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  • FILM REVIEW | Yves Saint Laurent

    ★★★★ | Yves Saint Laurent

    Yves St Laurent was regarded as the most consistently celebrated and influential designer for twenty-five years. He is credited with both spurring Haute Couture’s rise from its 1960’s ashes and with finally rendering Ready-to-Wear reputable. He was unquestionably a genius and it’s no exaggeration at all to state that some of his ‘creations’ were stunning masterpieces.

    He was however, a very troubled and tormented soul. An aspect that this new biopic on M. St Laurent makes a point of labouring on. As a piece of fiction the story of how this timid gentle soul who, at the tender age of 21 took over from his mentor Christian Dior to head up the Couture House is totally compelling. The year is 1957 and his first Collection as Head Designer at Dior catapulted him to international stardom. A year later he met Pierre Bergé, an industrialist who became his lover, and later his business partner after Dior had sacked St Laurent. He and Bergé set up the House of Yves St Laurent together.

    The movie focuses on how St Laurent, who had always been a manic depressive, became heavily dependent on alcohol and drugs just to cope with his daily pressures. As he sought solace (and sex) in the arms of other young men, his exploits landed him in police stations and on newspaper front pages, and he was always being rescued by Bergé who saved the day yet again. The couple spilt up romantically in 1976, a fact that is not mentioned in the movie, but remained business partners until St Laurent’s death from brain cancer in 2008.

    It’s a real treat to see the scenes of St Laurent at work in his Salon watching him create unforgettable pieces that were greatly influenced by his love of non-European culture. Also some of the scenes of almost debauchery when he is out partying with close friends like Karl Lagerfeld and Loulou de la Falaise when he looks like he is actually enjoying himself for a change. However fact and fiction start to really cross wires, and whilst we are expected to believed that this was a man who refused to take responsibility for anything, it’s nigh on impossible to believe that Bergé was such a saintly figure who never ever even dreamed about sleeping around or sniffing a line of coke or anything remotely bad.

    The movie based on Laurence Benaim’s biography was made with with Bergé’s ‘approval’ who has always had a reputation as a control freak and in the same way he micro-managed YSL, he has obviously totally manipulated the way that both he and St Laurent are portrayed in this movie. It’s such a pity as I believe that the real truth of this remarkable and tempestuous relationship is a great story still waiting to be told.

    Maybe it will be in Bertrand Bonello’s new movie ‘Saint Laurent’ currently being made now without Berge’s approval.

    Fact or fiction, there were still two incredible performances from the lead actors Guillaume Gallienne as Bergé, and Pierre Niney who was completely pitch perfect as the vulnerable St. Laurent.

    There was one remarkable touching scene when St Laurent arrives home, the worse for wear after an all night bender and has collapsed in the bathroom. As Bergé helps him, St Laurent tearfully confesses that he loves his new boyfriend Jacques, but that Berge will always be the love of his life. And you really want to believe that this indeed really was the case.

    Available to buy / view on: Amazon | Amazon Prime | iTunes

  • Why is Matt Barber focusing on anal sex and not Christian values?

    Some people just can’t let it go. Is Matt Barber is one of them? Forget what we’re doing with our bodies and concentrate on what you’re doing with your mind.

    Last year the author, lawyer and ex-pro boxer, Matt Barber, used a column in WND to tell gay teens that they were just a ‘means to an end’.

    Today he takes to the same publication to focus on ‘How The “Gay” Jihad Normalized A Filthy Practice’, and he definitely seems to know a lot about those gay ‘practices’.

    What an odd thought, such a mix of ideologies, but well done on mixing a Muslim war against unbelievers and gay people (and their allies) who are merely asking the government for equality.

    Within his article Barber calls homosexuals ‘pagan sexual jihadists’ and laments the poor Christian business owners who are ‘facing harsh government persecution for merely living out their faith.’

    Ah, it’s the Christian business owners that are facing persecution; we won’t mention at this point, Crusades, Inquisitions, ‘gay cure’ therapies or what women can or can’t do with their bodies all in the name of beliefs and faiths.

    Forgive me, I thought it was the ‘homosexualists’ who faced daily persecution and inequality around the world, but clearly I was wrong. I checked the same dictionary; homosexualist isn’t actually a word.

    Throughout Barber’s incoherent ramblings within the article, he arrives, I assume, to the crux of his issues. Anal.

    I have to ask why does he care?

