The Television and Movie Recommendation/Discussion Thread!

[Cicca]

Well, I'm officially enjoying Skin. I love Ron Silver's character! The "star-crossed lovers" are both very attractive, and Adam's mom is too. Wow! Rachel Ticotin. She's got something.



Ah well, another show to watch. I've been told I watch too much tv

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

[scifiacid]

Quote:

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Wow! Rachel Ticotin.

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Damn! I didn't know she was in that! Damn, I've always loved her. Might just have to watch an episode...or two now!

[Cicca]

Yes, watch!

And she plays a judge. I don't know why I love that, but I do.

I'm also loving the sort of moral reversal with the characters. The traditional good guy is not really so great and the traditional bad guy is not particularly bad.

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

[Willow Rocks]

Just read that doing a corrie Todd/ Nick storyline on Eastenders with Zoe/Kelly, what do u reckon. Itll probelry just be ratings thing over christmas, but hopefully they'll not just decide it was a "phase" and not develop the storyline properly, and take the cop out way after the rating have been won

[willowsgirl]

Kelly and Zoe in Eastenders? Really? LOL, I think Ill laugh if that happens, if anything!

Where did u hear that?



Stacey xx

[Willow Rocks]

It was in a newspaper and then the actress that plays Kelly confirmed it during an interview last week.



Am i really sad that the thought of two together makes me

[willowsgirl]

Hmmm no, I wouldnt call u sad! The thought is intriguing, I just cant imagine them together. At least eastenders are getting with the itmes; we've had gay characters before (hehe remember tony and simon!?) but not girls. So yay!



Stacey xx

[SJ]

I read that they get drunk and share a kiss.

I also read that Coronation Street are supposed to be introducing a new character who will be Todd's bf.

[Gatito Grande]

This is probably old news to Brit Kittens, but I was wondering if any other Yanks are watching the new Doctor Zhivago on Masterpiece Theater? Especially as it stars one of the new It Girls of the moment, Keira Knightley, as Lara (though truthfully, the actor playing Tonia is more my type ).



My memory of both the movie (w/ Omar Sharif and Julie Christie) and the book is a little rusty. However, as I recall, the movie didn't really include one of my favorite scenes, and this new version botched it also (when Dr. Zh comforts his mother-figure---in the book, there's this amazing theology bit, but I guess it's just too "talky" for the screen).



On the whole, I'd say it's a pretty good production. Many PBS stations will repeat Masterpiece during the week, so you might be able to catch Part One again. That said, Part One is more of the set-up half (Dr. Yuri and Lara really just sort of get together at the end, only to part again), so you can probably jump right into Part Two w/o missing too much. The plot, after all, is basically soap-opera-ish, but set in this great sweeping panorama, it works somehow (the micro in the macro, and vice-versa). Anyway, if you like tortured love set amidst revolution, get your epic on and check it out.



GG . . . and Sam Neill always does a great villain Out

[Gatito Grande]

Uh-oh, here I am consecutively posting. But it's for a good cause, I swear: the new movie Die, Mommie, Die which looks like two tons of fun!



I love Charles Busch: he's so beautiful and glamorous (so much better a woman than I could ever be ), and he's an even better writer. Then there's the fact that his projects (like the previous Psycho Beach Party w/ Nick Brendan) always have the most fun casts. This new project looks no different (it has Natasha Lyonne, all you Cheerleader fans).

Quote:

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Die Mommie Die

(2003, )

90 minutes Color

Director: Rucker, Mark

Starring: Charles Busch ; Jason Priestley ; Natasha Lyonne



Charles Busch is best known as a playwright, director and actor on and far-off Broadway, though he gained a new following with his recurring role on HBO's "Oz." His "Tale of the Allergist's Wife" was a huge mainstream hit on the Great White Way, while his campy, long-running "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" catapulted him into the elite air of the late Charles Ludlam among fans of edgy/bawdy downtown drag shows. Busch's only other film is "Psycho Beach Party," a spoof based on his own play. But "Die Mommie Die" seems destined to be Busch's signature film. Not only does it deliver plenty of the writer's witty, over-the-top skill at Hollywood parody, it features Busch himself in a number of wild drag getups that are, well, to die for.

