Just in time for Valentine's Day, here comes Fifty Shades of Grey, the dirty-movie adaptation of the dirty-book phenomenon from E.L. James ( a modern-day Jackie Susann of sorts ).
Based on the advance buzz, the most interesting things about the forthcoming cinema sexcapade seem to be all the instances of "no" connected with it. There's no NC-17 rating thanks to no explicit sex scenes ( and no fun filming them, either, according to its stars ); and no love off-camera ( as the press-junket interviews make clear ) at all between said stars Dakota Johnson ( daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson ) and Irish actor Jamie Dornan, who respectively play the ( momentarily ) virginal college student and her soon-to-be lover, the fabulously wealthy playboy Christian Grey, whose taste for kinky sex launched the book into the upper stratosphere. S&M playtime aside, the biggest no-no the film ( that female director Sam Taylor-Johnson helmed ) commits is the lack of full-frontal male nudity from Dornan—a cardinal sin!
This example of visual timidity most definitely is at odds with the raunchy, provocative material but perhaps the two forthcoming sequels already being hyped won't shy away from giving us the full monty. Until then, here are some alternative queer-themed cinematic suggestions ( yes—all with full-frontal ) to heat up your Valentine's Day—whether you are celebrating alone or with your beloved:
—Weekend, my favorite queer movie of 2011, got the deluxe treatment from Criterion with the usual slew of extras that drive cinephiles like myself into a frenzy. Pretty much everything you want to know about the making of out writer-director Andrew Haigh's beautifully observed ( and mega sexy ) story of two average Joes who go from tricking to falling in love in a matter of days is packed into Criterion's special edition.
—Winner of the queer Palme d'Or, 2013's Stranger by the Lake, unabashedly explicit, focuses on a gay cruising spot near a secluded lake. The boyishly handsome Franck falls hard for uber-hunk Michel, with his Tom Selleck handlebar mustache. Surprisingly, after witnessing Michel commit a horrendous crime, his passion only increases. From that point, out director Guiraudie's French thriller only gets darker—and sexier—with each passing tryst.
—"Would you like to see me naked?" the gorgeous blonde Natasha asks the dark-haired Alba with a teasing smile. "I would love to!" comes the horny reply. Less than 10 minutes in and the sexy stuff is on in Room in Rome, writer-director Julio Medem's 2010 artistic homage to the one-night stand, lesbian style. As the night—and the bouts of copious lovemaking—take place, so does the emotional intensity between the two women. It's Weekend, lady style—a seductive tour-de-force.
—My number-one LGBT film of 2006, Shortbus, is a sexathon for every persuasion. Gay writer-director John Cameron Mitchell's follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch is passionate, thrilling and gloriously fun about sex. The film's DVD includes an amiable director and cast commentary; a fascinating, in-depth look at the laborious casting process—a complicated one given the fact that the stars of the movie actually engage in sex on camera. It's a one-of-a-kind film that encapsulates the Rocky Horror erotic free-for-all maxim "Don't dream it. Be it."
Oscar, Oscar, Oscar
—Neil Patrick Harris had a bang-up 2014—between standout acting gigs on stage, television and in film, not to mention penning a best-selling memoir. And he's off and running in 2015 with TV's best hosting gig ( finally! ): this year's 87th annual Academy Award ceremonies ( Sunday, Feb. 22, on ABC ). Harris is also prominently featured in one of the Oscar-nominated films, David Fincher's creepy murder mystery Gone Girl ( recently released on home video ) in which he gives us a glimpse of full-front Neil ( yup ) as part of his disturbing supporting role.
—Best Actress Oscar nominee Julianne Moore ( for Still Alice, her fifth nomination and my predicted winner ) stars in the forthcoming Freeheld, the heart-wrenching true story ( based on the Oscar-winning 2007 documentary short ) of police detective Laurel Hester who fought government officials for equal treatment when she was diagnosed with cancer. Out actor Ellen Page ( one of the movie's producers ) plays Moore's lesbian life partner in the film that Lionsgate just picked up ( after a heated bidding war ) at the Berlin Film Festival for U.S. distribution later this year.
—Cello-voiced, sultry screen siren Lizabeth Scott—known for her pouty demeanor and devastating blonde looks in the late 1940s—died recently at the age of 92. Scott first took moviegoers by storm in a memorable supporting role in 1946's The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers but, after several sensational roles, the waning of the popularity of the film-noir genre didn't do her any favors. And a 1954 story in the scandal magazine Confidential outing Scott's suspected lesbian sexuality spelled a career death knell in that conservative era.
Scott never publicly commented about her personal life but a spate of books on queer ( closeted and otherwise ) film stars never fail to include her. It's been a year of tremendous loss for film stars but here's hoping the show's producers see fit to include Scott as part of the annual Oscar ceremony memorial tribute.
Black History Month, queer style
February is Black History Month and there are many feature films and documentaries worth exploring. Director Ava DuVernay's Selma is still in theatres and Spike Lee's latest, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, is having its Chicago theatrical premiere beginning this Friday, Feb. 13, at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. as part of its monthlong salute.
