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  • FILM REVIEW | Bumblef**k USA

    ★★★★ | Bumblef**k USA

    Newbie filmmaker Aaron Douglas Johnson’s debut feature is an unsettling docu-drama hybrid that arose from a very personal tragedy in his life.

    Johnson was born in a small town in Iowa and as an only child he grew up very close to his cousin Matt. By all accounts, Matthew, a devout Catholic and a passionate Republican, was a very popular member of his high school soccer team. Matthew was also gay, and at the age of 24 committed suicide after coming out of the closet in his hometown. This film, however, is not a biopic but Johnson’s attempt to try and get a better understanding of what it must have been like for Matthew to struggle with his sexuality in this small town in Middle America.

    The film successfully mixes a fictional story about Alexa a young blond Dutch woman who had befriended Matt on a Course somewhere and she has flown to Iowa from Amsterdam to make a documentary about her friends passing. Amongst all the interviews she films (unscripted and with very actual local lesbians and gays) she goes on somewhat of her own roller-coaster ride as she also starts to discover her own true identity as well.

    Settling into a house where she has rented a room for the summer, Alexa is so caught up in her own world that she is unaware that Lukas her landlord, a lonely man in his 40s, is immediately attracted to her. In fact, we soon discover that she has an unfortunate manner taking all kindnesses for granted and happily using and promptly discarding everybody who takes any interest in her.

    After her first night in Iowa, this somewhat confused girl wakes up in a strange bed without much recollection on how she ended up there. Her bed partner is Jennifer a local bartender/artist and the two women could not be more opposite. Not just because this is Alexa’s first time with a woman, but the fact out and proud lesbian Jennifer is an edgy positive woman who knows exactly what she wants out of life. And that doesn’t include sleeping with ‘straight’ women who end up running back to their boyfriends, as she has done that already.

    Alexa’s voyage of discovery will start at that moment when she cannot wait to get dressed and get out of Jennifer’s apartment. She’ll be back on and off, but not before she has a romp in a cemetery (well with a male grave digger) who, when he has finished making out with her in her room, is then unceremoniously kicked out by the Landlord at her request. Lukas will eventually try his luck after he has seen Alex dispensing sexual favours liberally with others, and when she resists, he rapes her.

    Johnson’s intriguing and thought-provoking film is somewhat disturbing. Not simply as the talking heads so poignantly articulate their own strife dealing, and overcoming, with some of the negative consequences after acknowledging the truth about their sexuality, but using a thoughtless and self-absorbed protagonist in the fictional story made it nigh on impossible to sympathise with her at times. It was, however, a very clever and unusual formula for reinforcing his key message i.e. it’s still tough being out and gay in so many places even today.

    Johnson should be applauded for honouring his cousin’s memory in this manner, and if this movie succeeds in just saving one more life, then it was all definitely worthwhile.

  • FILM REVIEW | Finding Vivian Maier

    ★★★★★ | Finding Vivian Maier

    A young graduate working on a history project bought a suitcase full of photographic negatives in a Chicago auction hoping that one or two them maybe useful in his research. However what John Maloof discovered that day in 2007 was a treasure trove of what is undoubtedly one on the finest collection of street photography ever made. They all turned out to be the work of one person a Vivian Maier, someone so totally unknown there wasn’t a single mention of her on Google or any other Internet search engine.

    A curious Maloof turned detective and his painstaking research helped him very gradually put together a picture of this mystery genius and at the same time discover and purchase even more of her work. Vivian Maier had been born in New York in 1929 and had then spent much of her childhood in France before returning to Chicago where she worked for almost 40 years as a Nanny. Every new discovery Maloof made about the unknown Maier was a shocking revelation as very few of the people she had worked for had any sense that this extremely odd woman they had hired to look after their offspring was a prolific obsessed photographer with such a remarkable eye. It seems most of her young charges knew as Nanny Maier dragged them through the seamier rough spots of the city clutching her camera looking for subjects as part of their daily constitutional.

