Groovy Gay Film Festival #4: Just Say Love

Just Say Love tells a familiar tale about two men who meet one day while sitting together on a park bench. Doug (Robert Mammana) is a hunky hairy-chested "straight" construction worker who likes tattoos, Italian sub sandwiches and blow jobs. Guy (Matthew Jaeger) is a skinny philosophical gay artist who likes cats, Plato and sweaty stud muffins. They disagree on many things while getting to know each other, but there's a definite sexual chemistry between them that quickly leads to a no-strings-attached affair. However, Doug does have a pregnant girlfriend, and he never reciprocates Guy's enthusiastic fellatio since he still considers himself to be a heterosexual man. The rest of the dialogue-heavy film follows the ups and downs of the couple's evolving relationship, and for the most part, I enjoyed listening to their chatty conversations. And by the end, I cared about both men and their future happiness.

Since there are only two characters who appear in the movie, it helps that Mammana and Jaeger are excellent--and quite believable--in their individual roles. Mammana has the more complex part as a man who's struggling to understand his own sexuality, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he's damn attractive. Jaeger's Guy, on the other hand, does get a bit annoying with his constant mantra of "just say love", which helps calm him during moments of frustration. But together the charismatic rapport between the two actors makes the film worth seeing.

As much as I liked the actors in Just Say Love, I was less thrilled with director Bill Humphreys and writer David J. Mauriello's decision to entirely shoot the film adaptation of the latter's play in an enclosed "black box" soundstage. According to an interview with Humphreys, they were partly inspired by Lars von Trier's 2003 film, Dogville, to use a bare-bones set instead of filming on location, but this minimalist approach didn't do much for me. Whenever the actors' voices would occasionally echo off the walls of the soundstage during a scene, it was an irritating distraction. And I wanted to see Doug and Guy sitting on a real park bench with a blue sky above them--not surrounded by gloomy darkness. I love stage plays, but for this particular story, I would've preferred that Humphreys and Mauriello had shown us the characters in a realistic environment. Other people who see the film might not find this a problem, but I was disappointed.

Despite the bare-bones production values, Mammana and Jaeger's impressive performances are enough for me to recommend the film. So if you're in the mood for a sexy gay drama, I would just say yes to Just Say Love.



Show time: 9:15 pm, Thursday, November 12, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 75 minutes
Website: www.justsaylovemovie.com

Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing films that will be shown at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which runs November 5 - 15. For a complete schedule of films and events, go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

A Groovy Reminder from a Gorgeous Hunk

Here's a special Saturday Dish of the Day: 25-year-old British actor Robert Kazinsky (EastEnders) reminds us to turn our clocks back this weekend in his own unique way. Thanks, Rob!

My Top 100 Scary Films for a Halloween Movie Night

If you're in the mood for some movies on Halloween night, here are my Top 100 Scary Films (in chronological order). They vary in degrees of scariness--some might give you nightmares, while a few will just make you laugh--but I think there's something on my list to frighten everyone. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

1) Dracula (1931)
2) The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
3) Cat People (1942)
4) Dead of Night (1945)
5) The Bad Seed (1956)
6) The Blob (1958)
7) Horror of Dracula (1958)
8) Peeping Tom (1960)
9) Psycho (1960)



10) Village of the Damned (1960)
11) Homicidal (1961)
12) The Innocents (1961)
13) Carnival of Souls (1962)
14) The Birds (1963)
15) The Haunting (1963)
16) Matango/Attack of the Mushroom People (1963)
17) Strait-Jacket (1964)



18) Seconds (1966)
19) Night of the Living Dead (1968)
20) Rosemary's Baby (1968)
21) Spider Baby (1968)



22) House of Dark Shadows (1970)
23) The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
24) Fright (1971)
25) Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)



26) The Other (1972)
27) You'll Like My Mother (1972)
28) Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)
29) Don't Look Now (1973)
30) The Exorcist (1973)



31) The Legend of Hell House (1973)
32) Sisters (1973)
33) Theatre of Blood (1973)
34) The Wicker Man (1973)
35) Black Christmas (1974)
36) It's Alive (1974)
37) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
38) Jaws (1975)



39) Race with the Devil (1975)
40) The Stepford Wives (1975)
41) Trilogy of Terror (1975)
42) Burnt Offerings (1976)
43) Carrie (1976)
44) The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
45) The Omen (1976)
46) The Sentinel (1977)
47) Suspiria (1977)
48) Coma (1978)
49) The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (1978)
50) Dawn of the Dead (1978)




51) Halloween (1978)
52) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
53) Magic (1978)
54) Alien (1979)
55) The Amityville Horror (1979)



56) The Brood (1979)
57) Phantasm (1979)
58) Salem's Lot (1979)




59) Tourist Trap (1979)
60) When a Stranger Calls (1979)
61) The Changeling (1980)
62) Dressed to Kill (1980)
63) The Fog (1980)
64) Friday the 13th (1980)



65) Motel Hell (1980)
66) Prom Night (1980)
67) The Shining (1980)
68) Terror Train (1980)
69) An American Werewolf in London (1981)
70) The Evil Dead (1981)
71) Ghost Story (1981)
72) Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
73) The Howling (1981)
74) My Bloody Valentine (1981)
75) Possession (1981)
76) Cat People (1982)
77) Poltergeist (1982)
78) The Thing (1982)
79) The Hunger (1983)
80) Sleepaway Camp (1983)
81) Videodrome (1983)
82) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
83) Fright Night (1985)



