MasculineCurves

last exit home...

Anyone who has ever experienced the thrill and torment of lusting over a complete stranger on the subway will relate to this short film by Siar Sedig. It's well worth the next 12 minutes of your day.

Oz vs. Stiffler

As far as silly senseless comedies go the American Pie series takes the cake. This afternoon I was in the mood for a little silliness so I took in a matinee showing of the latest installment, American Reunion. As expected, I was ROTFLMAO.

This franchise works because of the chemistry of the ensemble cast. But it’s always the hotness factor of Seann William Scott (Stiffler) and Chris Klein (Oz) that catch my attention. Scott has clearly been hitting the gym and his character’s form fitting tees show off his pec and bicep action nicely. And Klein, clearly no stranger to the gym, bronzed up his nearly perfect chiseled face for this flick. So this begs the question: Who would you “do” from the American Pie movies? Stiffler? or Oz?

 

(above: Chris Klein as Oz; below: Seann William Scott as Stiffler)

I’m not even sure I can choose. Stiffler is the kind of guy who’s a douche but would probably give it to you hard. While Oz is the sensitive pretty boy who you’d like to see biting a pillow. (Oh, I’m so foul. Where did I learn phrases like this?)

BTW - Thomas Ian Nichols (Kevin) is quite worthy of an honorable mention in the hotness department as well. I never saw him this way before, but he grew out the sexiest facial hair for American Reunion.

(above: Thomas Ian Nichols as Kevin)

 

eyes wide open

With much thanks to this film I have a new crush object, Ran Danker (btw his father, Eli Danker, ain’t too bad to look at either). Ezri (Danker), a 22-year-old orthodox Jew, takes up an apprenticeship with married Butcher, Aaron (Zohar Shtrauss) . Ezri begins to work his way into the butcher’s life and before he knows it Aaron is taken by seduction and enters into a forbidden relationship with his young student. Eyes Wide Open is set in Jerusalem and lifts the veil, if you will, on the thoughts and beliefs of an Orthodox Jewish community. If you can get past subtitles then you’ll love this emotionally gripping indie film. The cinematography is gorgeous, it’s nicely paced, and wonderfully directed. 

And now for the stuff gay people like:

1. Ran Danker, that face is just soooo lovable and kissable. I can see how one could easily get seduced by that.
2. Ran Danker booty shot in the first of two of the film's skinny dipping scenes.
3. Several passionate love scenes between Ran Danker and Zohar Shtrauss.
4. Zohar Shtrauss goes full frontal (but not close up) in the second skinny dipping scene.

I couldn't resist making a screen capture of this hot scene as I streamed this on my iPad.

at the zoo...

I enjoy Chris Crocker because he is clearly a person of substance and not some fly-by-night flake. Of course you’d know that if you follow his Tumblr and YouTube vlogs. I hope his documentary, Me At the Zoo, makes it to the Cleveland Film Festival this spring because I am really, really, REALLY, looking forward to seeing it.

 

I Do

I just got back from a matinee showing of The Vow. Okay, I won’t lie, I went specifically for one reason: to see Channing Tatum. So I won’t bore you with a full analytical review of the film and it’s actors’ performances because it, quite frankly, was the predictable chick flick I expected it to be. Although, Jessica Lange had one great moment towards the end.

So now on to the stuff gay people like: 

1. Channing Tatum has one nude bootie shot and a few shirtless scenes. Interestingly, not much nudity for Rachel McAdams which means the producers know their audience (middle-aged women and gay men).
2. Lot’s of closeup shots of Tatum’s face. Those eyes... those lips... I love the fact that his teeth are a bit crooked. I hope he never gets them fixed. 

 

I want your love (a review of Shame)

Although it’s been in limited release for some time now, Steve McQueen’s highly acclaimed Shame just showed up in indie theaters in Cleveland this week and I finally saw it last night.  In case you haven’t heard the buzz yet, Shame chronicles a few days in the life of sex addict Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender) who is forced to curtail feeding his addiction when his sister (Carrie Mulligan) shows up for an unexpected visit. 

