Give Us a Snog Then, Eh?

I know I've talked about my "angel' Matty before. Matty appeared in my 2009 production of The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told and served as Assistant Stage Manager for this summer's production of Sordid Lives. The last time I saw him, we had dinner and fireworks (literal, not figurative) at Seaside Heights, a few weeks ago. Matty is a very talented actor and one of the sweetest, funniest and most genuine people I know. I suspect we'll be seeing Piranha 3D together, as he is almost as big a Horror fan as I am.

Matty and his friend Bobby have become official contenders for a new Guinness World Record for Longest Continuous Kiss. And not only that - but the first Same Sex Longest Continuous Kiss. That's Matty and Bobby in the above photo (Matty's on the left, sans hat). The pic is from their official Facebook page. You can also visit their website, here. The record is currently held by a straight couple from Germany.

I'm blogging about it because A): Matty is a dear friend; B): They've managed to get an article on Queerty.com and C): Well... they're just both so adorable. The event will be taking place today (August 11th, 2010) on the campus of The College of New Jersey (my alma mater). I only wish I could be there to root them on (damn the whole needing to work for money to live thing!). Matty and Bobby are not a couple and have in fact, never kissed before, though I'm sure both young men are up to the task.

Please join me in wishing them the best and hoping that they break the current record, as well as setting a new one.

By the by... I almost titled this post "Kiss-Kiss, Bang-Bang," but thought better of it. There will certainly be no "Bang-Bang" here... Besides, the whole Guinness thing seemed to require a British reference of some kind, don't you think?

*Update (8/13) - Because of the unexpectedly large spectator turnout, Matty and Bobby's kiss-a-thon had to be re-scheduled for September... I'll be sure to keep you updated.

More, anon.
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Klaatu Barada Nikto!

Revered stage and screen actress Patricia Neal passed away today at age 84. Ms. Neal won an Academy Award for her performance in Hud and was nominated for her performance in The Subject Was Roses; both terrific movies featuring performances by an amazing woman who fought her way back from a series of strokes, the first of which left her unable to speak or walk.

Most of the major news outlets have covered only that much of her career, failing to mention her performance as Mrs. Keller in the original production of The Miracle Worker; her marriage to children's author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Matilda) or her role opposite future President Ronald Reagan in the romantic comedy John Loves Mary. Personally, I will remember Ms. Neal best as Helen Benson in director Robert Wise's (The Haunting) thoughtful 1951 Sci-Fi drama, The Day the Earth Stood Still.

WWII had recently come to an explosive (to say the least) end and the threat of nuclear annihilation was on almost every American's mind as the Cold War started it's 30+ years of scaring both children and adults. School kids were taught to "Duck and Cover" via partially animated films (as if that would actually help) and personal bomb shelters were all the rage when Wise and screenwriter Edmund H. North made their iconic movie about an alien named Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his robot Gort, who were sent to Earth to warn us that unless we stopped our evil, war-like ways, we risked destruction at the hands of the peace-loving aliens throughout the galaxy. Ms. Neal was the human envoy who made personal contact with Klaatu and managed to deliver the classic line (without giggling) to Gort, thereby stopping his pre-programmed destruction of the planet.

Forget the godawful 2008 Keanu Reeves remake and take the time to watch this thoughtful and surprising anti-war film, which still pops up now and then on AMC and TCM (though I imagine it will get some play, now that Ms. Neal has passed). You won't be disappointed.

More, anon.
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September's Cinematic Suckage

I had a rant all prepared about Prop 8 and the Ground Zero mosque debate, but I have decided that I'm going to keep those opinions to myself -- for now, anyway.

Instead, I'm going to continue my rant about the sad state of movies this summer. I've already whined about the bad movies being foisted upon us this month, but I'm afraid next month looks even worse...

There is not a single movie scheduled for wide release in September which makes me say "I have to see that!"

