Inlaws & Outlaws (2005) rating: 9/10

Made back in 2005, it contains all the brilliance of a modern 2010 understanding of the same-sex marriage battle. Interviews. Young, old, gay, straight, single, married, divorced. I found a bit stunning the previously closeted man who had amicably but still painfully divorced his kindly school teacher wife (two kids), and as well the lesbian Mormon woman who had married -- with her lover as maid of honor -- and then divorced. But then get stunned again at the lengthy and happy relationships lasting decades.

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In the extras, don't miss the insightful comments of the young gay male couple under the title Tradition. They somehow don't seem well matched, but who knows.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009) rating: 8/10

Such a concentration of women haters in one place gets to be rather monotonous and unrealistic, but that aside, the movie plays as a nice action packed psychological thriller. Good job by the actress Noomi Rapace playing bisexual Lisbeth of the best-selling novels by deceased novelist Stieg Larsson.

One complaint, something wasn't quite right with the English voiceovers -- the film is originally in Swedish. I wonder if I might like better watching the film in Swedish with English subtitles. I would try it, except I have a rule against seeing an unexceptional movie a second time. Perhaps the sequel.

Musee D'Orsay, Paris, rating: 9/10

The best museum in Paris. Unbelievable room after room of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings are the highlight. I went twice while I was in Paris, and it was still worth it to me (which is actually saying something, I think).

Photos: Allowed
Admission: Expensive, but worth it

Calder to Warhol: Fisher Collection at SFMOMA, rating: 7/10

GAP founders collection has some of the best Calder mobiles I've seen. The collection also has an affecting triptych by Warhol of Jackie Kennedy depicting her beaming happiness to immense sadness. And there's a huge Lichtenstein painting with a disembodied woman.

Concurrently SFMOMA is having its 75th anniversary show which also has some cool stuff.

Photos: Not allowed
Admission: Expensive, but worth going on the free day

Little Ashes (2008) rating: 7/10

The story of Federico Lorca, a famous Spanish playwright and poet, and Salvador Dali in their youth. Apparently backed up by research, there was an amorous relationship between these two famous Spaniards. Lorca's famous friend Buñuel is also shown here.

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It's a bit sad that the real life story was such a conventional bummer along the lines of Maurice and Clive in the Forster novel. Still the movie is well done.

A Single Man (2009) rating: 8/10

Tom Ford's first film turned out alright. I sort of wish I had read the book by Isherwood beforehand. It's possible the book would have been better. I did get a sense of the message of the movie which is one part exhortation to live in the moment (live every day as if it were your last -- the story takes place ostensibly around the time of nuclear annihilation concerns related to the Cuban missile crisis) and one part cherish past moments of happiness. But knowing the real life part of the Chris and Don story, it seems the book is written as a way the significantly older Isherwood reasoned he might or might not survive if Don were to leave him.

Matthew Goode is in this movie too, but unfortunately his part has too little screen time. In the making of DVD extra, it seems like the actors needed to work on better things to say about Ford. I did like the style and soundtrack (Polish composer: Abel Korzeniowski) of the movie. Perhaps my main disappointment was the emotional impact seemed a little too muted...

Go to the imdb website (scroll down to goofs section) to find out all kinds of 'errors' in the movie which I didn't notice.

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.

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.


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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.