This movie has been on my mind all day. I initially walked away from the theater a little confused on how I felt about the film, but the more it weighs on my mind the more it gives me to think about. Shame is a highly stylized piece with gorgeous cinematography that art-house fans will love. On the other hand it moves at a slow pace and its seemingly intentional lack of a formal plot will frustrate mainstream movie audiences. Don’t get me wrong, the subject is compelling and a great deal of emotional range is explored by Fassbender and Mulligan (Mulligan is worthy of a best-supporting here). The story is about the relationship between these siblings and what they may have experienced in their childhood that lead to them becoming the adults they turned out to be. I think one of the most memorable movie lines ever was born here when Mulligan says “We’re not bad people. We just come from a bad place.” Which in and of itself is as intense and disturbing as their uncomfortable relationship.

Like I mentioned, McQueen’s cinematography is stunning and captures the gritty hues of New York City night life.  But for me, the unexpected element is the lush soundtrack which appropriately evokes all the indulgence of Studio 54 book-ended by somber interludes of an orchestral score by Harry Escott. In fact, Shame’s soundtrack is responsible for re-acquainting me with Chic’s I Want Your Love, my iTunes download for the day.

So is it worth $9.50 to see in theaters? All in all, I would say yes. That is if you have patience for this type of movie. I would best describe it as a simple character study of a complex character who never really evolves or comes to an epiphany. That is, until the very final seen where the look on Brandon’s face says it all (you’ll know what I’m talking about if you see the movie). 

And now the stuff gay people like: 

1. Michael Fassbender naked... like a lot in this film. He has a perfect torso and great ass! As an added bonus we even get a few quick glimpses of the full front.
2. Fassbender’s really awesome wardrobe. I only wish I were as lean as him so I could look just as good in pea coats and scarfs.
3. Carey Mulligan’s wrenching rendition of “New York, New York.”
4. One gay bathhouse scene.

Joyful Noise, an Unexpected Delight

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I first saw the previews for Joyful Noise featuring a Dolly Parton/Queen Latifah collaboration. Granted they’re both unbelievable talents in their own rights, but I was of the opinion that this unlikely pairing seemed to be a desperate Hollywood attempt to get middle America rushing to the box office. Well it worked, because I went right out and saw Joyful Noise opening weekend.

After having seen the film I can say that Joyful Noise is indeed a “delightful sight.” Parton and Latifah work so well on screen that I hope they go on to make Joyful Noise 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. While the plot is nothing new to movie goers, the underdog prepares for the big competition as egos get in the way, this film is loaded with laugh out loud one-liners and touching sentimental moments. There were a few scenes where even I teared up a bit. It uses the “Glee” formula to tell the story through dialogue interwoven with songs showcasing the casts’ talent. I would dare say that youngins Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan nearly steal the show but that would be undermining the fact that Parton and Latifah ARE the show. And who would of thought to put Kris Kristofferson in a movie these days? Even if it is for only five minutes of screen time.

So is it worth $9.50 to see it on the big screen? Well, let me just say, you can’t put a price on seeing Dolly Parton cover Chris Brown, can you?

And now the stuff gay people like:

1. Dolly Parton
2. Dolly Parton’s “specially” tailored choir robe (okay, well I guess older straight men might like this too, but it’s fahbulous!)
3. Queen Latifah
4. Queen Latifah’s making snarky remarks about Parton’s plastic surgery
5. Jeremy Jordan has one shirtless scene (we don’t have to feel guilty because despite the fact he’s playing a teenager, the actor himself is in his mid-twenties).

Blonde Venus Ambition

When I googled images for "Marlene Dietrich" in search of a pic to use for a potential upcoming blog post I came across this publicity still from the 1932 flim Blonde Venus. Upon first glance I knew I had seen this look referenced in popular culture before, but where?...

This is interesting in that Madonna is the pop culture queen and her video for Deeper and Deeper is actually an homage to the father of pop culture, Andy Warhol (this is blantantly obvious to Warhol fans). So now I'm scratching my head trying to figure out the Warhol tie to Dietrich.

