Movie Review – Stranger by the Lake

Have you ever been so desperate for love that you made one reckless decision after another?  It happens to the best of us at least once, but I doubt very many people would take it as far as putting their life on the line.  However, that’s exactly what happens in Stranger by the Lake.

Franck, played by Pierre Deladonchamps, is infatuated with Michel, played by Christophe Paou, after he sees him at a gay men’s cruising spot.  When he learns that Michel is unavailable he bides his time until Michel’s boyfriend is suddenly out of the picture.  Delighted by his opportunity, yet wary of it’s cause, he makes his move and passion ensues.  Is it worth it?

Some may say this movie, written and directed by Alain Guiraudie, is nothing more than a sausage fest.  It is true that there is an uncanny amount of male nudity depicted in all states and from all angles.  However, such is the nature of the beast at a cruising spot and Guiraudie made every encounter an opportunity to learn more about the characters rather than bombarding us with cheap sex for the thrill.

By the end of this movie I was absorbed in deep, psychological suspense and it’s been few and far between in my adult years that a movie can do that.  I was baffled by the end until I remembered the old cliche “There are fates worse than death” and realized that many would count loneliness on that list.  What about you?  Stream this title, which I give 4.5 stars, on Netflix now to see if you would choose differently or fall in the same trap as Franck.

Movie Review – Tomboy

We tend to think that life is sweet and innocent for children. That they have not yet had to face any issues of real consequence.  However, in the years preceding adolescence many things change for us that we aren’t yet equipped to understand.  Most of us deal with these changes with the help of friends or family, but gender identity issues complicate matters and leave some of us to fend for ourselves.  Tomboy is a perfect portrayal of this, showing one girl’s struggle to be a boy.

Laure, played by Zoe Heran, has just been moved to a new town and everything seems picture perfect.  She has a loving family, she’s made friends with all the kids in the neighborhood, and she even has a little love interest.  There is only one problem, she’s told everyone she’s Mickael and she’s quickly learning it’s harder to be a boy than she thought.

I was very impressed with this film, written and directed by Celine Sciamma.  It’s a beautiful, minimalist film that draws us into Laure’s mind and makes us feel.  We are excited and scared for her, sharing her happiness and her pain.  We know the worst is coming but we hope for the best.  I was especially struck by the level of maturity that was evident in the performances of these young actors and actresses.  Zoe created subtle nuances of character that really brought Mickael to life.

The ending felt a bit abrupt and left me with several frustrating questions, however, I have no other complaints with this film.  I enjoyed watching it very much and would gladly watch it again.  Therefore, I give this beautiful drama a rating of four and a half stars.  S’amuser!

Movie Review – Girltrash: All Night Long

Wanting to watch something just for fun I decided onGirltrash: All Night Long.  I was expecting it to be silly, but I had no idea I was about to get the government cheese of all cheesy movies!  It’s an indie, rock-pop musical… yeah.

I almost stopped watching it within the first five minutes when the actresses busted out in song.  However, knowing that this would make for a very interesting movie review, I stuck it out.  The movie opens with Daisy, played by Lisa Rieffel, telling her friend Tyler, played by Michelle Lombardo, that they have a gig at a local band competition.  She admits that they only got it because about five other bands couldn’t make it… and you kinda see why.  Then we meet Daisy’s little sister Colby, played by Gabrielle Christian, who just graduated from college and is ready to come out as a lesbian; which is a little weird because college is probably the best place to be a lesbian.  She’s determined to hook up and lose her V-card but she needs help from her sister and, lucky for her, Daisy needs her car.  They spend the night chasing their tails, and sometimes each others, getting into the most insane situations imaginable.

The storyline was actually interesting in an overly dramatic kind of way.  They balanced the bits that seemed too crazy to be true with normal, everyday problems to make the whole story seem more believable.  As for the music, it became more bearable and there was even one song I liked at the end.  I will add that I typically hate pop music, so that was a real hang up for me.  Being brutally honest here, it really helped a lot that all the actresses were incredibly hot.  Who doesn’t like to look at pretty people?

While doing research on the film to help with my review I found out that the movie is actually a spin-off of Girltrash, a Youtube mini-series.  Curious to know if it would add to the movie to watch this first I looked it up.  I have to admit, I ended up binge watching all eleven episodes in one sitting; but hey, they were only 3-5 minutes each.  They were actually kinda funny, especially since they were sans singing!  What I found is that it’s not necessary to watch the mini-series first because the movie doesn’t follow the exact same plot, but it certainly won’t hurt and it is quite fun.

In the end I have to say that I am not in love with this movie.  It’s too girly, too silly, and too poppy.  However, I realize that it’s pretty cool for an independent film and that others may really like it.  So, while I give this movie about 2.5 stars per my own tastes, I would still recommend this movie to young lesbians who like pop music.