84) The Stuff (1985)
85) The Hitcher (1986)
86) Evil Dead II (1987)
87) Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
88) Parents (1989)
89) Misery (1990)
90) The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
91) Scream (1996)
92) Scream 2 (1997)
93) The Blair Witch Project (1999)
94) The Sixth Sense (1999)
95) American Psycho (2000)
96) Scream 3 (2000)
97) The Others (2001)
98) Shaun of the Dead (2004)
99) Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2007)
100) ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009)

Dish of the Day #270: Vote for your Favorite

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

#265 was last week's winner with 38.1% of the 84 votes cast, and #264 came in second with 21.4%. #261 was third with 16.7%, followed by #262 (14.3%) and #263 (9.5%).

Online Surveys & Market Research

Groovy Gay Film Festival #3: ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction

I'm not a big fan of excessive blood and gore in films, but when you add in some dark humor and engaging performances, I'm much more tolerant of gruesome special effects. And it's hard not to like a movie that makes me laugh out loud while zombies are chowing down on innocent people. So if you don't mind seeing someone eat their own eyeball--which is one of the funniest scenes in the film--then ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction might be your kind of flick.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this movie, but director Kevin Hamedani--who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ramon Isao--has made an impressive feature film debut with ZMD, which he was inspired to make after 9/11. An American of Iranian heritage (just like ZMD's lead character), Hamedani decided to make a zombie film in the tradition of George A. Romero's 1968 classic, Night of the Living Dead, in order to address larger social issues like the treatment of Middle Eastern Americans and homosexuals in the United States. And he accomplishes this quite effectively as his characters are able to discuss a wide assortment of serious subjects in between killing zombies. ZMD is a bloody good time with an important message of acceptance.

As for the story, the first half-hour of the film introduces us to its large cast of characters:

Frida Abbas (Janette Armand), a young Iranian-American girl who has dropped out of college to return home to the idyllic island town of Port Gamble, Washington.

Derek (Ryan Barret), an aspiring songwriter who composes a tune about Frida--the girl he loves--by rhyming her name with "cheetah".

Tom (Doug Fahl) and Lance (Cooper Hopkins), a gay couple who arrive in town in order for Tom to come out to his mother, Mrs. Hunt (Linda Jensen).

Cheryl Banks (Cornelia Duryée Moore), a high school teacher who decides to run against Mayor Burton (James A. Mesher) in the upcoming election.

Reverend Haggis (Bill Johns), whose sermons aren't nearly as exciting as Bingo Night at the church.

And Joe and Judy Miller and their son, Brian (Andrew Hyde), who are Frida's neighbors.

Once we meet all of these folks, it's only a matter of time, of course, before the zombies begin killing them off one-by-one. But this is the fun part of watching such a movie--you get to choose your favorite characters and root for them to survive until the very end.

Besides the witty script of dark humor (Lance's line about his father's reaction to his homosexuality is hilarious in the context of the moment), I must also praise the talented ensemble of actors--especially Ms. Armand and Mr. Hopkins, who are both making their feature film debut in ZMD--as well as all the realistic blood and gore provided by special effects coordinator Tom Devlin. Filmed on location in the actual town of Port Gamble, director of photography John Guleserian does a great job of showcasing a picturesque community with lovely homes--that is until the zombies take over. The only part of the movie that I didn't care much for is the brief epilogue, which just doesn't seem that necessary, but this is a minor quibble with what is otherwise a very entertaining film.

If ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction was available on DVD, I would highly recommend it for Halloween night viewing--perhaps as part of a triple feature with Night of the Living Dead and 2004's Shaun of the Dead. So if grisly killings with buckets of blood, a groovy gay twist and a wicked sense of humor sounds like an enjoyable night at the movies, be sure to check out ZMD when it comes to a theater near you in January or on DVD next spring.



Show time: 9:00 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash)
Running time: 87 minutes
Website: www.zmdthemovie.com

Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing films that will be shown at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which runs November 5 - 15. For a complete schedule of films and events, go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Dish of the Day #269

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gay Film Festival #2: Shank

I was pleasantly surprised by the film, Shank, which is one of the best gay dramas that I've seen in a long time. However, when the movie began with a group of young thugs filming their brutal assault on a man, I did not have high hopes of enjoying myself for the next 90 minutes. But by the end of the film, I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering if any of the fascinating characters would live happily ever after.

The emotional events in the gritty world of Shank center around 18-year-old Cal, who's a member of a violent British gang--and secretly in love with his best friend, the hunky (and frequently shirtless) Jonno. At the beginning of the film, Cal has sex in the woods with an older stranger he's met online before giving the guy a painful headbutt and driving off without him. He later jerks off at home while watching their hot forest romp on video (he films all his gay encounters with his cell phone). Add in some lines of cocaine and this is Cal's miserable life--until he meets Olivier, a sweet student from France who becomes another random victim of the gang's violence. Cal and Olivier's unlikely friendship turns everyone's life upside down, including Jonno, Nessa (the vicious gang leader who is one scary girl), and Scott (Olivier's teacher--and Cal's close acquaintance from the woods).

