This blog gives a look into the eternal sunshine of my ever roving mind. I consider myself a social critic. I believe in Film, Music, Theatre, Musical Theatre, Gay Rights, the Right to Choose, Human Rights and YES I still believe in Barack Obama. I believe in most things left of center. I don't get any organized religion.They are all a sham. This is the gay pride flag. I am proudly gay. These are the things this blog is about. Love it, like it or leave it. We all have choices.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Farrell, Cotillard to Star in Cronenberg Pic
Colin Farrell and Marion Cotillard are attached to topline David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis," an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel.
Gregoire Melin's Paris-based Kinology has picked up international sales rights and is presenting the project to buyers for the first time at the Cannes market.
The $20.5 million film is penned by Cronenberg and produced by Portuguese producer Paulo Branco's Alfama Films and Cronenberg's Toronto-based Antenna, in association with Kinology.
The thriller follows a multimillionaire on a 24-hour odyssey across Manhattan. Farrell will play the asset manager who loses all his wealth over the course of one day. Cotillard will play his wife.
Lensing will take place from March to May in Toronto and New York.
"Cosmopolis" will be Cronenberg's follow-up to "A Dangerous Method," which starts shooting this month in Germany with Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen.
DeLillo's acclaimed works include "White Noise" and "Underworld."
Branco last produced "Ashes and Blood," directed by Gallic thesp Fanny Ardant.
At Cannes, Kinology is also launching sales on Finnish fantasy "Rare Exports,"directed by first-timer Jalmari Helander. Melin's sales slate includes Kirsten Dunst-starrer "Upside Down," a $50-million sci-fi romance that is currently shooting in Montreal.
*courtesy of 'variety'
'Promises, Promises' Star Kristin Chenoweth Speaks Out on 'Horrendously Homophobic' Newsweek Article, Defends Sean Hayes
Kristin Chenoweth, the Promises, Promises star who was nominated for three Broadway.com Audience Awards on May 7, has stepped up on her soapbox. The Broadway favorite logged onto Newsweek.com to comment on an article on the website called “Straight Jacket” that suggests that gay actors struggle with playing straight characters. Ramin Setoodah, the openly-gay author of the article, specifically singles out Chenoweth’s leading man, Sean Hayes (calling his casting a problem--”the big pink elephant in the room”), and the recent appearance on TV’s Glee by Tony nominee Jonathan Groff.
"I couldn't stay silent on this one," Chenoweth wrote on Twitter after posting the response. Because she deserves as big as a soapbox as is available, we reprint Chenoweth’s comments below, with thanks to Newsweek.com.
Chenoweth writes:
As a longtime fan of Newsweek and as the actress currently starring opposite the incredibly talented (and sexy!) Sean Hayes in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises, I was shocked on many levels to see Newsweek publishing Ramin Setoodeh’s horrendously homophobic “Straight Jacket,” which argues that gay actors are simply unfit to play straight. From where I stand, on stage, with Hayes, every night — I’ve observed nothing “wooden” or “weird” in his performance, nor have I noticed the seemingly unwieldy presence of a “pink elephant” in the Broadway Theater. (The Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Tony members must have also missed that large animal when nominating Hayes’ performance for its highest honors this year.)
I’d normally keep silent on such matters and write such small-minded viewpoints off as perhaps a blip in common sense. But the offense I take to this article, and your decision to publish it, is not really even related to my profession or my work with Hayes or Jonathan Groff (also singled out in the article as too “queeny” to play “straight.”)
This article offends me because I am a human being, a woman and a Christian. For example, there was a time when Jewish actors had to change their names because anti-Semites thought no Jew could convincingly play Gentile. Setoodeh even goes so far as to justify his knee-jerk homophobic reaction to gay actors by accepting and endorsing that “as viewers, we are molded by a society obsessed with dissecting sexuality, starting with the locker room torture in junior high school.” Really? We want to maintain and proliferate the same kind of bullying that makes children cry and in some recent cases have even taken their own lives? That’s so sad, Newsweek! The examples he provides (what scientists call “selection bias”) to prove his “gays can’t play straight” hypothesis are sloppy in my opinion. Come on now!
Openly gay Groff is too “queeny” to play Lea Michele’s boyfriend in Glee, but is a “heartthrob” when he does it in Spring Awakening? Cynthia Nixon only “got away with it” ’cause she peaked before coming out? I don’t know if you’ve missed the giant Sex and the City movie posters, but it seems most of America is “buying it.” I could go on, but I assume these will be taken care of in your “Corrections” this week.
Similarly, thousands of people have traveled from all over the world to enjoy Hayes’ performance and don’t seem to have one single issue with his sexuality! They have no problem buying him as a love-torn heterosexual man. Audiences aren’t giving a darn about who a person is sleeping with or his personal life. Give me a break! We’re actors first, whether we’re playing prostitutes, baseball players, or the Lion King. Audiences come to theater to go on a journey. It’s a character and it’s called acting, and I’d put Hayes and his brilliance up there with some of the greatest actors period.
Lastly, as someone who’s been proudly advocating for equal rights and supporting GLBT causes for as long as I can remember, I know how much it means to young people struggling with their sexuality to see out & proud actors like Sean Hayes, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Cynthia Nixon succeeding in their work without having to keep their sexuality a secret. No one needs to see a bigoted, factually inaccurate article that tells people who deviate from heterosexual norms that they can’t be open about who they are and still achieve their dreams. I am told on good authority that Mr. Setoodeh is a gay man himself and I would hope, as the author of this article, he would at least understand that. I encourage Newsweek to embrace stories which promote acceptance, love, unity and singing and dancing for all! --Kristin Chenoweth
*By Broadway.com Staff
Labels:
broadway,
kristin chenoweth,
musicals,
sean hayes
'The Big Gay Musical' on DVD and Blu Ray *1/2stars
a silly romp that takes on some serious topics in a retelling of 'adam and steve'. the music and lyrics are mostly inane and definitely forgettable. i think it can only appeal to those who enjoy camp. if i want camp i'll revisit 'valley of the dolls' or 'the legend of lylah clare' which are sooooo bad that they are make good camp.
Labels:
*1/2stars,
2009 films,
film review,
gay themed,
musicals
Monday, May 10, 2010
'Precious' Now on DVD and Blu Ray: ***1/2stars
i have to admit i avoided 'precious' when it was released. i just didn't want to deal with incest, child abuse and the poverty depicted. i come from nyc where i saw all this first hand especially when i taught in an inner-city school. well i have now seen it on blu ray and have to say it is great bordering on brilliant. it is gritty and real. it can even seem hopeful. i highly recommend 'precious' now.
it also is yet one more oscar nominated film that could have won the oscar for 'best picture' over the dreadful 'the hurt locker'.
Labels:
'precious',
***1/2stars,
2009 films,
film review
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Jon Stewart Takes On EVERYTHING: Mocks Rekers's Rentboy Romp, BP, Greece, And More
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
Family Research Council's European Gaycation | ||||
www.thedailyshow.com | ||||
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Friday, May 7, 2010
Colbert Rips Anti-Gay Activist, Throws 'Rentboy' Dance Party
The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
Alpha Dog of the Week - George Rekers | ||||
www.colbertnation.com | ||||
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Another Rebublican Bullshitter: George Rekers, Anti-Gay Activist, Caught With Male Escort 'Rentboy'
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Remembering Audrey on Her Birthday
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