    As Maloof pieced together Maier’s story like a jigsaw what emerged was a picture of a very eccentric loner and a compulsive hoarder who was an immensely private person. It’s only when he traces her steps in France does he discover that Maier knew that she was talented but apart from a brief correspondence with one printer did she ever talk about letting people see her work. The fact that news of the discovery of the 100000 plus negatives and the 700 plus undeveloped rolls of film had gone viral, there were still doubters from the people who knew Maier that she would have ever wanted this worldwide fame and recognition.

    This new documentary that Maloof wrote and directed, along with writer/producer Charlie Siskel, is exceptional for two distinct reasons. Firstly the very human story about this rather bizarre woman who was described as being ‘so awesomely unique’ and ‘a very closed cold person’ and who ended up losing one job with the mother explaining to her child ‘Vivian has got a little too crazy even for us’. The reminisces of the people who knew her are riveting and poignant. And then there is this whole superb body of work which is so exceptionally wonderful it stuns you into silence at times. Howard Greenberg a leading NY Gallerist who holds exhibitions of her work claims that no other photographer’s work has ever generated this much interest in his time.

    Credit to Maloof on several counts. Not only for recognising the significance of his find, and for his sheer doggedness and determination to ‘finding’ Vivian Maier, but also for the impressive way he put this all together in this, his first ever movie.

    There are so many components of this story that will keep you wondering and wanting to know more. Like why would this aggressively shy person produce so many ingenious portraits of herself that she could have been credited as being the creator of the ubiquitous selfie?

    Unmissable: and you will want to see it at least twice.

  • FILM REVIEW | Palo Alto

    ★★★★ | Palo Alto

    The directorial debut of Gia Coppola, Palo Alto is an exploration of high school teenagers experimentations with sex, drugs, and alcohol, and it’s an impressive debut.

    Coppola, the granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola and niece of Sofia Coppola and Nicholas Cage, turns James Franco’s book of the same name into a gritty yet honest movie of a bunch of teenagers in a Palo Alto, California High School. Franco’s book was a series of stories, and Coppola’s film links them up beautifully to create a film that flows, with characters who we could all relate to.

    April (an amazing Emma Roberts) is the class virgin. April’s popular amongst her peers and is a star soccer player. She is also being chased by her creepy soccer coach Mr B., whom she babysits for (Franco, in one of his best roles in years). But Mr B. just doesn’t like April, he also ‘likes’ other girls at the school – he’s a paedophile.

    Meanwhile, Teddy (Jack Kilmer), and Fred (Nat Wolff) are the best of friends, yet it’s Fred unpredictable behaviour that at times becomes explosive and dangerous. And Teddy has a huge crush on April, and he is unaware of her relationship with Mr B.

    Zoe Levin plays Emily. She’s basically the school slut and sleeps with Fred. Teddy, taking a page from Fred’s book, is caught drunk driving and has to perform community service, in a library where Fred visits and proceeds to deface a book. Throw in a mix of more parties and more romances and what you have is a teenage high school film that is made for grownups.

    Coppola gives us a film that is seen through the eyes of the teenagers; their angst, their anxiety, semi-innocence, boredom and excitement. It’s a movie that feels real, with performances to match. Roberts, the niece of Julia, was the perfect choice for the role of April. She’s 23 years old but in the film looks like she’s 16. Kilmer (son of actor Val Kilmer, who has a cameo in the film as a stoned-out stepfather), is also very good as Teddy, tight friends with Fred yet trying to win April’s affections. And Franco is perfect as the lecherous soccer coach – his guilty smile and glint in his eyes say it all – he’s very handsome yet very dangerous. Franco trusted his book to Coppola to turn it into a movie, and she does a fantastic job. Not bad for a first-timer. Francis Ford and Sofia Coppola should watch their back, another Coppola family member is on the way up.