Based on the cult 1973 horror classic Ganja & Hess ( about an archeologist who becomes a vampire after being stabbed by his assistant ), the film uses the addiction of vampirism as a metaphor for Black assimilation and an indictment of white imperialism. Lee's remake/homage ( which was financed in part by a crowd source campaign ) looks to be a return to his audacious roots. ( It's being described as a "romantic horror comedy." ) Stephen Tyrone Williams stars in this new version ( which apparently also includes a hot lesbian sex scene ).
The Black experience on film has plenty for queer audiences to delve into as well. Just three notable suggestions out of a myriad of titles out there ( all made my year end Best list ):
—Out writer/director Justin Simien's whip-smart race comedy Dear White People is just out on DVD. It focuses on four Black students at a predominantly white ( fictional ) Ivy League school—Samantha, a brilliant, budding filmmaker and radio talk-show host whose refusal to accept the status quo shakes up the entire school; Coco ( nee Colandrea ), who is busy emulating the popular white girls; ( Marque Richardson ), the handsome jock and natural-born leader who is also the son of the school's no-nonsense dean ( Dennis Haysbert ); and Lionel ( Tyler James Williams ), a geekish loner who finds himself enlisted to cover the controversy by the all-white school newspaper because of his color. It's eventually revealed that Lionel is gay—a subplot that will obviously resonate with Our People. Tessa Thompson and a host of other up-and-coming actors are featured.
—Out writer-director Dee Rees' 2011 fictional feature debut Pariah—which follows the coming out of Alike ( the fantastic Adepero Oduye ), a young African-American teenager in urban New York—is like the entrance into a secret society. Sultry, powerful and beautifully shot, the film breaks free from the conventional coming-out story with its confident, gutsy approach. It's an instant lesbian classic. Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell co-star.
—Vibrant and unabashedly sexy, out director Rodney Evans's 2013 The Happy Sad is based on a play by Ken Urban, who worked closely with Evans in adapting the work for the screen. The film is a chamber quartet focusing on two couples in Brooklyn—Marcus and Aaron, a Black gay couple, and Stan and Annie, a white straight couple—whose lives intersect when both decide to open their relationships sexually. The material explores, in very interesting ways, what can happen when both traditional relationship boundaries and gender lines—Marcus and Stan hook up repeatedly and Annie is drawn to her newly out girlfriend—are blurred.
Twenty years later…
Out film journalist, author ( Queue Tips: Discovering Your Next Great Movie ) and Queer Film Society member Rob Christopher is also the writer and director of the indie feature Pause of the Clock. Christopher shot the movie 20 years ago when he was a film student at Columbia College but, for a variety of reasons, never finished it until now.
Christopher ( who also plays the leading role in the film ) has started a Kickstarter campaign to raise completion funds so he can finally get his movie ready for its close-up. The movie, according to Christopher's description is "a film about friendship, secrets and the power of stories." The prestigious film site IndieWire recently named the project its "Project of the Day." Supporters have until Feb. 26 to donate to the campaign.. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/814536463/pause-of-the-clock-a-film-20-years-in-the-making
Upcoming movie calendar
Highlights from films opening in Chicago, Feb. 13 and 20 ( or available online or OnDemand ):
Fifty Shades of Grey ( Feb. 13 )—The erotic worldwide bestselling novel comes to the movies ( see details above ).
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus ( Feb. 13 )—Spike Lee's latest has its Chicago premiere at the Gene Siskel Film Center ( see details above ) and is also available on iTunes. http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/dasweetbloodofjesus
Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine ( Feb. 13 )—Michele Josue—a close friend of Shepard, the gay young man who was tortured and murdered in October of 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming—directs this feature-length documentary. Josue revisits the case, traveling to many of the pivotal locations in Shepard's life and includes never before seen photos, rare video footage, and new revelations about Shepard's tragically short life. It plays exclusively at the AMC River East 21. http://mattshepardisafriendofmine.com/
Kingsman: The Secret Service ( Feb. 13 )—Colin Firth—Oscar-nominated as the gay widower in Tom Ford's elegant 2009 A Single Man and Best Actor winner for 2010's The King's Speech—stars in this James Bondish, superspy action fest about a league of stylish 007 types recruiting a rough and tough ( but promising and awfully cute ) street kid into its training program just in time to avert a global threat from the typical evil genius. Michael Caine, Samuel L, Jackson, Mark Hamill, Jack Davenport and Mark Strong co-star. Matthew Vaughn directs.
The Princess Bride ( Feb. 13 only ) and Valentine's Day Sweetheart Sing-Along with Casablanca ( Feb. 14 only )—It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without at least a few film-related events surrounding the lover's holiday. These include Rob Reiner's beloved 1987 comic fairytale sendup The Princess Bride on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9:30 p.m. and a return engagement of Casablanca—both at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. The latter is scheduled for a matinee screening on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m., complete with romantic pre-show sing-along music from the Music Box organist. http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events
McFarland USA ( Feb. 20 )—Based on a true story, Kevin Costner stars in this feel-good sports drama from Disney as the coach of a high school track team chasing glory in an impoverished Latino area. Out actor Maria Bello ( Prisoners, The Jane Austen Book Club, A History of Violence ) plays Costner's wife.
Interested in reading some of my in-depth reviews? The Best of Knight at the Movies: 2004-2014—a compilation book of my film reviews from a queer perspective for Windy City Times is available through www.knightatthemovies.com .