Busch plays singer Angela Arden, a Hollywood has-been whose better days are recreated in black-and-white TV clips. Dressed in kitschy '60s caftans and headscarves, Arden passes her days drinking, haranguing her surly daughter Edith (Natasha Lyonne), lusting after her young gigolo (Jason Priestley in a Ted Casablanca spoof) and trying to revive her singing career.



The fun of "Die Mommie Die" is Busch's reclaiming and respinning of Hollywood camp, from the boozy broads of "Valley of the Dolls" to the deliciously lurid "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" There's lots of wink-winking in the film, but it strikes a balance between high camp and lowbrow that will please both sophisticates and fans of raucous comedy. Busch parodies '50s and '60s popular culture in the reverse of Todd Haynes' "Far From Heaven," the fastidious homage to Hollywood melodrama. Busch's satire is equally spot-on -- check out the clip of Angela singing in a TV special -- but the era gets more of an over-the-top send-up than reverential treatment.



How can Busch be reverent when his subject matter is as joyously campy as Angela's dysfunctional family, including her blowhard husband Sol Sussman (Philip Baker Hall), a Hollywood mogul from the Joe Levine/Dino DeLaurentis school who makes prestige pictures. When Sol pulls the plug on Angela's attempt to revive her career with a gig in the Poconos, she tries to kill him with an arsenic-laced suppository.



A loyal, mysterious maid, played by Frances Conroy of "Six Feet Under," echoes the twisted maids in films ranging from "Rebecca" to "Mommie Dearest." Busch draws on "Mommie Dearest and Joan Crawford's steely, wacko persona throughout the film. There's a delicious reading-of-the will scene, an acid trip shot with all the tacky, surreal nuttiness of a B-movie, a competitive relationship with Daddy's girl Edith and a vaguely incestuous one with her horny gay son, Lance (Stark Sands).



Lyonne has some delightful moments in her role as the spoiled, conniving Edith, recycling some of her campy characterization from "But I'm a Cheerleader." The twist at the end -- echoes of "Baby Jane" -- cleverly ties up the story in a way few broad comedies ever bother to do.



But the heart of the film is all Charles Busch, who captures the indulgences and fun of glossy soap operas and Technicolor melodramas, but never lets his spoofing condescend to the audience or sink into mean-spiritedness.



The anarchy in "Die Mommie Die" is of the John Waters school: There's a big-hearted humanity to these narcissistic, often clueless characters, even when they're telling dick jokes, getting drunk at funerals, engaging in threeways in front of the kids or committing murder.

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www.gay.com/entertainment...html?64188



And here's another story on it:



www.gay.com/entertainment...sernum=581



GG Let's go "camping"! Out

[FlyingPoppy]

Quote:

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At least eastenders are getting with the times; we've had gay characters before (hehe remember tony and simon!?) but not girls.

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Sorry, I only just noticed this. What about Della and Binnie? They were in Eastenders almost 10 years ago. Not that I watch it or anything....

Life can suck, but at least there's chocolate - Cicca

[concrete]

I knew it, I knew it.... when I expressed my "suspicions" about this a few weeks ago to my best friend, also a hopeless East-o-phile, she just thought I was nuts! Ha, this'll show her

This would be an interesting story-line however I am afraid it is just gonna be for the ratings. We'll see how it pans out. And yes, I was gonna mention Binnie & Della; they were rather cute together. I distinctly remember a full-on-smooch right in the middle of the square, in broad daylight I might add... And Colin & Barry were gay lovers in the very beginning of the series. It's about time again that some GLBT influences are brought back to Albert Square & vicinity.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. ...