Shank is a fairly simple story, but writers Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin slowly--and expertly--build the tension of their tale and even provide a few surprising twists in the final scenes that made me sit up and go, "Wow, I didn't see that coming." Their screenplay really couldn't be better, and 21-year-old director Simon Pearce has grabbed their words and gone wild with them. It's an impressive feature film debut for this extremely talented young man, who perfectly captures the explosive darkness of Cal's existence while at the same time lightening the mood a bit for the developing relationship between Cal and Olivier. I especially liked that Olivier's penchant for the color pink eventually rubs off on Cal's own wardrobe.

But major kudos must also be bestowed upon the amazing ensemble of actors who truly inhabit these troubled characters and give such vivid performances that I could easily believe that they really existed. Garry Summers (Scott), Tom Bott (Jonno), Marc Laurent (Olivier), and Alice Payne (as Nessa, one of the roughest, toughest gals I've ever seen onscreen) are all wonderful, and I found it quite refreshing that a female was the "leader of the pack." However, I have to reserve most of my praise for actor Wayne Virgo, whose portrayal of Cal is nothing less than brilliant. He makes us slowly grow to care for this young man struggling with his inner demons, and by the emotional ending, we're firmly in his corner, hoping that he'll find happiness. This film is Virgo's first professional acting role, which makes his performance even more extraordinary.

Shank may be quite graphic in its depiction of sex and violence, but its unique "coming out" story and engaging actors are what make this dark cinematic tale one worth experiencing.



Show time: 9:15 pm, Wednesday, November 11, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 90 minutes
Website: www.shank-movie.co.uk

Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing films that will be shown at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which runs November 5 - 15. For a complete schedule of films and events, go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Dish of the Day #268

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Broadway Bound: It's Turkey Lurkey Time Again!

Last April I blogged about how much I love the 1968 Broadway musical, Promises, Promises, with its groovy score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and witty book by Neil Simon (based on the 1960 film, The Apartment). So you can imagine my excitement when I read in The New York Times today that the show is going to receive its first Broadway revival next spring with Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth in the lead roles. It will be directed by Rob Ashford, making his Broadway directorial debut, and opening night is scheduled for April 25 at the Broadway Theater (previews begin March 28). I look forward to hearing Chenoweth sing "Knowing When to Leave" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", and she and Hayes should be wonderful together. And won't it be nice to see Miss Della Hoya, Miss Polansky and Miss Wong dance to "Turkey Lurkey Time" again? I can't wait!

Groovy Gal: Nanette Fabray

I first became a fan of Nanette Fabray as the mother of Mary Richards and Ann Romano. She played Dottie Richards in two 1972 episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Katherine Romano on One Day at a Time from 1979 to 1984. I didn't discover until much later that she was a Tony Award-winning Broadway actress. You cannot help but like Nanette Fabray, whose sparkling presence has always been irresistible. And today I wish this lovely and talented lady a happy 89th birthday.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Nanette Fabray:

1) She was born Nanette Ruby Bernadette Fabares on October 27, 1920, in San Diego, California. She overcame a significant hearing impairment to pursue her career and has been a long-time advocate for the rights of the deaf and hard of hearing.

2) Her feature film debut came as one of Bette Davis' ladies-in-waiting in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939).




3) Fabray made her Broadway debut in Let's Face It! in 1941. She won the 1949 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Love Life, and she was nominated in the same category in 1963 for the flop Irving Berlin musical, Mr. President.



4) In 1953, she played her most famous screen role as a Betty Comden-like playwright in The Band Wagon, in which she performed the classic musical number, "Triplets", with Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan.




5) In her early Broadway and film appearances, she was credited as "Nanette Fabares." The pronunciation is the same, but she changed the spelling following an embarrassing moment on The Ed Sullivan Show when Sullivan, reading a cue card, mispronounced her name on live television as "Nanette Fa-bare-ass."

6) Fabray became a household name and won three Emmy awards while appearing on Sid Caesar's TV series, Caesar's Hour (1954-57).



7) Mary Tyler Moore has credited her own on-camera comic crying to Fabray's style of crying, which she imitated.




8) Fabray starred in the 1973 Broadway comedy, No Hard Feelings, with Eddie Albert and Stockard Channing. It closed on opening night.

9) She was seriously injured by a runaway elephant during the filming of the 1978 movie, Harper Valley P.T.A.

10) Fabray played the mother of her real-life niece, actress/singer Shelley Fabares, on TV's Coach. They also appeared together on One Day at a Time.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Rhoda & Joe

Every Tuesday I post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers wins the highly coveted Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

Thirty-five years ago tomorrow on October 28, 1974, Rhoda Morgenstern married Joe Gerard in a special hour-long episode of Rhoda that was watched by more than 50 million people. So in honor of this groovy 1970s television event, this week's trivia theme is Rhoda.

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a private Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted).

1) Who was the only person to forgive Phyllis for forgetting to pick up Rhoda on her wedding day?

2) What actress played Rhoda's mother, Ida?