    How does he know so much about the intimate acts between gay men?

    And, why just focus on gay men? Aren’t lesbians part of your rampage against the ‘homosexualists’?

    I’d like to take a moment to inform Barber and the rest of his audience, which he insists of ill informing, that not all gay men partake in anal sex.

    Some do, but so do some heterosexuals. In fact if you add up the number of straight people having butt sex and the entire homosexual community that do it, you’ll probably find that proportionally straights are having it more often than the gays and good for them. After all it’s their body.

    There are of course, the biological facts to look at here; but since Barber seems to know so much about sodomy, I’m guessing I don’t have to explain. We’ll ignore the fact that the male G-spot is placed inside his body, we’ll forget the fact that the anus is conveniently placed in a position that makes anal sex just as easy and accessible as vaginal intercourse. We’ll also forget the fact that women also enjoy anal intercourse too, and that not all sexual contact between heterosexuals has to end in conception.

    Barber’s references to the millions of homosexual men wasting away in hospices, and how the gay press has hidden them away, are just erroneous.

    The struggles that gay men faced during the 80s and 90s are still very much at the forefront of the gay media today, and continue to be the subject of many films, books and health campaigns by health services world over.

    Barber would be wise to check facts here, perhaps cast his eyes to the real statistics surrounding people living with HIV and AIDS. This just reinforces negativity toward the gay community from those who are far too uneducated on the matter.

    It’s articles like this one that perpetuate the issues that gay people face, but thankfully if one looks at the latest polls and trends on what society thinks on the matter of same-sex marriage, people like Matt Barber look more and more ridiculous as they position themselves on the wrong side of public opinion.

    Stop thinking about what the gay community does or doesn’t do in its bedrooms and start focussing on real Christian values of compassion and equality.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • London’s Manbar Loses Noise Complaint Against Westminster City Council

    Manbar has lost its appeal to keep its regulated entertainment licence, after resident, two floors up made noise complaints.

    In a statement released by Manbar, the popular venue’s management said that it had lost against Westminster City Council with regards to its ‘regulated entertainment license’, however it will remain open with its 3 AM alcohol sales license. This means that Manbar will remain in business, without music, despite the bar’s owners spending £25,000 on noise compliance.

    During the hearing, Westminster City Council served up their witnesses and the 1 tenant, who originally made the noise complaint. He was the the only person living near Manbar to give evidence.

    On day two of the hearing, the Court made a site visit to Manbar to witness both the sound levels within the venue and in the residency, two floors above – at maximum sound level.

    Chris Amos, the bar’s general manager said:
    ‘The bar will be applying for it’s regulated entertainment licence again in the near future with all the stipulations possible to safeguard the venue without causing any noise nuisance. Hopefully the council will grant us back our licence! Also the government recently deregulated entertainment before 11pm each day so we will offering early evening entertainment and currently working out the schedule for this.

    ‘Many thanks for the support through this case, luckily Manbar remains open – so be sure to come by for a drink.’

    Andrew Ralph, Westminster City Council’s Noise and Licensing Manager said in a statement to TheGayUK:

    ‘An independent judge has today ruled that Manbar has a long history of playing music that constitutes a public noise nuisance and disturbs residents. Westminster City Council is duty bound to address any public noise nuisance wherever it is found, whoever is making it – and that is all it has done here. Last year, the council agreed to a compromise – suggested by the owner – that Manbar’s right to play amplified music would be temporarily suspended until the necessary measures have been taken for it to be played at acceptable levels – levels that apply to every other licensee wanting to play music. After a sound-limiter was fitted, the noise level was found by officers to be acceptable. However, within a week, further complaints were received and the levels were once again found to be a statutory nuisance. The Court found that this was because externally amplified music was being played at Manbar.

    The result of the appeal means that Manbar must resolve the problems arising from noise nuisance, as they promised to do. If they are able to do that, Westminster City Council is ready to work with Manbar so that it can once again play amplified music.”

  • Nearly one million UK pets have their own social media

    Research has shown that pet owners across the UK love their pets so much that one million of them have given them their own Twitter or Facebook account.

    Amongst the most popular pets on the net is Sockington the cat, who belongs to American archivist and historian Jason Scott. On Twitter Sockington (@sockington) has amassed over 1.3 million followers, which is more than Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour Party leader Ed Miliband combined.

    The research conducted by GoCompare.com showed that over a million or 7% of us, who have a furry friend have created a profile for our beloved Sweep, Rover or Dory the fish.