  • Jake Quickenden In The Dog House For Naked Pictures

    Scary is not happy with hunky Jake Quickenden after he posed nude in another magazine spread.

    The X FACTOR Star, who finds it hard to keep his clothes on got a dressing down from the former Spice Girl after she discovered the new nudes, with fellow X Factor contestant Jack Walton.

    ‘I told you to keep your clothes on for at least one week,’ she said to the cheeky singer.

    She decided to teach him a lesson by making him eat spicy chocolate. She called it ‘his punishment.’

    To be honest, we would have thought whips and chains would have been better… But there you go.

    Jake who is no stranger to getting nude in front of the camera shot back at Mel’s derision by saying, ‘I know Mel wasn’t too happy but I love getting naked.

    ‘So who really cares what I do?’

    See whether Jake manages to stay in the competition another week, after failing to impress the judges with his cover of She’s Like The Wind.

     

    X Factor continues tonight on ITV 1.

  • Spotlight X Factor: Andrea Faustini

    He’s been winning the hearts of viewers all over the UK. We get to know Andrea Faustini a little better.

    He wowed the judges with his initial performance ofWho’s Loving You in the room auditions. Cheryl even said, “That is unbelievable. You’ve got such control over your voice. When you came in, I was not expecting that at all….don’t judge a book by its cover…”

    He then reduced Mel B and Cheryl to tears with his version of Whitney’s Didn’t Know My Own Strength at Boot Camp, even Simon was moved to a standing ovation.

    What are you most looking forward to about doing the live shows?

    “I just want to sing my heart out, show everyone who I really am, and give everything I have. I think this is the greatest chance I’ve ever had in my life. I still can’t believe it right now.”

    And your rivals?

    “I’m not thinking about rivals. I’m just thinking about the singers who are really good. I really like Paul, I love his style and I think he’s an amazing soul singer. I think he’s going to do really well. I wouldn’t call him a rival but I think he’s very good.”

    And on the makeover?

    I think it’s a very fun side of this job. Obviously you have to be focused on singing but that is a very fun side and I love choosing outfits..”

    What will you do if you win?

    “I would buy a car, maybe. I’m not very good at driving so just a small one, to start with.”

  • Hunky Gabriel Clark Stars In I’m A Stripper Too Tonight

    Hunky Gabriel Clark Stars In I’m A Stripper Too Tonight

    Versatile Hunk Gabriel Clark stars in I’m a Stripper Too! Premiering on OutTV Canada and digital platforms internationally Sunday, Oct. 26th at 9pm ET/PT.

    (more…)

  • FILM REVIEW | The Imitation Game

    ★★★★★ | The Imitation Game

    Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, The Imitation Game portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

    Via a series of flashbacks, the film spans the key periods of Turing’s life, from his unhappy teenage years at boarding school and the triumph of his secret wartime work on the revolutionary electro-mechanical ‘Bombe’, which was capable of breaking 3,000 Enigma-generated naval codes a day, to the tragedy of his post-war decline, following his horrific and shocking conviction and subsequent enforced chemical castration just for having gay sex. Finally pardoned in 2013 by the Queen, for the ‘crime’ of carrying out homosexual acts that he was tried for in 1951, Alan Turing’s role was pivotal in winning the Second World War.

    With such a fascinating story and a stellar cast (Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance) this is a film that is destined to be a major success. Already garnering critical acclaim, it’s not hard to see why. The script, period detail and performances are all exemplary. Cumberbatch is pitch perfect in his portrayal as Turing, portraying the strengths and vulnerabilities of a man with little social skills who is driven by his passion for his work and his intellect. He’s ably supported by Keira Knightley as the feisty Joan Clarke; a woman of great intellect who has to fight to the constraints of a society that devalues and oppresses women. Mark Strong as a particularly dashing MI6 agent and Matthew Goode as a fellow code-breaker, are equally strong.

    The script is actually very funny as well as being poignant and thrilling. This is a must see film of this autumn/winter.