Fill in the blanks of Rhoda's original opening monologue--but try to do it without watching the episode of "Rhoda's Wedding" below:

3) "My name is Rhoda Morgenstern. I was born in _______, New York, in December of _______."

4) "I've always felt responsible for ________."

5) "The first thing that I remember liking that liked me back was ________."



Last week's lucky winner was Tony Guadagnino, who answered the following questions about the TV series, Dallas, correctly:

1) What was the full name of Lucy Ewing's husband? And what was the first name of his sister? Mitch Cooper, Afton

2) Who played public relations agent Leslie Stewart? And what daytime soap opera does she currently star on? Susan Flannery, The Bold and the Beautiful

3) Who played Sue Ellen's young lover, Peter Richards? Christopher Atkins

4) Who played Lady Jessica Farlow Montford? And how was she related to Clayton Farlow? Alexis Smith, sister

5) What actress replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie for one season? Donna Reed

Groovy Gay Film Festival #1: Training Rules

In the next few weeks I will be reviewing films that will be shown at Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which runs November 5 - 15. The festival will feature over 150 innovative gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender films in genres ranging from musical comedy and horror to serious drama and compelling documentaries.

My first Reeling review is of the excellent documentary, Training Rules, by Dee Mosbacher and Fawn Yacker. The film tells the true story of what happened when a talented young athlete, Jennifer Harris, took on Penn State University and its superstar women's basketball coach, Rene Portland, for 27 years of discrimination against players based on homophobia. I was shocked, disgusted and mad as hell while watching the movie as the renown college turned a blind eye for three decades and allowed Portland to coach her team with her own set of rules:

No drinking
No drugs
No lesbians

Mosbacher and Yacker interviewed many former Penn State players--including twins Chris and Corinne Gulas, Lisa Faloon and Cindy Davies--whose passion for the sport of basketball was crushed by Portland and her "lesbian-free" program. Right from when she was first hired in 1980 by the university, Portland was very open about her hateful discrimination policy, threatening any player who might be gay with the loss of their basketball scholarship and a swift dismissal from the team. So one could either stay in the closet and live a life of fear or be kicked to the curb.

Since Portland refused to be interviewed for the film, she does remain somewhat of a mystery. We do find out that she was very religious and seemed to believe that lesbianism was a disease that one could easily catch in a locker room. I would be curious to know more about Portland's own personal life because my gaydar kept going off while watching her in the film. Sometimes those who protest too loudly are trying to cover up a secret of their own.

Although the documentary takes a very serious look at a sad situation, I did enjoy the amusing line from one interviewee about Portland's inability to win a national title while coaching at Penn State: "Does she really think she's going to win a national title without a lesbian on her team?"

Nothing much changed at Penn State until the courageous Ms. Harris, who was dismissed from the team in 2005, stood up to Portland and the university with legal action. But for all those former players whose dreams were dashed by their "beloved" coach, the emotional scars still linger today.

Training Rules is a horror film, which effectively paints a revealing portrait of a scary monster named Rene Portland. I found the story quite moving, and I highly recommend that everyone sees it.



Show time: 7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
Running time: 61 minutes
Website: www.trainingrules.com

For a complete schedule of films and events, go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Dish of the Day #267

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Mad about the Men: Dick Needs a Drink

Mad Men just keeps getting better each week, and last night's episode was one of the best of the entire series as Betty Draper finally learned the truth about her husband's secret past. And even I learned a few things about Don Draper that I hadn't realized before: that when Dick Whitman assumed the real Don's identity during the Korean War, he also became Anna's husband. I never thought that he was legally married to her and would have to get a divorce before he wed Betty. Both Jon Hamm and January Jones delivered brilliant performances in their big confrontation scene, and I can't wait to see what happens next with this dysfunctional couple.

Now let's take a closer look at what else happened with our favorite characters on last night's episode:

Don Draper: Wasn't it so nice to see the usually calm and collected Don lose his cool? The "very gifted storyteller"--as Betty described him--was thrown for a loop when he arrived home to find his family waiting for him. Believing they were all out of town, Don was planning to have a dirty weekend with his new mistress, Suzanne, who patiently waited in the car while he went inside his house. I did feel a tiny bit sorry for the girl, but I don't think we've seen the last of her. And the final moment of the episode when Don and Betty took the kids trick-or-treating, and Francine's husband asked Don, "And who are you supposed to be?", was just perfect. I have a feeling that life is going to get much worse for Don.



Betty Draper: The times were so much different back in 1963 as Betty was advised by a lawyer that she could lose custody of her children if she divorced Don. So she then decided to salvage--or destroy--her marriage by confronting Don and making him squirm. However, by the end of this painful scene, Betty seemed in a much more forgiving mood. So maybe she'll try to make their marriage work--at least until she learns of Don's affair with Suzanne. I expect Betty will have reached her limit once she finds out about his latest infidelity.

Peggy Olson, Pete Campbell and Sal Romano: Peggy and Pete will return next week, but Sal still seems to be missing. I hope we see him again before the season ends.