The first wide release of the month is Robert Rodriguez' Machete on September 3rd, a feature-length movie based on the fake trailer he created for his and Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse. While I found Rodriguez' Planet Terror to be by far the superior of the two films that made up Grindhouse ( Tarantino's Death Proof was just plain boring), there's something about Machete that just seems so... well, for lack of a better word, stupid. I simply have no interest in seeing this movie, despite its (mostly) excellent cast:

I have to wonder how Lohan managed to stay sober enough to make this movie.

September 10's big release is 'director' Paul W.S. Anderson's fourth entry in the video game-inspired Resident Evil series, Resident Evil: Afetrlife 3D. Milla Jovovich (Anderson's wife) reprises her role as the genetically-engineered zombie killer, Alice in this totally unnecessary sequel. Y'all know by now how much I love a good zombie flick (the operative word there being 'good'), but come on:

I'll give it this much: At least the 3D isn't an afterthought, as with so many of this summer's films.

September 17th brings us two major wide releases. Easy A stars another excellent cast in what looks like a completely ridiculous teen comedy loosely based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, a book every high-schooler never reads:

Do Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson really need the money that badly?

The 17th also sees the Ben Affleck directed crime drama, The Town, about a woman (Rebecca Hall) who unknowingly falls in love with a man (Affleck) who abducted her in a bank robbery. Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Blake Lively (really?) co-star:

Meh. I'll wait for cable.

The 24th has three major releases about which I could care less, but two limited-release movies I really do want to see. First up, Watchmen director Zack Snyder's CGI family film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole:

"Lord of the Owls?" Somehow, I don't think even children will be interested in this film.

Then there's Oliver Stone's long-awaited (by some) sequel to Wall Street, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (and what the hell does that title even mean?):

I'm not even going to talk about the Kristin Bell/Jamie Lee Curtis/Sigourney Weaver comedy You Again. It just seems like a complete waste of time and talent, even if Betty White's in it.

The last weekend of September does hold two promising limited-release movies, the first of which is the Ryan Reynolds thriller Buried, about an American who is captured and ransomed by Iraqi hostiles:

And finally there's Howl, starring the sexually ambiguous James Franco as 50's beat poet Allen Ginsberg:

I guess I'll be spending my September movie dollars at the art houses, this year.

And how about you? What movies do you want to see next month? You know I love when you leave me you comments.

More, anon.
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The Gayest Things You'll See This Week

Obviously, the cartoon on your right isn't exactly current, though it disturbs me (as it should you) that we're still having the same conversation 10 years after this cartoon was drawn.

I'm still gathering my thoughts on the recent events in California regarding Prop H8 and the many battles we have yet to face in a country where ignorance and bigotry are still the norm (and how sad is that?). I just want to know how, what is supposed to be the most advanced country in world is still having this debate. But why am asking you? If you're reading this blog, you're most likely on the right side, no matter what your sexual orientation might be.

So, before I go all nutso political on y'all, I thought I'd treat you to some music and dance. Gay music and dance, that is... Both of the clips below are via Towleroad, one of the most eclectic LGBT blogs on the web. Andy Towle and his team seem to find the most relevant and interesting topics of interest which include everything from news that directly impacts the LGBT community, to science, music, film, theatre, art and whatever else they think is noteworthy. Of course, sometimes Andy just lets go and posts something fun and sexy.

First up, the latest from openly gay rapper Cazwell, "Ice Cream Truck" (may be NSFW):

Obviously, Caz and his buddies are not buying from Mr. Softee... (and no, I will not apologize for that joke).

Next, something from "So You Think You Can Dance." Now, I am not a fan of most "reality" TV shows. I despise "Big Brother;" "The Bachelor/Bachelorette;" "Survivor" and almost everything on Bravo, MTV and VH1. My two exceptions (and guilty pleasures) are Kathy Griffin's "My Life on D-List" (so trashy, dirty and just downright funny) and "America's Got Talent." AGT appeals to me because it's open to anyone with any kind of "talent" and I was very pleased to see that my current favorite contestant, opera singer Prince Poppycock, moved on to the Semi-Finals this week. The man is not only very attractive, very gay and very talented, but his voice (much like Susan Boyle's) can bring me to tears (the good kind) and he's the first contestant in five seasons for whom I have actually felt compelled to vote (though I am still kicking myself for not voting for Barbara Padilla, last season).