    The Imitation Game is in cinemas from the 14th of November 2014

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Spine, Soho Theatre

    From fast-rising Channel 4 Playwright Clara Brennan comes a hilarious, pan-generational call to arms for our modern age.

    Spine charts the explosive friendship between a ferocious, wisecracking teenager and an elderly East End widow. Mischievous activist pensioner Glenda is hell-bent on leaving a political legacy and saving Amy from the Tory scrapheap because ‘there’s nothing more terrifying than a teenager with something to say’.

    In this era of damaging coalition cuts and disillusionment, has politics forgotten people? Can we really take the power back? Amy is about to be forced to find out.
    There’s something about a well scripted and performed monologue that can be immensely powerful and intense and Brennan’s play manages to be both of these things whilst also being incredibly funny. Rosie Wyatt’s Amy is initially an unsympathetic character with an accent and pattern of speech like nails on a blackboard and a strutting, angry demeanour. The skill in both the script and the acting lies in making the viewer warm to and believe in the changes that take place in Amy, in spite of her bad points.

    The Soho Theatre is a great space for this play with the small space crammed with teetering piles of books. I laughed a lot and almost didn’t notice that the play was delivering a message about apathy in an age when we’re challenged and tricked into thinking that we should be grateful for what we have. And keep quiet. There’s a touch of the 1970s classic film Harold and Maud about the play: eccentric pensioner and off the rails teenager learn from each other.

    Kudos to Rosie Wyatt too for telling an audience member off for using her phone during the play, whilst remaining in character. She’s a woman after my own heart.

    Spine runs until: Tue 21 Oct – Sun 2 Nov, 7.15pm. Matinees: Sat 2.30pm, Sun 5.30pm
    Buy tickets here: http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/spine

  • RECIPE | Beef Chilli with Black Rice

    You will have to trust me on the Chinese five spice. It complements the smoky fiery flavour of the beef chilli perfectly. This is probably one of my favourite’s to make, my friends love my chilli. You can reduce the cooking time by adding less of the stock but I prefer a long, long cook for this.

    Serves 4-6 people
    Prep 10 mins
    Cook 1-2 hours

    If I’m doing this for a crowd I serve a Scotch Bonnet chilli pepper on the side to see who’s man enough to give one a go! If you are going to do this, please remind your guests that the Scotch Bonnet ranks in category 4 on the scoville heat measure, and is of similar heat to a habanero, jamaican hot pepper, and the not so comfortingly named, Fatalii. Have plain yogurt / milk on standby!

    BLACK RICE- Where has black rice been all my life? After trying this for the first time only recently I can honestly say I will never eat a bowl of the white stuff ever again! A spoonful of black rice contains more antioxidants than that of blueberries. The anthocyanin antioxidants within the rice are linked with memory improvement, protection against heart disease and even cancer. Black rice is a fantastic source of Iron and also vitamin E. I decided to serve my devilish beef chilli with black rice to give a gothic, unusual and nutritious edge to the dish. Black rice is not just for show, it’s so good for you!

    BEEF- Around 85g of beef provides you with the following of your daily requirements; 50% protein, 39% zinc, 37% B12, 24% selenium, 20% phosphorous, 18% niacin, 16% B6, 14% iron, 12% riboflavin. ( SOURCE: http://www.beef.org/udocs/Beef%20Bytes%20Health.pdf )

    KIDNEY BEANS- 177g of kidney beans will provide you with the following of your daily requirements; 57% folate, 45% fibre, 42% copper (great for the immune system), 38% manganese (good for bone production & skin integrity), 34% phosphorous (another one for bones but also digestion), 30% protein, 23% B1, 21% iron.