Joan Holloway Harris: It was a fabulous Joan episode as she finally let her loser husband, Greg, have it with a vase over the head. The guy's family has a history of mental illness (uh-oh), and when he whined that she didn't know what it was like "to want something your whole life" and not get it (i.e. his surgical career), she sacrificed a vase to prove him otherwise. Joan has always had dreams of a wonderful life as a doctor's wife, but now that Greg has joined the army in order to become a surgeon (a "surprise, honey" moment that deserved another vase upside the head), she's realized what a big mistake she's made by marrying him. And Vietnam is only going to cause further heartache for her and Greg. But maybe while he's overseas, she'll find some happiness with a new guy--or an old flame.



Roger Sterling: It was nice to see Roger (and actor John Slattery) being featured so prominently in an episode as he was reunited with an old flame, Annabelle Mathis, whose company makes dog food out of horse meat. I also liked seeing actress Mary Page Keller (Annabelle), whom I remember from the 1987-89 FOX sitcom, Duet. Roger had the best line of the episode in response to Annabelle's confession that he was the one for her.

Annabelle: "You were the one."
Roger: "You weren't."

Ouch! That must've hurt. And Roger agreed to help Joan find a new job, making it obvious that there are still lingering feelings between the two of them.

Only two episodes left. Sunday nights just aren't going to be the same without my Mad Men fix, but I'm looking forward to seeing how creator Matthew Weiner wraps things up.

Dish of the Day #266: Trick or Treat Week

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Of 'Glee' I Sing: Musical Jews with Big Guns

Once again I need to apologize for my delayed review of the latest episode of Glee, but it was just one of those weeks. I accidentally taped over most of the show, so I missed all the musical numbers until I watched the entire episode online this afternoon. And I think this is the first episode since the pilot that I've loved almost every single moment of Glee. And here's what made it such a wonderful episode:

Favorite character: This week I have to go with Will Schuester--and the amazing Matthew Morrison, who must have been exhausted after filming all his musical/dance numbers--"Bust a Move", "Thong Song", "Sing Sing Sing" and "I Could Have Danced All Night". That's a helluva lot of dancing for one person in a single episode. And Morrison is quite the limber 30-year-old (he turns 31 on October 30). I can certainly understand Emma's attraction to Will, can't you?

Emma's Back!: I wasn't too happy last week about Emma Pillsbury's glaring absence, but my favorite guidance counselor returned wearing two wedding dresses this week--and she sang a show tune! I was impressed with Jayma Mays' vocal performance--and she's so good at playing a flustered character (i.e. the scene when she tried to cover up her "sunglasses are so sexy" remark about Will). Mays is a terrific comic actress who deserves to be remembered at Emmy time next year--along with many of her co-stars.




Best plot twist: Rachel and Puck's unexpected hot romance! Do these two attractive kids have major chemistry together or what? I guess I'm not a big Rachel/Finn fan because Finn just isn't smart enough for Rachel. The guy is sweet and kind, but sometimes he's just dumber than a box of rocks. Puck (I like his real name "Noah" so much better), on the other hand, is nobody's fool--and he's sexy. Damn sexy (see below). I know the writers are pushing us to root for Rachel and Finn to eventually get together, but I'm sorry--after this episode, I'm hoping for a Rachel/Puck reunion.

Best plot twist runner-up: Letting Sue Sylvester show us her vulnerable side as she fell hard for TV news co-anchor Rod. It was nice to see her being a nice person for a change, and I hope that she gets another chance at romance in the future.

Sexiest characters: It's a tie between Will and Puck. Will's surprising dance moves got my blood boiling, but then Puck showed up in bed shirtless and sang a Neil Diamond song and my tongue fell out of my mouth. Woof!

Best non-musical scenes: I loved Puck's narrated flashback with him, his mother and his little sister eating dinner on TV trays while watching Schindler's List and, of course, his shirtless dream sequence with Rachel climbing through his bedroom window.

Best musical performance: I thought they were all fabulous, but I have to go with Puck's "personal tribute to a musical Jewish icon", Neil Diamond. Watching him sing "Sweet Caroline" to Rachel melted my heart. Note to Glee writers: make actor Mark Salling a lead singer more often.



Best dancer runner-up: No one could beat Will's groovy moves, but Sue Sylvester showed us that she can cut a rug. It was a joy to watch her and Will dance together with him ending up in her arms.



Most unexpected fashion statement: Seeing Quinn in "civilian" clothes instead of her Cheerio outfit after Sue kicked her off the team.

Most unexpected fashion statement runners-up: Sue's red zoot suit. YIKES! And Emma's first wedding dress with the long train, which she wore in the school.

Facebook, Anyone?: Since I learned a few weeks ago that MySpace is owned by FOX, I'm not surprised that for the fourth time a character mentioned MySpace on the show. However, it still bugs me because it makes the series look so dated. Maybe creator Ryan Murphy and his writers aren't allowed to use the forbidden "F" word. Just an observation.

I'm Confused: Isn't Kurt still the kicker for the football team? Or was that just for the one episode?

Best Big Quench Slushie Attack: I liked Kurt taking one for the team, but Will's was the best--and just for fun.

Best facial expression: Kurt to Will during the latter's "Bust a Move" number. His "Oh My God" was priceless.

