Move: Suddenly Last Summer

Yes, I am kicking it old school. "Suddenly Last Summer" is based on a Tennesse William's play that was adapted by Gore Vidal. It stars Elizabeth Taylor as Catherine Holly, Montgomery Clift as Dr. Cukowicz and Katharine Hepburn (the most overrate actress since time immemorial) as Mrs. Violent Venable. "Suddenly" stays true to form in hollywood's treatment of homosexuals as predatory degenerates, murders, murder victims, or sucidial. Homosexuals were never the lead character; they existed only to demonstrate how psychologically twisted they were. In "Suddenly" Sebastian's name was mentioned about a million times, but we never see his face or who he was as a person. He exists only to symbolize the sterotypical homosexual. "Suddenly" impressively loads in as many obligatory homophobic motifs as any one film could in under 2 hours.

Despite all that, "Suddenly" is a brilliantly executed film. It is truly amazing and brilliantly overacted in classic hollywood style. The plot is simple: Mrs. Venable usually travels abroad every summer with her son Sebastain. On this particular summer, Sebastian takes his cousin Catherine instead to serve the role his mother served in the past. Catherine goes insane the same day Sebastian dies under mysterious circumstances. In order to cover up the truth, Mrs. Venable plans to fund a hospital building for a state asylum, if Dr. Cukrowicz performs a lobotomy on her niece Catherine.

It appears to me that most reviewers are reluctant to point to the balant homophobia of the film, because of the many homosexuals and supposedly progressives creatively involved with it. This stricts me as odd, because all the homosexuals in hollywood never stopped it's homophobia. Ever money conscious, hollywood plays to the prejudices and bigotry of the audience.

"Suddenly" is not to be missed. Like the Alamo, never forget "Birth of a Nation." Happy viewing.

Author: Edmund White on his "Lives"

As you all know by now, I went to see Edmund White read excerpts from his new autobiographical book, “My Lives.” While most of White’s books are autobiographical fiction, “My Lives” is a completely non-fictional account of his life so far. I love the way this book is structured. Instead of a linear approach, White writes about specific aspects of his life that shaped him, in away that demonstrates the circularity of life—the motifs that exist in an individual life. And the fact that a person can live many different lives in one lifetime. For example, the first chapter is My Shrinks. In that chapter, White chronicles his adventures in psychotherapy—first in hopes of curing his homosexuality, then to help him accept his gayness, then to help him mourn the loss of his partner to AIDS. Other chapters include, My Father, My Hustlers, My Women, etc. Written in simple elegant yet witty prose, “My Lives” is a real page turner.

In the question and answer segment, one of White’s former students (there were quite a few in attendance) commented on the change in his writing style. In his earlier works, of which I am most familiar, White had an elegant, lyrical yet flamboyant style that demonstrated his mastery of the written word as well as his love affair with the thesaurus. His current style is simple and easy, demonstrating that brilliance has no need for pomposity. The questioner asked which style he preferred. White said he prefers the way he writes now, because in the past he felt that as a homosexual he had more to prove. He quipped that some of his past works are so dense that even he has difficulty understanding them today.

White has a magnetic smile. He is both personable and patient. He seemed like he has exorcized most of his demons. White currently teaches at Princeton, and has taught at many other prestigious schools, including: Brown, Columbia, Yale, John Hopkins, etc. Ironically, White gave up his chance to attend Harvard in order to continue treatment for his “disease,” so committed he was to a cure. For White, nothing less than heterosexuality was acceptable. “If someone had tried to refute my horror of homosexuality I would have instantly rejected his insinuating proposal, tempting me to settle for second best. I knew that only the most insulting pity and condescension would lead someone to recommend that I surrender to my disease.” This is the guy who co-authored “The Joy of Gay Sex—An Intimate Guide for Gay Men to the Pleasures of a Gay Lifestyle;” further proof that we live many lives.