    The kidney bean is a good source of cholesterol-lowering fibre, along with many other beans. When beans are combined with whole grain rice, the kidney beans provide virtually fat-free high quality protein. Kidney beans can also increase your energy by replenishing iron stores. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=87)

    REDUCED SALT & SUGAR BAKED BEANS – It’s this kind of cheap, easily accessible food that we can utilise for our health without having to import a wonder herb or grain from the Amazon. Baked beans can help towards achieving 7-a-day along with great fibre and protein benefits. Lycopene within the tomato sauce is a powerful antioxidant that has shown to help prevent heart disease and prostate cancer. (SOURCE ; http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-baked-beans.html )

    Ingredients.
    1 dried chipotle chilli, rehydrated, de-seeded and chopped finely
    1 ham stock cube, made up with 500ml hot water
    2 tsp Chinese five spice
    1 400g can kidney beans in a chilli sauce
    1 400g can organic chopped tomatoes
    1 230g can reduced sugar & salt baked beans
    2 onions, chopped roughly
    60g smoked chorizo, skin removed and sliced into rounds
    1 tbsp carotino oil (or any other healthy cooking oil of your choice)

    75g black rice, per person.

    Method.
    1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onions over a medium heat for 10 minutes until they are translucent.

    2. Add in the beef, Chinese five spice, chorizo, chipotle and cook until the meat is no longer pink.

    3. Tip in the tomatoes, mix and let them cook out for a couple of minutes.

    4. Add both kidney and baked beans to the pan, along with the stock.

    5. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 1-2 hours dependant on how much stock you want to use. I use all the stock and simmer for 1.5.

    6. Start cooking your rice in boiling water half an hour before you want to serve.

  • RECIPE | Devilled Eggs with Smoked Bacon

    These cute n creepy hors d’oeuvres’ will definitely put smiles on your guest’s faces. Simple, inexpensive, and being fun to make add to the delight of this dish. The classic flavour combination of egg and bacon brought into the realm of a dinner party by adding whole grain mustard, spring onions and black olive. You could do a half n half batch by adding some cayenne pepper on top of some of the eggs for variety.

    Serves 8 (as canapés)
    Prep 30 mins
    Cook 10 mins (egg and bacon)

    The recipes suits 8 people for canapés (1 egg each), but you may want to make more as they’re one bite wonders and extremely more-ish. In the event of leftovers, you’ve already got breakfast sorted!

    EGGS – 1 egg provides the following of your recommended daily intake; 22% selenium (selenium deficiency, which some people who are HIV positive may have, has implications on immune function, depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypothyroidism, infertility in males), 15% B2, 9% phosphorous (bones & teeth, digestion, hormones), 9% B12, 7% B5, 6% vitamin A, 5% folate. Although eggs are high in cholesterol they do not adversely affect blood cholesterol. In fact, eggs help raise the “good” cholesterol, HDL. Eggs are also a fab source of protein containing all the essential amino acids in right doses. (SOURCE: http://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-health-benefits-of-eggs/ )

    Ingredients.
    80g light mayo
    8 eggs, hard boiled and halved
    3 rashers smoked bacon, cooked until crispy and finely chopped
    2 spring onions, finely sliced
    1 tsp wholegrain mustard
    small bowlful of black olives

    Method.
    1. Carefully scoop the hard-boiled yolks out of the egg halves. I found it easiest to loosen one edge of the yolk with a teaspoon and the whole yolk would follow.

    2. In a bowl, mash together with a fork the; yolks, mayo, bacon, spring onions, wholegrain mustard and a little black pepper.

    3. Scoop your fluffy egg and bacon mix back into the hollow of the egg halves. You could also pipe the mix back into the hollows if you’re feeling pedantic about presentation.
    4. At this point you have now made devilled eggs and they can be served straight away or kept in the fridge for a few hours until required.

    optional

    5. To add a Halloween twist and make them into spider eggs, have your bowlful of black olives and your chopping board out and slice whole olives into halves to create the bodies of the spider. Slice small lengths of olives to create the legs. I found it easiest to place the spider legs on top of the eggs, and then place the spider body on top of the legs to complete the look.