Interview with Anthony Rebello on Heterosexual Pride Parade

The LGBT community, the media, and the internet in general have been raging over the recent Heterosexual Pride Parade that took place in Seattle, Washington at Capitol Hill. The man behind this social media rage fest is Anthony Rebello. After deciding that he wanted to have a parade in celebration of his own sexuality, he took to Facebook to create an event and invite others. (https://www.facebook.com/events/426907587464714)
However, many who found the event were appalled and offended. They immediately began to accuse Rebello of being a homophobic bigot and soon took to all forms of social media to continue, and escalate, the harassment. When I heard about this I became curious and decided to see who this man was and why he thought a straight pride parade was necessary. After reading a line in his Blog, Smile Me A River, where he questioned why everyone had decided to attack him without reaching out to get his side of the story first, I knew what I had to do. I did reach out to Rebello and, admittedly to my surprise, he responded and agreed to an interview. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Anthony Rebello.

Rebello's Social Media:
Website: http://www.anthonyrebello.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birdbutter
Blog: http://smilemeariver.blogspot.com

Movie Review – Five Dances

I’ve been trying to find a gay film for my movie review but, whether it’s because that’s not my thing or because they really were just awful, I’ve hated every one that I watched.  That is until I came across the movie Five Dances.  It’s actually a really adorable love story.

Chip Daniel, played by Ryan Steele, is in New York struggling to live as a dancer.  He snags a choice spot in a performance and meets fellow dancer Theo, played by Reed Luplau.  Their dynamic relationship of competition and friendship ultimately blossoms into something more.  We know it may not last, but we root for it all the same.

Writer and director Alan Brown did a fantastic job of showing how emotion can be presented through movement and expression.  It didn’t hurt that his actors were fantastic dancers.  Reed graduated from the Australian Ballet School, joined the Sydney Dance Company, and won the Australian Dance Award for “Most Outstanding Male Dancer” in 2009 before he moved to NYC and took up acting.  Ryan received training from The Juilliard School’s Summer Dance Intensive and many other programs and went on to perform on Broadway before he took to the silver screen.  Both men and the supporting actors were excellent in their performance and I could just as easily get lost in the dance as I could the plot.

Overall this was a really beautiful movie.  What struck me most was how refreshing it was because it didn’t rely on the time worn cliches like drugs, clubs, or broken marriages.  This is a very unique movie and a touching story of young love and that’s why I gave it four stars.

Movie Review – Kinky Boots

If you’re looking for a colorful movie with a bit of drama and a feel good ending then I think what you’re looking for is Kinky Boots.  It’s a cute little story adapted from real life events that takes you deep into the Soho transvestite’s soles; shoe soles that is.

Director Julian Jarrold made a bold decision when he cast Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lola.  Choosing someone who had no knowledge of transvestism and no experience in drag was a big gamble, but one that paid off.  Lola captures the stage in some of the best drag queen performances I’ve ever seen.  She also captures the attention of Charlie, played by Joel Edgerton, who sees her as the answer to his father’s failing shoe factory.  Together with his assistant Lauren, played by Sarah-Jane Potts, he convinces Lola to help him save the business.  In the process, they turn their little British town upside down.

Although I thought there were a few weak points in the plot, for example a side story or two that seemed underdeveloped and in the way, overall I liked the movie.  The characters were lovable and the acting was good.  For me though, it was more about the drag than anything else and on that note it couldn’t have been much better.  The costumes were big, bright, and bold and of course the shoes were impeccable.  The music was sultry and sexy and was perfectly matched to the brassy tones of Lola.  Even the backup dancers, who I usually find get in the way, carried their own and added to the splendor.

Overall, I think Kinky Boots deserves a solid three stars and is a good choice for a carefree weekend movie.  Throw it on during a night with your friends when it’s all about that popcorn laden playtime.

Movie Review – Molly’s Girl

One thing you don’t find all that often is a good lesbian comedy.  The majority of lesbian movies I’ve found are serious dramas, but if you are looking to lighten the mood I suggest Molly’s Girl.  This is a fun, silly movie that still has enough emotional struggle in it to fulfill our need to see the characters grow.

Molly, played by Kristina Valada-Viars, is quirky to say the least and Mercedes, played by Emily Schweitz, is ruthless.  Of course, they meet at a point when both women are emotionally desperate creating the perfect storm for an unlikely romance.  When the wine wears off it’s clear that they are no perfect pair, but a surprising twist keeps them together just long enough for a few lessons to be learned.

Written and directed by Scott R. Thompson, Molly’s Girl is a bit over the top but none the less fantastic.  At first I was annoyed by Molly, thinking that her character was overacted, but she actually grew on me.  Really, we’ve all met someone like her anyway.  By the end, I was fully engulfed in all the awkward humor and ended up giving this movie a four star rating on Netflix.