Cruelest line: "You’re a disgrace" - Sue to Quinn (whom I felt sorry for)

Best line runners-up: "Ken has convinced me we need to at least be in the same room when the marriage is certified" - Emma

"You sunk my battleship, Rod. And you sunk it hard" - Sue

"Have you seen my guns?" - Puck to Rachel in reference to his bulging biceps

Best line: "It was a message from God: Rachel was a hot Jew and the good Lord wanted me to get into her pants" - Puck

That's my Glee review for this week. Until next time, keep singing!

Groovy Gay Film Festival: Reeling 2009

Yes, boys and girls, it's that time of the year once again when we all come together to watch groovy LGBTQ movies at the second-oldest lesbian and gay film festival in the world. Reeling 2009: The 28th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival begins Thursday, November 5, and runs through Sunday, November 15, and it will feature over 150 innovative gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender films in genres ranging from musical comedy and horror to serious drama and compelling documentaries. Below I've highlighted a few of the films in the festival's line-up that caught my eye (the first photo is from Eating Out: All You Can Eat) and which I will be reviewing (along with others) beginning next week:

The Big Gay Musical
Directed by Casper Andreas & Fred M. Caruso
7:30 pm, Thursday, November 5, at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport)
After a year of global economic anxiety, Reeling kicks off with this uplifting stress reliever that mixes elements of musical theater with a story of acceptance, discovery, friendship, lust and love. It's sure to please both die-hard show tune queens and serious filmgoers alike--and anything that features scantily clad tap-dancing angels is worth checking out, don't you agree? After the screening, the Opening Night Gala will take place at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood) with a live performance by the Joan Crawford-inspired band, The Joans. Click here to see a preview of the film.

STUCK!
Directed by Steve Balderson
7 pm, Friday, November 6, at the Landmark Theater (2828 N. Clark)
This tongue-in-cheek homage to film noir women-in-prison movies faithfully reproduces the genre with a wrongly accused heroine, forbidden love, cat-fighting dames, a sadistic warden and corrupt prison guards. Two of my favorite ladies star in this flick--the fabulous Karen Black and Mink Stole (the latter is expected to be a special guest at the screening and prison-themed after-party at Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted).

Eating Out: All You Can Eat
Directed by Glenn Gaylord
5 pm, Saturday, November 7, at the Landmark Theater
The outrageous franchise is back with Tiffani helping her new friend, Casey, win the affections of the hot, unattainable Zack. Click here to read my recent Deeper Dish interview with actor Chris Salvatore, who plays Zack.

Make the Yuletide Gay
Directed by Rob Williams
7:15 pm, Saturday, November 7, at the Landmark Theater
Christmas comes early with this warm and toasty "coming home from college for the holidays" family comedy, in which a young man has to work up the courage to tell his parents that he's gayer than a Santa's elf. After the screening, director Rob Williams will be in attendance for Q&A, as well as for a pre-release DVD signing at Borders Bookstore (across from the Landmark) and a party to follow.

Fruit Fly
Directed by H.P. Mendoza
2:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater
I loved Mendoza's 2006 film, Colma: The Musical (which he wrote), and now he returns with his directorial debut, Fruit Fly, an upbeat and sassy musical about a performance artist with gay roommates.

Homewrecker
Directed by Paul Hart
5 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater
A suspicious houseguest has ulterior motives in this comical, gay parody of Lifetime Channel movies. Click here to see a preview of the film.

American Primitive
Directed by Gwen Wynne
7:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater
In 1973, after the death of their mother, two teenage girls react in different ways when they discover that their father (Tate Donovan of TV's Damages and The O.C.) is in love with his ruggedly handsome business partner.

Pornography: A Thriller
Directed by David Kittredge
9:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, at the Landmark Theater
In this sexy, trippy creep show, a young writer decides to investigate the strange events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a gay porn star.

Training Rules
Directed by Dee Mosbacher & Fawn Yacker
7 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater
This documentary reveals the discrimination inflicted by Rene Portland, Pennsylvania State University women's basketball coach who ruined the careers of talented players because they were lesbians.

Mr. Right
Directed by David Morris & Jacqui Morris
9 pm, Monday, November 9, at the Landmark Theater
A romantic comedy about gay relationships in London. Give me some quick wit and hot Brits and I'm there.

College Boys Live
Directed by George O'Donnell
9:15 pm, Tuesday, November 10, at the Landmark Theater
This intriguing documentary explores the lives of young men who are featured on the popular website, collegeboyslive.com.

Drool
Directed by Nancy Kissam
7 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema (Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash)
After accidentally killing her abusive husband, a woman, her kids and her female lover take off on a hilarious cross-country road trip to bury daddy.

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction
Directed by Kevin Hamedani
9 pm, Friday, November 13, at Film Row Cinema
A fresh, funny and frightening flick about a gay man who returns home to come out to his mother and finds himself in the middle of a zombie invasion.

There will also be many programs of short films presented during the festival, including:

Boy Crazy
7 pm, Friday, November 6, at Film Row Cinema
This program is all about boys--boys singing, boys dancing, boys in drag and even alien boys!

What's Your Fantasy?
9 pm, Friday, November 6, at Film Row Cinema
If you've ever fantasized about the hot boy sitting next to you on the bus or still believed that your son was straight after finding his gay porn under his mattress, you might enjoy these provocative shorts.