[Cicca]

I hope some kitties caught tonight's ep. It was all kinds of gay and "alternative". Woohoo!

The gay hitmen were hilarious.

And the end was tres delicious. That's all I'll say!

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

[xita]

Oh you are a tease! This repeats on USA no?

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"Hard work often pays off after time but laziness always pays off now!"

[Alia16]

anybody know of any good movies of the gay persuasion that a 17 year old would be interested in?



ive seen fucking amal, i guess that'd be sort of close to what i'm looking for.



that story reminds me so much of myself it's scary.

[concrete]

Yes, a good & funny movie would be:

"The incredibly true adventure of 2 girls in love"

Check it out; I'm sure you'll enjoy it

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. ...

[BytrSuite]

The 11/12 ep of Karen Sisco should repeat on USA next Friday.

Quote:

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USA 10 Nov 21 11:00pm Add to My Calendar

Series/Drama, 60 Mins.



"Nobody's Perfect"

Karen is assigned to track down an accountant accused of murder and theft; an attractive woman wants Marshall to follow her adulterous husband.



Cast: Carla Gugino, Robert Forster, Bill Duke, Jaime Gomez, William O'Leary, Jeffrey De Serrano, Rigo Sanchez, Marc Vann, Bodhi Elfman, Randy Becker, Oded Gross, Alexandra Billings, Kate Walsh, Isabella Hofmann, Sarah Aldrich, Jake Mailey, Callie Childers, Jonathan Slavin.

Director(s): Michael Katelman.

Producer(s): Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, John Landgraff, Bob Brush, Michael Dinner, Jason Smilovic, Robert Palm.

Writer(s): Peter Lefcourt.



Original Airdate: November 12, 2003.

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"Oh, good! I was hoping to add theft, endangerment and insanity to my list of things I did today."
"Ah! You, too?"
(Stitch laughs delightedly)

[xita]

Ooh thanks Kathy!



And concret you beat me to it, I was going to suggest: "The incredibly true adventure of 2 girls in love"

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"Hard work often pays off after time but laziness always pays off now!"

[Cicca]

Excellent, I hope people will catch Karen Sisco. It was a cool ep. Apparently Alexandra Billings is the first transexual to play a transexual role on tv. Cool

Plus there was that whole other aspect that I was digging.



I'm just bummed because I heard that the show has been pulled. Why pull such a great show? Why why why???

*sulking*

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

[sam darls]

Hey Alia16..I would recommend "The truth about jane" .It stars Ellen Muth ("Dead like me"). It is a really good movie..and it helped me out when I was younger Love sammi xx

[Alia16]

hmm thanks guys...or girls

[BigGayBear]

Figuring that this is an all purpose TV/Movie discussion thread, I'll just randomly say this...



Me and The Smee went to see 'Party Monster', the film with the scary all grown up type Macauly Culkin in it... man that is one screwed up film. Absolutely faaaaaaaabulous.



Anyways, I'm not saying see it or nothing, just had to get it out of my system that it was screwed up.. kinda in a good way though.



Over and Out...



Al

~Cuteness is more than just a TeddyBear thing~

[Cicca]

Ok, I got off my ass and found the spoiler code, so I can now wax rhapsodic about the end of this week's Karen Sisco. And please don't let it be the end of the series!



Soooo, Karen was working on a case and a fairly (quite/really/hell yeah) attractive woman cop was helping her out. They were at a bar together at the end with chemistry happening.

Hot cop: Soooooo, are you seeing anyone?

Karen: [pregnant pause] Yeah.

Hot cop looks disappointed.

Methinks that Karen could have an interesting date if she decides to ditch the hot baseball player.



oops, I checked the synopis at a site and I forgot that Novak (hot cop) then asked if Karen was seeing a guy. She is. And he's hot. But if they're not going to have him on every so often (possibly sans shirt) then Karen can ditch him and go for the hot cop. Yeah.



