the dog may have disappeared but Mr. Brady (the
closeted late actor Robert Reed) and the bubble haired Florence
Henderson “and the rest” were just getting up to speed. Includes
the Jan gets a wig to forge a new identity and Greg’s groovy
bachelor pad bedroom episodes.
And get out your credit card because after a long delay, Fox’s 3
disc, 24-episode The Mary Tyler Moore Show – The
Complete Second Season is finally here! It’s been almost
three years between releases (apparently the first Season didn’t
meet sales expectations) but the wait is worth it. Aside from the
still fresh episodes, the set includes an all new documentary
(though Mary’s not part of it, inexplicably) and a great, retro piece
done for a Minneapolis station about the revision of the opening
credit sequence.
CLASSICS
This has been a great summer for classic film fans. Warner
Brothers has given us the dueling Joan Crawford-Bette Davis
boxed sets, the James Dean collection, and a wonderful Doris Day
set. They’ve just brought out The Complete Thin Man
Collection that includes all six of the witty films that starred
Myrna Loy and William Powell as the martini guzzling detective and
his quick witted wife. The vintage extras round out the films while
an extra disc with full biographies of the two stars is a wonderful
bonus.
While waiting around for WB’s next classic coup, The Astaire-
Rogers Collection – Volume 1, Fox, no slouch in this
department, has brought out one of the greatest examples of film
noir, available at last on DVD, Nightmare Alley (1947). Pretty
boy (and closeted bisexual) Tyrone Power stars as the cynical user
Stan Carlisle in this hard edged tale of carnival tricksters. There is
also an expert supporting performance by Joan Bondell. You'll
never think of the work "geek" in the same way again.
The Criterion Collection does their usual exhaustive job with their
release of Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait (1943). Aside from the
usual expert commentaries, there’s a half-hour documentary on
screenwriter Samson Raphaelson and a rare bonus – director
Lubitsch’s home piano recordings. This light as a feather tale of a
rogue but sweet womanizer, Don Ameche (!) who recounts his life
to the Devil is presented in all its Technicolor glory. As his wife is
lovely, long suffering Gene Tierney (in her Oscar nominated
performance) who's hilariously supported by Marjorie Main and
Eugene Pallette as her parents. Gay character actor Laird Cregar
(who died from a weakened heart after dieting just two years later)
is memorable as the Devil and whets the appetite for Fox’s
eventual release of his masterful performances in Hangover Square
and The Lodger. These are promised by year's end.
From Paramount comes a passel of Sophia Loren films that
includes gay director George Cukor’s Heller in Pink Tights
(1960) and the Michael Curtiz directed A Breath of Scandal
(1960). The former focuses on a theatrical troupe (including a
grown up Margaret O'Brien) touring the Old West. Loren is,
naturally, stunning in a blond wig and the film has a lot of pep.
That same year the Italian goddess starred with screen hunk John
Gavin, who was fresh from his Psycho triumph. Scandal, a turn of
the century comedy of manners, features Loren as a wayward
Austrian princess being wooed by Gavin. Maurice Chevalier appears
as the King and screen time is found for a song or two, naturally.
Though the film sags a bit the breathtaking beauty of the stars,
costumed to the nines, is worth the price of admission.
Also from Paramount is The Rainmaker (1956) another frontier
drama (this based on a play) in which lesbian icon Katharine
Hepburn expertly essays one of her spinster roles and is wooed by
handsome, energetic Burt Lancaster. He plays Starbuck, a
confidence man who claims he can bring rain to the drought
plagued Kansas plains. Of course he also cures the romantic
drought in Hepburn’s life. No word on whether his character name
was the inspiration for the coffee concern.
Finally from Paramount is the best of this quartet, Elephant
Walk (1954). Elizabeth Taylor (stepping in for Vivien Leigh after
she suffered a breakdown) returns to Africa as the bride of
handsome but arrogant Peter Finch. On their first night at his
fabulous estate Finch sends her on up to bed, preferring the
company of his male coworkers to La Liz! Later, the group of
grown up bad boys plays polo inside the house. What’s Elizabeth
to do except fall in love with the one man that seems to
understand her – Dana Andrews (of all people)? It’s a lot of
nonsense – but very entertaining nonsense. No extras on any of
the discs.