Gender Benders
9:30 pm, Friday, November 13, at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark)
These shorts feature a range of tales on gender bending, including one about a small town gay teen who dreams of singing like Judy Garland. I can certainly relate to that, can't you?

So, as you can see, there's something for everyone at Reeling 2009. Be sure to come back next week to read my reviews, and I hope to see you all at the movies!

For a complete schedule of films and events, go to www.reelingfilmfestival.org. You can purchase tickets either by phone (773-293-1447), online, or in person at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark).

Dish of the Day #265: Vote for your Favorite

This week I'm featuring the work of my friend, photographer and author (The Sweater Book) Stephen Mosher. You can see more of his pics on his groovy blog by clicking here.

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

Online Surveys & Market Research

#260 was last week's big winner with 40.4% of the 104 votes cast, and #257 came in second with 25%. #259 was third with 15.4%, followed by #258 (11.5%) and #256 (7.7%).

Groovy Web Series: Tired Old Queen at the Movies

A few months ago I had the great pleasure of doing a Deeper Dish interview with actor--and movie buff--Steve Hayes (Trick, The Big Gay Musical). And now the groovy guy has a fabulous new web series called Tired Old Queen at the Movies (even though he's not tired or old). Steve just enjoys watching classic movies, and each week he will be using his vast knowledge of film and Hollywood history to provide us with the inside scoop on who got who to do what to whom in order get what was made, made. Of course, he will also be recommending what films to avoid and what to Netflix as soon as his show is over. So if you're a movie lover and/or a tired old queen, I highly recommend that you check out Steve's web series (click here to subscribe to his YouTube channel). You can watch the first two episodes below, in which he reviews the following films:

Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954): It's gladiators galore and Christians to the lions in this sequel to The Robe with enough beefcake, over-the-top acting and lurid Technicolor to fill a movie queen's dreams!

The Lodger (1944) and Hangover Square (1945): The brilliant Laird Cregar stars in these two brooding murder/melodramas set in turn-of-the-century London!

Dish of the Day #264: The Photography of Stephen Mosher

This week I'm featuring the work of my friend, photographer and author (The Sweater Book) Stephen Mosher. You can see more of his pics on his groovy blog by clicking here.

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Documentary: Quearborn & Perversion

Last night I saw Quearborn & Perversion, a fascinating documentary about the history of lesbian and gay life in Chicago from the 1920s to the early '70s. During ten years of research, filmmaker Ron Pajak collected around 80 oral histories from the men and women who lived back then and helped create Chicago's LGBT community. I was especially thrilled to see an interview with my friend, Tom Guerra, who was involved in Chicago's Encore Theater in the 1960s. I also loved an old home movie of the first Gay Pride march that featured a close-up of a downtown movie theater playing the 1970 film, Myra Breckinridge, which struck me as oddly appropriate. And in case you're wondering, "Quearborn & Perversion" was slang for the Chicago street intersection of Dearborn and Division, which was the center of gay life in the 1950s. For additional information about this wonderful film, visit www.quearbornandperversion.com or contact Ron Pajak at ron@awesomehero.com. You can also read an interesting Windy City Times interview with Pajak by clicking here.

Dish of the Day #263: The Photography of Stephen Mosher

This week I'm featuring the work of my friend, photographer and author (The Sweater Book) Stephen Mosher. You can see more of his pics on his groovy blog by clicking here.

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Mad about the Men: Brass in Pocket

This week's Mad Men was ever so good as Betty Draper finally--and unexpectedly--discovered her husband's deep dark secret. Don was careless with the precious key to his private desk drawer, leaving it in his bathrobe pocket. Betty later did laundry and found the key, which she quickly used to unlock her spouse's past life as Dick Whitman. However, I'm not sure if she really knows the whole truth and just thinks that Don was once married to Anna Draper. But even if this is true, learning that your husband had a previous wife is still quite a shock. Then again, maybe she was able to fit all the pieces together to complete the mysterious puzzle of Don Draper. We'll find out soon enough as I expect Betty will confront her dear husband before the season ends. It was a tension-filled episode with her waiting up for Don to come home, and I loved every moment of it.

Now let's take a closer look at what else happened on this week's Mad Men:

Don Draper: At least we didn't have any boring Connie Hilton conversations this week. Don stuck to doing what he does best--cheating on his wife. But he better watch out for his current lover, Suzanne Farrell, who is beginning to remind me a little of Glenn "I'm not going to be ignored!" Close in Fatal Attraction. Don was kind of freaked out when she surprised him on the morning train. And I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of her epileptic brother, Danny, who now has Don's business card. He could cause some trouble for our flawed hero, who is definitely headed for a major fall in the future. I can't wait.

Betty Draper: I love that Betty is reading Mary McCarthy's trashy 1963 novel, The Group, which was later made into an even trashier--but fun--film. And poor Sally always gets yelled at by her neurotic mother--even for someone calling their house and hanging up. I'm not sure if Betty will divorce Don while their children are so young, but I do expect that she will have an affair with Henry--especially if she learns of Don's relationship with the teacher. It was a great Betty episode with a surprising twist--her discovering the key to Don's past--and it will be interesting to see how she moves forward with this new information she now has.