    When it comes to Twitter, dogs are the internet’s best friend. Analysing tweets from February 4th to March 6th, Gocompare.com found that more tweets in that time period were about canines than their cat counterparts. During the time frame, there were 1,713,613 tweets referencing cats compared to 2,323,567 tweets about dogs.

    Ben Wilson, pet insurance spokesperson at Gocompare.com, commented:
    ‘The nation seems divided on what people think of pets on social media, as half (51%) of those asked said that they found people who constantly post about their pet on social media irritating, and the vast majority (74%) saying that they find people who create profiles for their pet ‘weird’. But with around four million tweets about cats and dogs each month, it doesn’t look like animal lovers will stop talking about their pets online anytime soon.
    ‘However, what is concerning is the number of pet owners who admitted to not having insurance for their animal. Though nearly one in five (17%) admitted to adoring their pets so much that most of their own social media post revolved around them, and just under one in ten (7%) having even made profiles for their pets, our research found that only half of cat and dog owners actually insured their animal.
    ‘Pet owners without insurance may not be able to afford essential medical treatment if their pet becomes ill or has an accident, so while it’s nice to see so many who want to show their four-legged companions off on social media, the best way to show your love for your animal is to make sure it has the right cover.’

  • Are TOWIE’S Bobby Norris and Harry Derbidge dating?

    So dating rumours about TOWIE’S Bobby Norris and Harry Derbidge have been flying around!

    We love a bedroom selfie as much as the next man, but it seems as though Towie stars Bobby and Harry are wanting their public to know a little bit more about them!

    Bobby not only has he posted a selfie of him with Harry in bed, he was also caught buying him a carrot birthday cake from Scoop, which he took along to a celebratory dinner for Harry and his family. So are they? Have they?

  • Fashion designer Tom Ford marries partner Richard Buckley

    The designer Tom Ford has secretly married his long-term partner Richard Buckley in a ceremony in the US.

    The couple, who have been together for 27 years, told the Telegraph: ‘We are now married, which is nice. I know that was just made legal in the UK which is great, but we were married in the States.’

    The couple also have a son named Alexander Jack John Buckley-Ford, who was born in 2012. The family currently reside in London, where Ford’s label is based.

    Although probably most famous for his aftershaves, Ford is also a film director having directed A Single Man in 2009.

    Marriage between same-sex coupes became legal in the UK at the end of March 2014.

  • Smartphone batteries that fully charge in 30 seconds to go on sale in 2016

    You have to see it to believe it, but an Israeli company has revealed new batteries which fully charge a smartphone in just 30 seconds.

    The device called Storedot was revealed at Microsoft’s Think Next event, which was held in Tel Aviv. They demonstrated that a Samsung S4 could be charged from 0% battery to fully charged in just 26 seconds.

    The device, which will not be available until 2016, is believed to be priced around £18 – which is the current cost of an average charger.

    According to the company’s website: ‘StoreDot’s technology for energy storage can be applied in batteries for mobile devices, providing a sustainable solution that can replace lithium-ion batteries. Due to the size of StoreDot nanodots, the electrode capacitance is increased, resulting in next-generation batteries and super-capacitors that can be fully charged in minutes rather than hours.’

    Incredibly, the company last year received £3.5m in investment, with Samsung reported to be one of the major investors.

  • Best Selling Author Sue Townsend Dies, Aged 68

    The author, famous for the Adrian Mole Diary series has passed away at the age of 68.

    A family friend of Sue Townsend has announced that the best-selling writer has passed away after a short illness.

    Townsend, who lost her sight in 2001, from issues surrounding diabetes, was one of the UK’s best-selling writers throughout the 80s and 90s, whose books The Queen And I and Rebuilding Coventry and the Adrian Mole series contributed to the imaginations of teenage boys all over the UK. The diaries sold over 8 millions copies.

    Townsend, born in Leicester in 1946, was diagnosed with diabetes in the 80s and underwent a kidney transplant in 2009. In December 2012 she suffered a stroke.

    A number of fellow authors have paid their respects. Speaking to the BBC, Yes Man, Danny Wallace said:

    ‘If ever I saw that she was in a town close to me – and I’d never been to book readings or book signings before – but I always made sure I went to hers.