Brothers has given us the dueling Joan Crawford-Bette Davis
boxed sets, the James Dean collection, and a wonderful Doris Day
set. They’ve just brought out The Complete Thin Man
Collection that includes all six of the witty films that starred
Myrna Loy and William Powell as the martini guzzling detective and
his quick witted wife. The vintage extras round out the films while
an extra disc with full biographies of the two stars is a wonderful
bonus.
While waiting around for WB’s next classic coup, The Astaire-
Rogers Collection – Volume 1, Fox, no slouch in this
department, has brought out one of the greatest examples of film
noir, available at last on DVD, Nightmare Alley (1947). Pretty
boy (and closeted bisexual) Tyrone Power stars as the cynical user
Stan Carlisle in this hard edged tale of carnival tricksters. There is
also an expert supporting performance by Joan Bondell. You'll
never think of the work "geek" in the same way again.
The Criterion Collection does their usual exhaustive job with their
release of Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait (1943). Aside from the
usual expert commentaries, there’s a half-hour documentary on
screenwriter Samson Raphaelson and a rare bonus – director
Lubitsch’s home piano recordings. This light as a feather tale of a
rogue but sweet womanizer, Don Ameche (!) who recounts his life
to the Devil is presented in all its Technicolor glory. As his wife is
lovely, long suffering Gene Tierney (in her Oscar nominated
performance) who's hilariously supported by Marjorie Main and
Eugene Pallette as her parents. Gay character actor Laird Cregar
(who died from a weakened heart after dieting just two years later)
is memorable as the Devil and whets the appetite for Fox’s
eventual release of his masterful performances in Hangover Square
and The Lodger. These are promised by year's end.
From Paramount comes a passel of Sophia Loren films that
includes gay director George Cukor’s Heller in Pink Tights
(1960) and the Michael Curtiz directed A Breath of Scandal
(1960). The former focuses on a theatrical troupe (including a
grown up Margaret O'Brien) touring the Old West. Loren is,
naturally, stunning in a blond wig and the film has a lot of pep.
That same year the Italian goddess starred with screen hunk John
Gavin, who was fresh from his Psycho triumph. Scandal, a turn of
the century comedy of manners, features Loren as a wayward
Austrian princess being wooed by Gavin. Maurice Chevalier appears
as the King and screen time is found for a song or two, naturally.
Though the film sags a bit the breathtaking beauty of the stars,
costumed to the nines, is worth the price of admission.
Also from Paramount is The Rainmaker (1956) another frontier
drama (this based on a play) in which lesbian icon Katharine
Hepburn expertly essays one of her spinster roles and is wooed by
handsome, energetic Burt Lancaster. He plays Starbuck, a
confidence man who claims he can bring rain to the drought
plagued Kansas plains. Of course he also cures the romantic
drought in Hepburn’s life. No word on whether his character name
was the inspiration for the coffee concern.
Finally from Paramount is the best of this quartet, Elephant
Walk (1954). Elizabeth Taylor (stepping in for Vivien Leigh after
she suffered a breakdown) returns to Africa as the bride of
handsome but arrogant Peter Finch. On their first night at his
fabulous estate Finch sends her on up to bed, preferring the
company of his male coworkers to La Liz! Later, the group of
grown up bad boys plays polo inside the house. What’s Elizabeth
to do except fall in love with the one man that seems to
understand her – Dana Andrews (of all people)? It’s a lot of
nonsense – but very entertaining nonsense. No extras on any of
the discs.
GUILTY PLEASURES
As always, I have to offer a few titles in this category, which
might be my favorite. First up is Buena Vista’s release of the
unrated edition of Cursed (2005). This attempt by gay horror-
meister Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven to reinvent the
werewolf genre was re-written, re-cast, re-shot, re-cut but all
that re-re-re didn’t get it much respect from the critics. But it’s
a camp fest any way (and not nearly as gory as the Scream
pictures) and I love that at last we have an openly gay character
(albeit, one who comes out late in the proceedings) as part of
the proceedings. Christina Ricci has turned into a very strange
looking person and would match up nicely on the screen with
that other female oddity, Sarah Michele Gellar. Minimal extras.
For gay men of a certain age and predisposition, I highly
recommend Paramount’s initial DVD release of Lifeguard
(1976). Long before “Baywatch,” we had hunky, hairy 70s gay
icon (whether he’s ever known it or not) Sam Elliott (he of the
handlebar mustache) playing aging lifeguard Rick who mentors
young, feathered haired Parker Stevenson, and must decide
between staying on the beach or becoming a car salesman.