Peggy Olson: Peggy burped at work. I thought it was funny. And she's so much better at her job than most of her male colleagues. I bet she's running Sterling Cooper someday--or has her own ad agency.

Joan Holloway Harris: No Joan this week, but she and her hubby return next week.

Roger Sterling: Funny scene with his mother confusing his new wife Jane with his daughter. And I'm liking the increasing animosity between him and Don. Roger's "Screw him" in reference to Don only makes me anticipate a final showdown between these two someday. He'll love it when Don's world comes crashing down on him.

Pete Campbell and Sal Romano: No Pete or Sal this week.

Best line: "He's such a toad" - Rebecca Pryce to her husband, Lane, about his assistant, John Hooker.

With only three episodes remaining, I doubt that Don Draper will be feeling "very honored"--as he did at the end of this week's episode at Sterling Cooper's 40th anniversary party--when this season reaches its conclusion.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Bobby Ewing

Every Tuesday I post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers wins the highly coveted Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

This week's theme is the 1978-91 TV series, Dallas, starring Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing. The soapy drama might soon be revived on the cable network TNT featuring the next generation of Ewings--John Ross (J.R. and Sue Ellen's son) and Christopher (Bobby and Pam's adopted son whose real mother was Sue Ellen's sister, Kristin). Apparently members of the original cast--including Larry Hagman (J.R.), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen) and Duffy--have been contacted for their participation in the pilot episode. Hopefully they will all return to their Texas roots because Dallas just wouldn't be the same without them.

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a private Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted).

1) What was the full name of Lucy Ewing's husband? And what was the first name of his sister?

2) Who played public relations agent Leslie Stewart? And what daytime soap opera does she currently star on?

3) Who played Sue Ellen's young lover, Peter Richards?

4) Who played Lady Jessica Farlow Montford? And how was she related to Clayton Farlow?

5) What actress replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie for one season?

Last week's lucky winner was Bradley Calise, who answered the following questions about the TV series, Gilmore Girls, correctly:

1) What was the name of the small town where the Gilmore Girls lived? And in what state was it located? Stars Hollow, Connecticut

2) What was the name of the dog Lorelai adopted during the sixth season? Paul Anka

3) What was the first name of Rory's father? Christopher

4) What was the name of the town's dance instructor? Miss Patty

5) A three-part question: What was the first name of the Gilmore Girls' female neighbor? What actress played her? And for what 1970s TV sitcom did she win two Emmy Awards? Babette, Sally Struthers, All in the Family

Dish of the Day #262: The Photography of Stephen Mosher

This week I'm featuring the work of my friend, photographer and author (The Sweater Book) Stephen Mosher. You can see more of his pics on his groovy blog by clicking here.

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Guy: Divine

My very first Divine movie was the 1981 John Waters comedy, Polyester, in which he played Francine Fishpaw, a bored housewife who falls in love with Tab Hunter. I still adore this dark satire of suburban life, but my personal favorite Divine film is Female Trouble (1974). You just have to love a flick that has its heroine--Dawn Davenport--angrily push her mother into a Christmas tree after not receiving the cha cha heels that she so desired. Divine was a unique and talented actor whom The New York Times once described as possessing "a natural sense of comic timing and an uncanny gift for slapstick." He sadly left us much too soon in 1988 at the age of 42, but today--on what would've been his 64th birthday--I'm celebrating and remembering his life and career.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Divine:

1) He was born Harris Glenn Milstead on October 19, 1945, in Towson, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

2) When he was twelve, the Milsteads moved to Lutherville, another Baltimore suburb, just six houses away from a boy named John Waters.

3) Divine idolized Elizabeth Taylor as a teenager and dressed up as her character "Gloria" from the 1960 film, Butterfield 8, for a Halloween party that he attended wearing a slip, fur coat and stilettos.



4) In 1966, he was cast in his first John Waters film, Roman Candles, and was transformed by Waters and his makeup artist, Van Smith, into the infamous Divine.





5) Divine played Jacqueline Kennedy in Eat Your Makeup (1968), a short film by John Waters that was never shown commercially.





6) He played the lead role of the evil matron, Pauline, in Tom Eyen's classic camp women's prison drama, Women Behind Bars, which was an off-Broadway hit in 1976. He returned to the stage in 1979 in another Eyen play, The Neon Woman, in which he played the role of Flash Storm, the owner of a sleazy strip club.






7) Even though John Waters had written his 1977 movie, Desperate Living, with him in mind, Divine was unable to be in the film as he was appearing in a play at the time.

8) In the 1980s, he released several popular dance music records in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, including "Native Love (Step By Step)", "Shoot Your Shot", "Shake It Up", "You Think You're A Man", and "I'm So Beautiful".




9) Divine was the inspiration for Ursula the villainous Sea Witch in the 1989 Disney film, The Little Mermaid.




10) I Am Divine, a documentary on his life, is currently being developed by Los Angeles production company Automat Pictures and producer Jeffrey Schwarz.





I leave you now with a few Divine quotes:

"All my life I wanted to look like Elizabeth Taylor. Now Elizabeth Taylor looks like me."

"Of course the last thing my parents wanted was a son who wears a cocktail dress that glitters, but they've come around to it."