    ‘She was incredibly sweet to her younger fans and I’ve got all these books at home that she had signed and she would say, “To Daniel, from Sue Townsend aged 43 and three quarters’ or ’45 and a half”.

    ‘So she really understood what people loved about Adrian Mole I think.’

    Husband Colin Broadway and her four children survive Sue Townsend: Sean, Daniel, Victoria and Elizabeth.

  • FILM REVIEW | Any Day Now

    ★★★★★ | Any Day Now

    So, here’s the thing, I can be an old, hard cynical fart when I want to be – but occasionally, just occasionally along comes something that makes me weep like a baby.

    This film is one of those things.

    What starts out as a simple story of love and acceptance quickly turns into one of bigotry and spite – leading to an unexpected ending. Based on a true story, this is one emotional roller-coaster.

    The storyline is simple, boy meets boy, boy blows boy in front seat of car, Rudy (Alan Cumming) is a low rent drag queen/singer, Paul (Garret Dillahunt) is a closeted lawyer – and these are our two main characters. Set in Los Angeles in 1978, Rudy lives in a flea pit apartment block, and when his drug addicted neighbour is arrested and sent to jail, the twosome take in her teenage son Marco (Isaac Leyva) and become the family unit they all want and need.

    However, this is the late ’70s, and their family soon draw the wrong kind of attention, and then the prejudice kicks in. A biased legal system, people perceptions of gay life and children – a far cry from the current ads being run by several councils offering fostering with images of smiling gay or lesbian couples as images of happy families.

    It highlights a time when it was “in the child’s best interest” to be placed with a convicted drug addict, rather than a loving same sex couple. When a downs syndrome child may be better off incarcerated in an institution rather then even consider that a gay couple could give him the love and caring he needs.

    There are some lovely set pieces in the film, the loving couple Rudy and Paul portray, the stories Marco needs to sleep (always with a happy ending), his love of donuts and Isaac’s acting ability – the heart wrenching scene when he cries himself to sleep as he can’t go home.

    A strong cast and crew make this one of the best films of its kind in a long time with Travis Fine doing a great job as director, writer and producer.

    My advice, buy a big bag of Minstrels and an entire box of Kleenex before hitting play – enjoy the film, and the cry!

    BUY ON AMAZON | BUY ON ITUNES

     

  • Lee Ryan Talks About Sexuality After Ex’s #AdmitUGay Comment

    There’s a bit of ‘Is He, Isn’t He’ surrounding Lee Ryan, after a his ex-girlfriend Jasmine Waltz, accused him of cheating on her with a man. Now Lee opens up about sexuality on Twitter.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Three Sisters, Southwark Playhouse

    ★★★★★ | | Three Sisters, Southwark Playhouse

    Three sisters are living in a vast house three thousand miles from home, longing for different forms of escape as they languish in the Middle East.

    Overworked and highly strung English teacher, Olga, yearns for the romance she hasn’t been able to find, as she’s acted as the maternal figure for her younger siblings following the death of their parents. Wild and sullen Masha regrets a hasty marriage to a man she looks down on as a fool and idealistic Irina dreams of returning to England and escaping the boredom of life in an ex-pat community. Meanwhile their brother, Andrey, is failing to live up to his early promise as he contemplates an unsuitable marriage to someone brash and vulgar and is threatening to bring them to ruin with his dissipation.

    Tended to by two elderly servants, they rattle around their huge property. Hard drinking, hidden desires and deceit abound as the siblings spar with each other, fend off the outside world and unwittingly welcome in turmoil and chaos in the shape of a trio of soldiers, far from their homes also, and an old family friend with issues with drink and brutal frankness.

    Anya Reiss’ skilful reworking of Chekov’s classic 1901 play brings it bang up to date into the 21st century and proves what a witty and skilled observer of human nature the author was. Language and situation may have changed radically in over a hundred years but motivations and desires haven’t. The complex plot is retold beautifully and with panache.

    This play certainly packs a punch with breath-taking performances, a versatile and well-utilised set and a well paced dramatic arc. Southwark Playhouse has managed to pull off an astounding piece of theatre. The cast are particularly strong with knock out performances all round.

    If you’re a Chekov fan then this won’t disappoint. If you’re new to Chekov’s work then you couldn’t get a much finer introduction than Reiss’ reworking. This has to be one of the must see plays of the spring.

    Three Sisters is on at Southwark Playhouse until the 3rd of May 2014

    Book tickets here: http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/index.php/the-large/three-sisters/

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