Though the lifeguards are busy fending off the likes of Kathleen
Quinlan and Anne Archer, there’s still plenty of time for them to
strut around in their beach attire and unknowingly ignite a
generation of fantasies!
might be my favorite. First up is Buena Vista’s release of the
unrated edition of Cursed (2005). This attempt by gay horror-
meister Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven to reinvent the
werewolf genre was re-written, re-cast, re-shot, re-cut but all
that re-re-re didn’t get it much respect from the critics. But it’s
a camp fest any way (and not nearly as gory as the Scream
pictures) and I love that at last we have an openly gay character
(albeit, one who comes out late in the proceedings) as part of
the proceedings. Christina Ricci has turned into a very strange
looking person and would match up nicely on the screen with
that other female oddity, Sarah Michele Gellar. Minimal extras.
For gay men of a certain age and predisposition, I highly
recommend Paramount’s initial DVD release of Lifeguard
(1976). Long before “Baywatch,” we had hunky, hairy 70s gay
icon (whether he’s ever known it or not) Sam Elliott (he of the
handlebar mustache) playing aging lifeguard Rick who mentors
young, feathered haired Parker Stevenson, and must decide
between staying on the beach or becoming a car salesman.
Though the lifeguards are busy fending off the likes of Kathleen
Quinlan and Anne Archer, there’s still plenty of time for them to
strut around in their beach attire and unknowingly ignite a
generation of fantasies!
MISCELLANEOUS
I can’t resist Steve Martin’s Navin Johnson and Universal is
celebrating the character again in the wittily titled The Jerk –
the 26th Anniversary Edition (1979). Costarring with
then real life co-star Bernadette Peters, all of Navin’s moronic
exploits (“The new phone books are here! The new phone
books are here!”) are captured in this debut widescreen
edition. There are a few new extras but mysteriously, no
commentary track from either director Carl Reiner or Martin
himself. Huge oversights!
Christian Bale has finally broken through the mainstream with
his leading performance in Batman Begins but it was his
thrilling, chilling work in American Psycho (2000) that first
caught my attention. This black, black comedy about a Wall
Street trader/serial killer was extremely controversial upon its
release – which the new Lions Gate “Uncut Killer Collector’s
Edition” details. But it’s the films expert capture of everything
about the Me Decade (not to mention Bale’s impossibly perfect
physique) that holds sway for me.
For show tune queens like myself Zeitgeist Video’s bittersweet
documentary, Try to Remember - The Fantasticks is
an enormous treat. The movie traces the evolution of the Off-
Broadway show that ran for a record breaking 42 years
through the course of its final performance. Former cast
members (including the late Jerry Orbach, the original El Gallo)
reminisce while we hear large sections of the amazing score
and see snippets of the show. “The Fantasticks” is my all time
favorite musical and I tromped on down to Sullivan Street in
New York in the late 80s to see the show for which I’m
eternally grateful. For those who didn’t, this documentary
explains what you missed.
celebrating the character again in the wittily titled The Jerk –
the 26th Anniversary Edition (1979). Costarring with
then real life co-star Bernadette Peters, all of Navin’s moronic
exploits (“The new phone books are here! The new phone
books are here!”) are captured in this debut widescreen
edition. There are a few new extras but mysteriously, no
commentary track from either director Carl Reiner or Martin
himself. Huge oversights!
Christian Bale has finally broken through the mainstream with
his leading performance in Batman Begins but it was his
thrilling, chilling work in American Psycho (2000) that first
caught my attention. This black, black comedy about a Wall
Street trader/serial killer was extremely controversial upon its
release – which the new Lions Gate “Uncut Killer Collector’s
Edition” details. But it’s the films expert capture of everything
about the Me Decade (not to mention Bale’s impossibly perfect
physique) that holds sway for me.
For show tune queens like myself Zeitgeist Video’s bittersweet
documentary, Try to Remember - The Fantasticks is
an enormous treat. The movie traces the evolution of the Off-
Broadway show that ran for a record breaking 42 years
through the course of its final performance. Former cast
members (including the late Jerry Orbach, the original El Gallo)
reminisce while we hear large sections of the amazing score
and see snippets of the show. “The Fantasticks” is my all time
favorite musical and I tromped on down to Sullivan Street in
New York in the late 80s to see the show for which I’m
eternally grateful. For those who didn’t, this documentary
explains what you missed.
Knight at HOME at the Movies
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