Anyway, here's a very gay dance number from this week's episode of "SYTYCD:"

Neil Kent Travis @ Yahoo! Video

Hell, they might as well have done a full-on Apache Dance (also probably NSFW):



Okay - give me a minute to catch my breath... That's better.

Do you think they stuff?

Wow - I just blogged way out of my Public Comfort Zone (though well within my personal one). Another TMI moment from Yours Truly...

More, anon.
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M. Night Made Me Do It

I've decided to wait to talk about today's Prop H8 decision... If you've read my previous posts about this issue, you know I have plenty to say.. but I want to take my time with that post, because I have so much more to say on that topic...

Instead, I thought I'd talk about yet another upcoming horror movie that has piqued my interest, Devil.

Now, I know I've been hard on M. Night Shyamalan and his many recent failures. But I actually liked The Sixth Sense, despite figuring out the 'big surprise' long before the reveal. And I thought the understated performance from the anti-Semitic Mel Gibson in Signs was truly amazing (a friend who has been on set with him, reports that Shyamalan is actually very talented when it comes to getting his actors to give great performances). But I absolutely hate everything else he has made. Seemingly spending all his attention on his "Hey! Look at me directing!" weird camera angles (Unbreakable), Shyamalan's films suffer from ridiculous plotting, lame dialog and supremely unrealistic characters. I actually stood up at the end of The Village and booed the screen. And I simply refused to see The Happening.

Still - Devil is not written or directed by him. He is producing and did write the story on which Brian Nelson (Hard Candy; 30 Days of Night) based his screenplay. And I must admit, the premise is original, if nothing else. Five strangers are trapped on an elevator, one of whom is Satan. Simple and to the point.

Devil stars plenty of character actors you've seen dozens of times, and a few folks you wouldn't know from Adam, which may very well be in its favor. Directed by the Dowdle brothers (Quarantine), Devil certainly looks like good, gruesome fun:

"Turn on the lights!" indeed. Devil is scheduled for release on September 17th.

More, anon.
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Yet Another Remake I Want to See

I loved Let the Right One In, the Swedish vampire movie that took the Indie Horror world by storm in 2008. Smart, scary and very original, Let the Right One In was the much-needed antithesis to those godawful Twilight movies. The story of a bullied young boy befriended by a child vampire was both horrifying and sweet, even though we knew (SPOILER ALERT) she was only using him in a ploy to replace her aging human thrall.

Of course, the inevitable American remake was announced almost immediately and horror fans were skeptical, at best. But, director Matt Reeves had already proven himself with the J.J. Abrams-produced Cloverfield and from everything I've seen so far (especially the trailer embedded below), I think he may actually be up to the task.

Starring Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass' foul-mouthed Hit-Girl) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), Reeves' take on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist looks like it might actually live up to the original. "Six Feet Under" alum and Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins, co-stars.

As a fan of both subtle and overt Horror movies, I can see myself having a grand time at the movies this fall. Saw 3D may a built-in fan base, but so does Let Me In. I imagine it will be no contest when it comes to horror fans' Halloween movie picks.

This Summer may have sucked when it came to movies, though it looks like Fall and Winter hold all sorts of promising surprises.

More, anon.
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Finally, a Scary Horror Movie?

Via Obsessed With Film comes the first teaser for the Guillermo del Toro - produced remake of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, a movie that terrified my poor sister when she was a kid (and provided me with a new fun way to torture her).

That's one of the creatures from the original TV movie, which starred Kim Darby (Better Off Dead) and the late Jim Hutton (father of Timothy). The story concerns a young couple who move into her father's creepy old house, only to discover they aren't quite as alone as they think.

The remake stars Katie Holmes (I know, I know) and Guy Pearce (Memento). And the teaser trailer below is awesomely creepy.

Definitely one remake I can get behind, especially after having seen that trailer. I'll be first in line when this movie is released next January.

More, very anon...

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