And how prophetic is it that I was just thinking this week how great it would be if Karen met some woman who rocked her world? Go me! Ok, the rocking of Karen's world didn't really happen, but there's potential.

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

Edited by: Cicca  at: 11/16/03 9:25 pm

[xita]

Did anyone catch less than perfect last tuesday, Andy Dick had lesbian moms played by Johanna Kerns (growing pains' mom) and Valerie Harper. Oh god.. so horrible. Valerie Harper was trying to play it butch too, the horror, the horror.

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"Hard work often pays off after time but laziness always pays off now!"

[Cicca]

I missed that. It sounds hilariously awful!

Butch Valerie Harper.... Oh my.

Is there a hyphen in anal-retentive?

[BytrSuite]

VH1 will be airing parts of this concert, 46664, that was held in late November, tonight.



"The goal of this event is to bring awareness and support to the fight against AIDS."



Performers include Anastacia, Baaba Maal, Beyonce, Bono, Johnny Clegg, The Corrs, Eurythmics, Moloko, Paul Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shell Shock and TC, Ladysmith Black Mombaza, Queen, and Zucchero.



Annie Lennox looks hot.

________
"Boogers are true."

[xita]

Oh this is the one that had the eurythmics , must watch!

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"Hard work often pays off after time but laziness always pays off now!"

[Gatito Grande]

One of the pleasures of spending a holiday weekend alone, is that it gives one the time to indulge in beaucoup hours of TV: in this case the Trio Network's celebration of miniseries. A one hour special they produced ranked the Top 10: let's see if I can remember (the order is probably wrong): 10) Tales of the City (yay, queerness!), 9) From the Earth to the Moon (HBO, didn't see it), 8) Rich Man, Poor Man (remember the hype, never saw it) 7) Shogun (see below) 6) Winds of War (oy the melodrama) 5) Holocaust (see below) 4)Brideshead Revisited (see below) 3) The Thornbirds (found it ridiculous) 2) Lonesome Dove (Westerns still don't appeal to me) and at number 1) Roots (as expected).



Trio also showed 3 of their Top 10: Holocaust, Shogun, and Brideshead Revisited.



Holocaust: I saw it the first time around (in '78, being the Old Fart I am), and not since. This miniseries is famous for being the debut of Meryl Streep and James Woods (I really think he is better here), and a very young, very cute Tovah Feldshuh (Michael Moriarty also got his start here, pre-Law and Order). It's still a very effective and moving drama, though it's been eclipsed by things like Schindler's List in the realism department. I think that even at age 16 (as I was in '78), the "Zionism Rah-Rah" elements bothered me, and that's more true now (but my rants on that subject are found on the Politics thread). That LGBTs were victims of the Holocaust got barely a nod, when the "pink triangle" was briefly noted.



It was good to see this again, but on a purely technical note, it's aged really badly: needs a *major* digital overhaul, ala . . .



Shogun: I'd never seen this before (it debuted my freshman year in college, when I was pretty much TV-free)! On the whole, much less cheesy than I expected, and it looks *perfect* (clearly been digitally re-mastered). The subtitle-free Japanese is very challenging, though (at least the heads of a fishing village weren't hanging in the balance by *my* failure to wakirimasu! "understand"). Was that Orson Welles doing the (minimal) voice-overs? It sounded like him, but he wasn't credited. Yoko Shimada really was lovely: did she ever do anything else for non-Japanese consumption? Also pretty, was Richard Chamberlain (a crush of mine just a few years *before* this). His performance? Um . . . adequate: but he really did too much "Something bad is happening, I'm just not sure what exactly" (somewhere between and ) scowling.



