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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Dear John (2010) rating: 7/10

The title and marketing treatment led me to think this would be a bad film. Surprise, it was tolerable. Better than that, actually I think it was good. Probably it has to do with the director Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, Cider House Rules). Wasn't a big fan of Channing Tatum before, still am not, but he's surprisingly not bad here, playing a soldier yet again.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Mulligans (2008) rating: 7/10

The script was written by Charlie David who is one of the hosts on Bump! (the show of gay highlights in travel destinations). This probably low budget movie mostly holds together well. The music is not quite inspiring in parts. The script has continuity issues. But overall, I liked it (gave it a pass). Perhaps it was Dan Payne, the actor playing the closeted father. Good casting! Would have been tricky (less believeable) with a less attractive dude there.


# # Major spoiler

How is it that Stacey character turns around so quickly after finding out about her husband? I got whiplash watching her flip around so quickly from anger to acceptance, and from annoying to wise. Needed something more to drive that epiphany.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Invictus (2009) rating: 7/10

The Clint Eastwood film is remarkably low key and probably didn't do all that well in the box office, but tells the story of how it came to be that Mandela put all his support behind what used to be the white Afrikaner's sport and team. Damon does well as Pienaar, captain of the South African rugby team (though perhaps a bit too short for that leadership position), and Freeman is outstanding as Mandela.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Hard Pill (2005)

What gay person would want to take a pill and be straight? I suppose some self-hating gays might. The same ones who try the conversion therapy run by 'ex-gays'. The reality of it seems ruled out by science, but the movie shows an interesting result.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Love Happens (2009)

(A big movie weekend for me, it seems) I thought relationship self-sabotage was the exclusive domain of the gays. But of course it isn't since gays aren't the only ones who sometimes think they don't deserve love as this movie demonstrates at a certain point. Has Aniston been taking all the cynical, dark and jaded roles of late or is it my imagination? But she's funny here and almost out of place elegant.

Head On (1998)

The protagonist is young, pretty Greek guy with some characteristics reminding me of a certain Queer as Folk character, although lives at home with his immigrant parents in Melbourne. Gets pretty explicit. Lots of sex and drugs. I must say his whole attitude seems dated. A more modern version of that character would never have such hangups and be so conflicted. As it is perhaps a snapshot of a certain time period.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Leap Year (2009)

I like this actor Matthew Goode, and it's not really because he's super tall, at least I don't think so. Amy Adams' character has to choose between a somewhat unimpressive Irish guy played by this dude and a shorter, marriage ambivalent cardiac surgeon [$$$ implied] played by Adam Scott. I wonder what the outcome will be? In this respect perhaps realistic.

The Country Teacher (2008)

This is probably the first Czech film I've ever watched. A closeted gay teacher goes to the countryside far from the gay metro areas and navigates the minefield of blending in with the straight population. Is it a masochistic self-punishment on the part of the teacher? Probably. The movie is not terribly rewarding, but not awful.

The Conformist (1970)

Bernardo Bertolucci's early masterpiece is surprising in having a closeted homosexual (technically bisexual) protagonist (played by the not unattractive: Jean-Louis Trintignant) and a lesbian side story. Well I guess it was made in that free lovin' late 60's era, though the plot covers the 1930s. The visuals are astonishing. Based on a novel, the end is also a bit of a surprise/stunner.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Born in 68 (2008)

French. Runs long at 166 minutes, covering some 30 plus years of participants in a hippie commune. Some nudity. Better second half (also when the gay storyline kicks in).

Also significantly better than "Ma Saison Super 8" which covers a similar period.

Bonus: Actor playing Boris is pretty.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Madagascar Skin (1995)

The movie has an otherworldly fantastical feel to it. The idea that gay males are so focused on appearances that no gay guy would get intimate with a man with a significant facial blemish seems a bit of an exaggeration. But this isn't the only unrealistic part of the film.

# # #

Major spoiler

Crazy crazy plot leads to a straight man deciding to be intimate with a gay man, seemingly out of loneliness, pity or friendship. But this is not just a one night stand. I'm guessing there might be some percentage of straight guys able to handle that, but it's somewhat akin to a gay man staying and having sex with his wife in a straight marriage after he's told her he's gay. The entire scenario would be impossible for me, but probably it's been done.

Newcastle (2008)

A gay interest movie with a tragedy in it, nothing new. Aussie boys surfing and lots of bare skin improves it only slightly.