The dynamics of homosexual relationships were also broached. One woman asked about what she saw as the tragic need of some gay people to conform to normative heterosexual notions of commitment, i.e., marriage. White stated that he views gay relationships as more of a best friend type deal than a marriage per se. However, he gave value to those who wished to formalize their relationship with the State. He also voiced a phenomenon that I have also noticed. He stated that after gay couples break up, they are likely to remain friends while heterosexual tend to bitterly part ways. This made no sense to White, who does not see how two people who were so intimately intertwined, and saw value in each other, would all of a sudden despise one another. He also stated that gay couples tend not to keep their partner on as tight a leash as straight couples. I must say that this is probably due to the fact that infidelity poses a greater risk for straight couples--the fear of unwanted pregnancy stemming from antiquated notions about property rights for instance. Anyway, I was surprise to hear White say that of his friends that are in long-term committed relationship (like 30 years or more) most of them are gay. That flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

All in all, it was a nice read. I’m glad I went. I got White’s autograph – even though autographs aren’t really my thing. White also gave me the names of three new gay fiction authors he admires: Robert Hughes, Patrick Ryan, Vestal McIntyre and Barry McCrea, check them out, see what they’re all about. Happy reading.

Movie: The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love

I'm glad to make "The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love," my first lesbian blog. The title pretty much tells the story. "Two Girls" is about Randy and Evie. Randy is a poor white girl living with other lesbians. She meets Evie who is basically a BAP (Black American Princess) for those who don't know or forgot. They basically get hot for one another. It was them against the world. Of course, love overcomes all.

Sure it is not a great movie. But what I remember most about this film is the way I felt afterwards. It made me happy-I smiled--I want my loyal readers to smile too. It was light-hearted and cute, and the filmmakers accomplished what they wanted to. I really don't have much more to say, except to warn you that there is some really terrible acting, especially the black girl's mother. Boy was she ever a bad actress. Sure, "Two Girls" is a low budget film, but still there are way too many talented unemployed actors who are willing to work for experience alone for them to hire this woman. She said her lines like she was performing spoken word poetry (and I hate spoken word poetry). I wanted to slap her. She remains me of Jennifer Tilly in "Bullets Over Broadway," the only difference is that Tilly was pretending to be a bad actress. Speaking of Tilly, look for my comments on "Bound" coming to a blog near you. Peace and happy viewing. La la.

Movie: Ma Vie En Rose

I am glad to make "Ma Vie En Rose" ( My Life in Pink) my first foreign language movie blog. Directed by Alain Berliner, "Rose" stars Georges Du Fresne as Ludovic Fabre. Seven year old Ludo is convinced that he was mistakenly born a boy. Positive that the mistake will be remedied soon, Ludo sets out to live the life he was intended to have. Ludo parents dismisses his cross-dressing, refusal to cut his hair and general effeminate behavior as harmless childhood play. His parents are forced to cave to societal and social pressure when Ludo's gender confusion becomes public knowlege, threatening their family both socially and financially. Folding to societal pressure, Ludo's parents sends him to a psychologist in an attempt to end his confusion. Aware of the disruption his behavior is causing his family, Ludo tries to conform to a gender role that is against his very nature.

Ludovic is an endearing character. He announces to his mother that he will marry the boy next door. After his mother tells him that boys don't marry boys, Ludo is like, duh. He explains that he will grow up to be a woman.

After being called a faggot, Ludo asks his parents what faggot means. His father is incensed that someone called his son a faggot. Exasperated, his mother snaps, "boys who like other boys, like you!" Interestingly enough, it is not Ludo's behavior per se that frustrates his parents. It is the outside pressure that makes them try to get Ludo to conform. This is an endearing film that should not be missed, that's why I'm proud to make it my first foreign language film blog. There are many more to come, so be on the look out. Peace--Happy viewing.