Line of the entire weekend: Chamberlain's John Blackthorne, aka "Anjin-san" (What did that mean anyway? Was it "Pilot"? The lack of subtitles made me feel stupid), when asked if he would like a boy as a lover: "What do you think I am? A God-cursed sodomite?!" Uh, since you asked, "Dick" . . . ! [FYI: After *decades* of rumors (and pushing age 70), Richard Chamberlain finally came out in the past year ]



Brideshead Revisited: I'd seen this once before (also in a binge, on video, around 12 years ago during a long weekend at seminary), but I know more about the book and author now, so it was more memorable. This is just a pure Class Act, all the way: Jeremy Irons holds the whole thing together, and Anthony Andrews---a crush of my mother's (!) from his "Upstairs, Downstairs" days---has never been better (as the tre queer "Sebastian").



For that matter, when not surrounded by Catholic guilt, Brideshead is just a celebration of all things queer, from the moment Sebastian first shows up w/ "Aloysius" (his teddy bear!). The only thing bolder than this 22 year-old production, is the 60 year-old book (to which it is, ahem, religiously faithful). The character of "Anthony (aka Antoine, or Tony) Blanche" is a scream (and delightfully *out*). Is it just me, or has the actor borrowed a mannerism or three (not the stutter, which is in the book) from Tim Curry's "Dr. Frank N. Furter" of just a few years before? (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show of course) He even looks like him.



Two surprising bit parts-- actually this first isn't bit, but pretty major: Charles Keating, as "Rex Mottram" (Julia's dweeb of a husband). Hey, the only place I'd ever seen him before, was as "Zeus" (the last one) on Xena! Last but not least: Sebastian makes an extremely unforgettable entrance, by puking in Charles' (Jeremy Irons) Oxford dorm-room. Sebastian's buddy then apologizes for his act of regurgitation w/ the memorable words "The wines were too variable. It was not the quality, nor the quantity, but only the mixture. To understand all is to forgive all." The person delivering the lines? None other than (a young) Robin Sachs, aka "Ethan Rayne" from BTVS.



GG Viva miniseries! Out

[Hyo Shin]

OK, this is a tiny little story about an enormously popular Korean TV series called Daejanggeum. (have you ever heard about 50% rating?)



Anyway, it's a historical drama about a very unusual woman named Janggeum. She was the only female court physician in Chosun dinasty. But the story is fictional because they don't have many real info about her.



The main reason I'm talking about the series is... because the first part of the series is incredibly gay. Of course they don't use the words gay or lesbian but it is full of subtext.



The most important aspect of the first part is about Janggeum's relationship with Court Lady Han. They are going to kill her soon and everybody is angry about it. She is the most popular character of the series. I even heard about some serious lawsuit againt it. But they have to kill her anyway. Janggeum needs the second story line. She has to be a doctor.



Maybe you can call it "another dead lesbian story." Court Lady Han is Janggeum's mentor but their relationship is just romantic. Last night episode was almost a decisive proof of their relationship. Court Lady Han almost declared her love for Janggeum. No, it's not 'almost.' She just did.



I just read an magazine column about the series. The title is "What a beautiful lesbian costume drama". I want to translate it but my English is not that good. But you can guess.



Here is an English article about the series and Court Lady Han.



joongangdaily.joins.com/2...09081.html



Here are some pictures of Janggeum and Court Lady Han.



my.netian.com/~cria/temp/...eum_03.jpg

my.netian.com/~cria/temp/...eum_02.jpg

my.netian.com/~cria/temp/...eum_01.jpg



Sea ya!

Edited by: Hyo Shin at: 12/11/03 3:55 am

[xita]

Ooh, that sounds so interesting. I wish I could see it. It does sound like yet another dead lesbian. So I have questions for you cause I don't know much about Korean tv. Have there been many gay and lesbian characters in Korean television? Is there much subtext in Korean tv or movies? That sort of makes a difference into this. I suppose that if there isn't much subtext then this is like a beginning. And also it does seem like a cliche because it almost seems like they are pushing the line with it because Court Lady Han will die. I am not sure they would push it if she was going to stay alive. I'd be happy if in the future you posted an update on how this all goes down! thanks!

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"Hard work often pays off after time but laziness always pays off now!"