  • INTERVIEW | Paul Burston

    If you don’t know who Paul Burston is, you’ve clearly been living under a rock. A stalwart of the gay scene, ACTUP activist, one-time editor of TimeOut’s LGBT Section, a writer for multiple magazines and newspapers including the Guardian and author of 4 best-selling novels.

    In your time you must have had some incredible brushes with the rich and famous – who has been your favourite?
    I’ve been a journalist for 25 years and I’ve been lucky enough to meet a great many famous people I admire, including Debbie Harry, Victoria Wood and Princess Diana. But if I had to pick one, I’d say Elizabeth Taylor. I met her at London Lighthouse in the mid-90s. She was so tiny – and every inch a star. I’d always loved her, and she didn’t disappoint. She was one of the first stars to speak out about AIDS and a true original. Watching Helen Bonham-Carter play her in that TV drama recently only highlighted just how unique she was. Nobody does Liz Taylor like Liz Taylor.

    We love that you call her Liz, like totally on first name terms. Bravo Gay stripes.

    Finish this sentence: Champagne is…
    …Great fun while it lasts, not so much fun the following day. Champagne hangovers are the worst!

    We hear you, Paul, we hear you!

    Ultimate girl band: Rihanna, Katy Perry and Miley or Kylie, Madonna and Belinda Carlisle?
    I’d have to go with Kylie, Madonna and Belinda. But only because Kate Bush, Debbie Harry and Stevie Nicks weren’t an option.

    Ooo you’re ultra old skool, (and you’ve made us spell School in that kooky way…) Excellent.

    The campest moment of your life?
    Introducing Celia Imrie at Polari last year. We managed to keep her surprise guest appearance a tightly guarded secret, although a few of the regulars had their suspicions. As soon as I announced her, there was pandemonium! If you’d asked me before then, I’d have said it was introducing Fenella Fielding – also at Polari. Both are fabulously camp women, beloved by gay audiences. And both are great supporters of the LGBT community. It was a privilege to introduce them.

    You are kind of like Cilla Black, matchmaking the gays with their icons. We love it.

    What do other people think your most attractive feature is?
    I’d like to say it was my cheeky smile and sparkling personality, but it’s probably my legs. I was a keen cyclist for years, so I have well-developed leg muscles. And yes, I’m familiar with the saying, “nice legs, shame about the face!”

    Ooh He’s got footballers legs and self-effacing. Are you single by any chance?

    If you were PM for a day what would be your first ruling…
    I’d bestow honours on Bette Bourne and David Hoyle. Dame-hoods, naturally.

    Natch.

    What are the two things you couldn’t live without?
    My husband. He’s the love of my life and I can’t imagine life without him.

    My iPhone. I’ve written most of my new novel on it. I no longer carry a notebook everywhere. Everything is written in Notes on my phone and backed up onto my desktop. Now I can actually read my own notes!

    You are ridiculously modern. Furthermore, you managed to plug the fact you’re working on a new novel. The man is a professional.

    Most embarrassing drunken moment?
    Meeting David Bowie at an after show party. I’m a massive fan and got hideously drunk on free Champagne. When he arrived, I launched myself at him and announced that when I was 15, he saved my life. He smiled knowingly and said, ‘really?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘And you’re still the man!’
    I couldn’t believe the crap coming out of my mouth. I mean, ‘you’re the man!’ Who says that? He must get it a lot. He’s David Bowie, after all. But he was very gracious, a perfect gentleman.

    We know exactly what you mean, we did that with Kelly Osborne once. Well, we think it was Kelly Osborne. It was dark.

    Is there a gay Mafia?
    Not really. But some of us like to dress the part.

    Snaps.

    Liza needs to do… next?
    I love Liza. She’s been written off so many times, but she’s still here.
    She’s a living legend. She just needs to keep on living. That’s enough for me.

    Gotch ya, long live Liza. May she stumble from party to party forever.

    Check out Paul Burston’s monthly Polari Literary Salon at: www.polariliterarysalon.co.uk

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