Jury Duty

As many of you know, I am currently serving jury duty. Thank Goddess for modern technology, they have internet connection in the jury room, so I now have plenty of time to blog on Edmund White and "PINS." I was not chosen yesterday, because I was honest and said I could not be impartial in this particular trial. Basically, a brother was charged with stealing car rides from a major New York law firm. The charge was 4th degree grand larceny, which means he couldn't have stolen that much money. Anyway, it was still a felony because it is punishable by one or more years in prison. The amount he allegedly stole was probably less than those corporate punta de madres spend on lunch. I know there are many, many attorneys that over bill clients for a shit load of money and only get a slap on the wrist. There are far too many black men in prison, or with records, for me to find this guy quilty of what, in my opinion, was a petty crime. When I think of the amount of tax payer money, and the amount of pay I'm losing over this petty shit, I wish they would just throw him in the river--see if he floats.

Novel: PINS

Written by Jim Provenzano, "PINS" is a double entendre, which is revealed in the middle of the book when the novel takes a shocking turn. The story tells of Joey Nicci, a fifteen year old second generation Italian, who is a member of his high school's wrestling team. In the beginning of the novel, Joey and his family had just moved to the tree-lined town of Little Falls, NJ, from the working class city of Newark. Joey's father is a blue-collar worker and his mother is a home-maker. He is about 8 years older than his little brother and also has a baby sister. Joey is a good kid. He even take care of his young siblings, even though his little brother is a royal pain in the butt. The book takes an overall look at Joey's life: from his relationship with his family, to his love for wrestling, his love for Dink-his best-friend and cruch, and his insecurities. Joey is a talented wrestler and makes varsity even though he is only a freshman. His weight category is only 126 pounds, which he tries desperately to maintain, especially since he doesn't want to wrestle Dink, who is in the 130 pound category, for his spot on the varsity team. I find novels about sports intriguing and "PINS" delivers. The author's description of a wrestling match is flawless. He shows the lengths wrestlers will go to to maintain their weight category: from starvation, to having edemas before matches. Provenzano does not shy away from the homoeroticism of wrestling either.

"PINS" is much more than a coming out novel. It deals provocatively with homophodia and peer pressure. It is also refreshing to see a young gay character who does not beat himself up about his sexuality. I mean he does not have an internal struggle with his sexuality, he accepts that aspect of himself. He does however struggle with society's views of his sexuality. This book has many touching moments, and not at all formulaic. I can't think of any coming out novel that is quite like "PINS". It is not to be missed. Happy Reading.

Movie: My Beautiful Laundrette

I simply love this movie!! The movie was released in 1985--Thatcher England. The gay theme is really secondary to the film as it is played out, yet comes into prominence in the end. I mean, the characters aren't dealing so much with their sexuality as they are dealing with racism, classism and capitalism. The movie stars Gordon Warnecke as Omar and Danial Day-Lewis as Johnny. It takes place in an Asian community is London. Omar, who is Pakistani, lives with his alcoholic father in a run-down apartment--the train partically runs through their livingroom. His father is endearing not abusive. He loves his son and wants him to make a success of his life. Having just graduated from high school, Omar's father gets his younger, more successful, brother to give Omar a summer job before he heads off to college. Omar's uncle gives him his dilapidated laundrette to manage and pretty much do with as he pleases. Omar is elated. He is a really lovable character--a total optimist. He has that capitalistic/entreprenuerial spirit--this is the Reagan/Thatcher years afterall.

Enter Johnny, Omar's childhood playmate who is now hanging out with a tough crowd of neo-nazi's. He is too cool, unemployed and lives the thug life. Omar used to play with all these neo-nazi frecks when he was a little boy, now they wanted his Pakistani ass out of Briton--they claim the Pakistani people are stealing their jobs (sound familiar people). Omar is just over the moon when he sees Johnny again. He literally runs after him. His eyes sparkles when he finally catches up to him. He tells him about the laundrette and ask him to partner with him. I won't give away too much, but let's just say they do whatever it takes to get the laundrette pimped out.