Did you know Joyce Vincent?

She wasn’t an alcoholic. She didn’t smoke. She didn’t take drugs. So how is it possible that Joyce Vincent lay dead in her apartment for three years before anyone noticed? Especially since everything about her was exotic, beautiful, and immaculate. Dreams of a Life is a docu-drama that paints an imaginary portrait intertwined with interviews of the real-life people who knew Joyce Vincent before she died unnoticed in her London flat. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see Dreams of a Life anytime soon as it is only playing in the UK. Hopefully it will make it to the US by film festival season.

 

 

The Skinny on Patrick-Ian Polk

It's good to see that Patrick-Ian Polk is back with a new black gay dramedy that looks quite heavy. That is heavy on pretty black men. The Skinny, could it be our Sex and the City, or a re-scripted Noah’s Arc based in New York? I guess I’m a little biased as I still think Punks was his best project to-date. Darian has the thick on The Skinny which is set to hit theaters Labor Day weekend.

Friends with Benefits

[Spoiler Alert] Just caught a matinee showing of Friends with Benefits starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. How was it? Let me just say I’m glad I caught the discounted matinee rate as opposed to having to pay the full $9.50. Friends with Benefits is pretty much your typical cat and mouse chase romcom only it attempts to explore whether two really good looking people can be emotionally unattached f*ck buddies without falling madly in love. And of course the answer is NOT. Like we didn’t see that coming.

Don’t get me wrong, this movie isn’t horrible. It’s just not that great. If you’d like to spend about 90-minutes with two drop dead gorgeous people rolling around in the sheets then this might be right up your alley. If not, then wait until it comes out on rental. There were some funny moments. But I was disappointed to see that one of the funniest scenes in the trailer with Patricia Clarkson in a naughty french maid’s outfit was cut from the actual movie. I think that’s called false advertising. And speaking of advertising this flick is chuck full of product placement. Here’s to Sony’s Vaios laptops, Apple’s iPad, and not to mention GQ is practically a leading character here. As for characters; Shaun White? Why is he in this film? His two thirty second appearances should have been swept into the dust pan belonging to the janitor assigned studio’s editing suite.

Now time for the stuff gay people like: Uhm, that other girl from Black Swan (duh), lot’s of naked sex scenes with JT (he’s shirtless a lot and graces us with a couple 2-second full-out bootie shots), Woody Harrelson as a gay sports editor, and Patricia Clarkson as an oversexed MILF who can’t recall who the father of her daughter is.

How do you say... David's Birthday?

As much as I love film I embarasingly confess that I’m not too keen on foreign language films with subtitles....ay, just too much work. But last night I was brave and streamed the Italian film David’s Birthday.

This film has such an interesting premise. Two best friends Matteo and Diego take their families on vacation to a summer home on an Italian coast. When Diego’s college-aged son, David, joins the holiday Matteo unexpectedly becomes infatuated with the gorgeous young underwear model. The story becomes more intense when David begins to tease Matteo and cause him to act on his new found emotions.  But what happens when the others begin to suspect a budding relationship between the two?

David’s Birthday turned out to be so much more than I expected from a gay indie. The characters are conflicted and complex emotions are handled through excellent acting. SPOILER ALERT: this film also contains an element of psychological suspense thriller which will pull you in to the characters’ minds. Oh, and now for the stuff gay people like: Brief Nudity, three masturbation scenes, one gay sex scene, and brazilian model Thyago Alves in the role of David. David’s Birthday is available via Amazon or 

The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll

I just caught this trailer on IMDB, and while it looks like an interestingly depressing film (and I mean that in a good way), I'm more interested in it because it stars Jason Ritter. I don't know what it is about him, but I find him irresistibly attractive. Funny, being that he is somewhat the spitting image of his father, John Ritter, whom I never really found that attractive (although I was a big fan of Three's Company back in the day).