Now as I said, not much is made of the homosexual aspect of their friendship. Omar and Johnny certainly never discusses it. When I first saw this film, I had no idea that Omar and Johnny were doing the nasty. It totally came out of left field. Unfortunately you won't have the element of surprise, afterall I only comment on gay films. But don't worry, the second, and third times I saw the film, it still came out of left field. Knowing this just makes the scenes leading up to it all the more interesting. The way the director reveals the true depth of their friendship is rather shocking, especially considering that the film was made in 1985. During this era (which was not so long ago) gay characters weren't even allowed to hold hands on film. For example, in "Philadelphia" (which was made almost 10 years later--and will not be making my blog) you could 've sworn Tom Hanks was a virgin even though he was dying of AIDS. I'm not going to give it away, but this movie is worth seeing if only for the final scene.

My second favorite scene is when Johnny nonchalantly hugs Omar on the street while his thug friends watch. He is faced away from them and gently licks Omar's face. They both have big smirks on their faces, because their seemingly innocent hug was not innocent at all. Happy viewing. La La.

My next novel posting will be "PINS" by Jim Provenzano.

Author: Edmund White Part 2

Yes, my loyal subjects, I did go to Edmund White's reading of his autobiography "My Lives." Yes, it is plural. Anyway, I have a lot to blog about, but I can't today. I had jury duty and it wiped me out. I wasn't chosen today, but I have to go back tomorrow. I was even considering not blogging "My Beautiful Laundrette" today, but I know my loyal readers (all two of them) were depending on me. I promise I will try to blog on Edmund before this week is up. Peace out my chickens.

Author: Edmund White

It is great living in New York City. Tonight Edmund White is reading his lastest novel, "My Lives: An Autobiography." I know this book will rock and pull no punches because White tells it straight up. I've dug White since I discovered "A Boy's Own Story" years ago. Afterwards,I began to gobble up all of his books. My favorite by far is "The Beautiful Room is Empty," the sequel to "A Boy's Own Story." White is simply one of America's greatest authors--no qualifications needed. I was very young when I first started reading his novels, so I was quite shock by his graphic depiction of gay life--post 1980. The great Larry Kramer, founder to GMHC and author of "Faggots" (a seminal gay novel)critized White for his glorification of promiscuity. I wondered if Kramer was right, then I realized that White was just telling it like it is - the good, the bad and the ugly. I will comment on these books in later postings. Remember to check my blog daily for exciting gay books and novels that rocks. Happy viewing, happy reading. La La. :)

Novel: Desert Sons

So, I had to seriously think about what my next novel post would be. I decided that it had to be "Desert Sons" by Mark Kendrick. I love this novel so much, I must have read it 100 times. It is quite simply the best coming out/coming of age story I have ever read. The characters are vibrant and real. There is not an untruthful moment in the book. The novel tells of the relationship between Scott Faraday and Ryan St. Charles. Scott is sixteen, Ryan is 17. They are complete opposites. Ryan is moody, hangs out with a tough crowd to prove his masculinity, confused about his sexuality, and exhibit signs of severe depression. Scott is quite possibly the coolest character I have ever read. Unlike Ryan, he is self-assured, sanguine, confident in his sexuality, has a cool dog, reppels down rock walls face first, loved by his band-mates who call him "sound dude,"is an oversexed virgin and loves to trick people up by playing made up characters. Scott's philosophy, "Fear is the mind killer, Fear is the little death."

The book begins with Ryan moving to Scott's small-town in the high desert of California to live with his Uncle after a "car accident." Ryan's uncle, who is friends with Scott's parents, ask Scott to take Ryan under his wings since he doesn't know anyone Ryan's age. Right away Scott thinks Ryan's a ding, and full of shit, but he hangs out with him because he also thinks he's cute. After forming a tentative friendship, Scott suspects that Ryan is also gay, and starts giving him signals that he is gay as well. The signs all go over Ryan's head because he thinks there is no possible way that someone as cool as Scott could be gay.

Scott is left with no other choice but to put it to Ryan straight (pun intended). After Scott put the moves on Ryan, they enter into a relationship filled with ups and downs, and lots of horny teenage sex (Kendrick does not hold back on the sex scenes). Afterall they are both at their sexual peeks. Scott is over the moon that he finally has a boyfriend, or as he told his Aunt, "we did the wild thing...and you don't know how glad I am to 've finally done it." Ryan on the other hand is not even out to himself, even though he spent his enter senior year being fucked by an older man. He has reservations about getting involved with Scott, but can't deny the fact that he wants Scott more than he has ever wanted anyone. As Ryan slowly begins to remove layers of self-doubt and childhood anguish, Scott is left to wonder if he is in over his head. Ryan is way more than Scott bargained for. And this book is more than I bargained for. I have read many coming of age/coming out stories, and none come close to "Desert Sons." There are so many tender moments between Scott and Ryan, none of them cheesy. For those who have not yet read "Desert Sons" - rejoice - you have a treat coming. For those who have, holla at me. I would appreciate your comments as well.

Kendrick puts Scott's and Ryan's love to the test in "Into to this World we are Thrown," which I will comment on in a later posting. Happy reading. La La :)

I will comment on the movie "My Beautiful Laundrette" tomorrow

Movie: Bent

Sure Clive Owen is big news these day, with such films as "Inside Man," "Closer," "Detrail," and "Sin City." But if you want to see Clive at his best, you have to check out his 1997 performance in Bent. In "Bent" Clive plays Max, a gay man who in sent to a Nazi concentration camp. At the camp he deny he is gay, and is given a yellow label for Jew instead of a pink label for gay. While at the camp he meets Hoerst a gay man who wears his pink label with pride. They are sent to work together doing absolutely nothing. They simply move rocks from one end of the prison yard to the next and back again. It is monotonous and painful--in all sorts of weather. Anyway, the pain lessens when they fall in love with one another under the watchful eyes of the Nazi guards. What is incredible about the film is the way they make love without ever touching one another. As with other holocust films "Bent" is both sad and uplifting. It depicts the triumph of the human spirit over egregious circumstances. The film is beautifully directed by Sean Mathias. It is rated NC-17 for depicting Berlin's decadent post-Nazi lifestyle (a la Caberet).

Novel: B-Boy Blues

I am currently re-reading B-Boy Blues, by James Earl Hardy. It is the perfect book for my first posting. I read this novel when it first came out over ten years ago. Since then I've read it a couple of times. For some reason I love it more now than ever. It just keeps getting better and better. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a gay black man.

This is the first in Hardy's B-Boy Blues series. It is a "seriously sexy fiercely funny, Black on Black love story." Mitchell Crawford a graduate of Columbia School of Journalism always, hoped, and dreamed for a Ruffneck, B-Boy "banjee/banji/banjie boy." Enter Raheim, who fits the bill. Rahiem is the epitome of hot, black and lovely. They enter into a seriously romantic, sex filled relationship, with ups and downs - serious blues. But of course loves prevails. This is your typical, boy meets boy, boy gets boy, boy loses boy, boy gets boy back. Truely romantic. It would make a great film. It would be 1000 times more scandalous than "Brokeback Mountain." Black men in love with one another -- stop the presses!! Black people will be up in arms. There would be rioting in the streets - just kidding, but am I. I mean the country can bearly deal with black heterosexual love much less black homosexual love. But, Hardy is brave and blazes new trails. I specially love the sex scenes - not because I'm a sex fiend- but because they are unlike any I have ever read, before or since. Seriously hot, sizzling, and intense--No holds barred.

The sequel to "B-Boy Blues" is "2nd Time Around," which I also recommend. However, I can't in good faith recommend the rest of the series. If you are interested they are: "If Only for One Night," "The Day Easy-E Died," "Love the One You're With," and "A Home is Not a Home." Some of the novels are told in Mitchell's voices and others in Rahiem's voice. What is amazing is Hardy's ability to write in completely different voices--Mitchell is Ivy, Rahiem is straight up street.

If you haven't read his novels, rejoice, because you have a serious treat coming your way. If you have holla at me. If you love music, you will appreciate the book even more, because Hardy knows music. Happy reading. :)