The Help

Of all the movies set for release this summer The Help is the one I’m most anxiously awaiting. I’m currently reading the book to get it in before the film release in August. And you better believe I will be at the theater opening weekend. It’s got an all star cast (too many names to mention in this post) but I am particularly looking forward to seeing Cicely Tyson in the role of Constantine (not seen in the trailer). I’m halfway through the novel and plan to post a discussion guide to the blog when I complete it. So read along with me, and let’s talk... The Help is available via Amazon in hard copy or Kindle.

Why did Billy Joe McAllister jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge?

We may never know why the title character in Bobbie Gentry’s 1967 song “Ode to Billy Joe” jumped off that bridge, but the 1976 film inspired by the song speculates it may have been a sin against nature that influenced his fate. Set in a 1950s bible-thumping farm town in the Mississippi Delta, Ode to Billy Joe (Robby Benson and Glynnis O’Conner) takes a look at what life may have been like for a young man who is the object of affection for an entire community. With his rosy cheeks and ocean blue eyes Billy Joe McAllister (Benson) must confront conflicting doubts over his love for his girlfriend, Bobbi Lee (O’Conner), and other desires that may be racing through his mind. His tragic ending shocks a community where church on Sunday wasn’t only a way of life, it was law. Did Billy Joe really stand a chance here? Or was he coerced into an alcohol induced night of unforgivable mistakes? And just what was it that Pastor Taylor claimed he saw Billy Joe and Bobbi Lee doing up there on Choktaw Ridge? 

Ode to Billy Joe is a remarkable piece of cinema that was timely despite being ahead of its time. Though don’t expect any steamy sex scenes or nudity. The best we’re going to get is a few shots of a young Robby Benson in a torn plaid shirt. Keep in mind this story is set in the 1950s and the manner in which director Max Baer handles the film’s only gay scene is a bit brief, leaving quite a bit up to the imagination. In fact, it leaves everything up to the imagination, but it’s this ambiguity makes this story work. Considerable credit is also due to screenwriter Herman Raucher for piecing together an intriguing story from the haunting lyrics of a three-minute song. So the next time you find yourself at home on a Saturday night with nothing to do, I highly recommend streaming Ode to Billy Joe from your Netflix queue. It’s well worth the bandwith. Oh, and if the director’s name Max Baer sounds familiar, that’s because he’s better known for his portrayal of the character Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies. 

As a single Ode to Billy Joe was wildly successful having hit the Country, Pop, and R&B (then known as the “black” chart) charts in 1967/68. Since then it’s been covered by everyone from The Supremes to Sinead O’Connor, but has never sounded as haunting and heartfelt as it did with Gentry strumming and swooning behind the mic. 

Andrew Wei Lin RIP

Last night I stayed up late and took in a great little indie film called The New Twenty (2009) on Netflix. Directed by Chris Mason Johnson the film is about a group of close-knit friends who met in college and find themselves analyzing their relationships, careers, and lifestyles as they approach 30. I found it to be a moving story grounded in a plot that anyone who is thirty-something can identify. 

I was immediately enamored with actor Andrew Wei Lin who plays Tony, an advertising executive who is torn between emotions of love and fear when he enters a relationship with an HIV positive man (played by Bill Sage). Of course after watching the film I imdb’d it to learn more about the intriguing Asian actor playing Tony. I was saddened to discover that Andrew Wei Lin took his own life shortly after the film was released. He was 28. With only five credits on his IMDB resume his time in Hollywood was short but impressionable. Read a tribute to Andrew on the film’s blog here. 

The New Twenty is available on Netflix and at Amazon.

 

The kids are just okay.... really...

 

Don't hate me for saying this, but I walked out of theatre not loving this film as much as I'd hoped. Don't get me wrong. It's not bad. It's actually quite smart. Just not something that moved me to the point of raving about. But it did get a good review here. So maybe it's me and not the kids.

However, I will rave over Mark Ruffalo's sex scenes. Is it just me, or does his character really throw it down in the bedroom? Very hot! He's got a really nice a%$ too!

Life is Hot in Cracktown

This is one of those films that as the credits began to roll I was left paralyzed in my seat with my jaw dropped thinking “Wow!” Wow in a powerful, compelling, speechless way. For the most part Life is Hot in Cracktown flew under the radar when it was originally released, but I recently watched it via video on demand. If you haven’t seen it yet, I HIGHLY recommend it. I believe it’s one of those films we’ll be still talking about in 20 or 30 years from now. And that Evan Ross (despite his mother Diana being the biggest diva of all time) can act his a%& off. I’m a fan! Life is Hot in Cracktown is available at Amazon.

Mala Noche (a film review)

Directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate, and Ray Monge, Mala Noche is available for immediate viewing via video-on-demand via Amazon.com. Click here to rent now:Mala Noche

CONTAINS SPOILER ALERTS

IMDB Plot Synopsis - A story of amour fou. Walt is madly in love/lust with a young illegal Mexican immigrant. "I wanna show this Mexican kid that I'm gay for him", says Walt. However, the object of his unrequited affection doesn't even speak any English and finds Walt really strange and undesirable.

Set in Portland Oregon, critically acclaimed gay filmmaker Gus Van Sant's Mala Noche (Bad Night) (1985), takes us into the world of illegal immigrants, hustlers, and desperate intentions. Van Sant's (Milk) first feature film Mala Noche may seem a bit like a student film project on the surface, but beneath its virginal celluloid lies a story with deep characters and dark charm. 

Stylistically, this film is choppy and intentionally noir-like, which some viewers will find this annoying while others will relish in the aesthetic. What I found most interesting about this film is that although it's centralized around a taboo gay theme (for the time) there is nothing stereotypical about the actors' portrayals of their characters. This makes it especially idnentifiable as I believe a lot of SGL men are turned off by the in-your-face flamboyancy so often depicted in our entertainment media. The three main characters in Mala Noche are deeply complex and pitiful in their own way, yet playful which makes them incredibly charming. Plenty of bad situations occur for each character as the story builds, but everyone is innocent and there are no villains. 

I also find it interesting that although Van Sant has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed directors in the industry none of the actors in his first film never really did anything else (according to my IMDB research). He cast a few of them as extras in sequential early works such as Midnight Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho but we've not seen them since.

Gran Torino: A movie review

Given his stellar track record there's no doubt Clint Eastwood is perhaps one of the most prolific film directors of our time. However, Gran Torino punctuates the fact that multi-tasking presents a huge challenge to even the most experienced film makers. Gran Torino, directed by and starring Eastwood, is a film about an elderly Midwestern widower, who holds prejudice views as he sees his Michigan neighborhood and the world around him change. Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is the last original resident of a traditional Polish neighborhood that's undergone the corrosion of the great white-suburban flight, and the influx of minorities and gang bangers. Disgruntled and believing everything about his community has become un-American, the catalyst of change occurs when he unexpectedly befriends two underprivileged teenage Hmong neighbors and vows to make their lives better.

Sounds like the feel good movie of the year, right? I guess my expectations were a little too high, because I so wanted to walk away from this film loving it. But that just isn't the case. Let me make this clear, Gran Torino is NOT a bad movie, it's just not a WOW movie. So I have to give it 2.5 stars out of four on my scale. I blame the screen play for most of the problems here. At times the dialog is a little over the top, predictable, and perhaps somewhat unrealistic. Which I believe contributed to Eastwood feeling the need to overact many of his scenes to the extent of coming across as a character actor as opposed to a dramatic leading man. I mean there was so much grunting and growling from ol' Clint that I almost wanted to stand up and yell at the screen "We get it. You're a grumpy old man. Now let's move the story along."

As for props.... well I give acting props to newcomer 17 year-old Vee Bang. While the script was predictable, he pulls off playing a gawky, socially inept kid in a charming kind of way. I hope he's not one of these kid actors whom we see give a powerful performance in one film, and in ten years from now wonder "where is he now." If he's fortunate enough to continue in this business I believe he'll become a noteworthy contender for an Oscar one day.