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  • FILM REVIEW | Stranger By The Lake

    ★★★★ | Stranger By The Lake

    Alain Guiraudie’s intriguing new thriller is about as homoerotic as can be without crossing the divide into soft porn. It’s set on a tranquil isolated lake in a beautiful corner of the French countryside where the beach front is sparsely occupied by a handful of men sunbathing in the buff. Behind them lies a small wood which is a busy cruising area for gay men.

    Young Franck is a regular visitor to the lake each summer, and as he is currently unemployed now hangs out there most afternoons. He befriends Henri a sad overweight man who is more interested in just chatting and sitting on the rocks rather than getting his rocks off. Franck is however obsessed with a handsome hunk called Michel who with his Tom Selleck bushy mustache is another element that insinuates a distinctive 1980’s look to the whole movie.

    Michel however already has a young man in tow who he takes off to he woods at regular intervals.Then at dusk one evening as Franck is leaving the woods after a quick hook up with another man, he turns to look at the lake and is horrified to witness Michel drowning his date before swimming back to shore.

    Instead of being put off by the fact that the object of his affections is a killer, Franck actually uses the absence of he young man to make his moves on Michel. It gets hot and steamy and although this excites both of them, the mysterious Michel refuses to continue when it’s time to leave the lake or even give Franck as much as a hint to what his real life is actually about. The fact that the dead boy’s clothes are still lying on the beach and his car is in the car park doesn’t seem to concern anyone at all until his body resurfaces and a police Inspector comes around asking questions.

    The policeman is shocked at the callous indifference he encounters and when Franck is even unable to name the man he was having sex with to support his alibi, the Inspector comments ‘you have a funny way of loving each other’. Franck prefers to keep silent so that Michel will keep having sex with him. However Franck’s love is only Michel’s lust and when the older man suspects that Franck knows what happened that fatal night, things start to look decidedly dangerous for the younger man.

    Asides from the cold-blooded murder, Guiraudie’s story is as much about carnal desire and as such he doesn’t shirk from portraying that with some very explicit sex scenes. There is no effort here to disguise the fact that these very blatant hook-ups are purely sexual and an escapism from the reality of the men’s lives. What the men will do for some momentary passion is very obvious here, but why it spurs Michel into becoming a killer is left to our imagination.

    This is a wonderful erotic thriller, well-written and beautifully photographed in a way that belies the fact that this idyllic looking spot hides such violent and deadly deeds. The story places passion before danger and proves that it is not always a wise choice.

    Winner of both the prestigious ‘Queer Palm Award’ and ‘Un Certain Regard Best Director ‘ at The Cannes Film Festival. Highly recommended.

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

  • Will Young to headline LGBT mental health charity benefit

    PACE, the LGBT mental health charity, is holding a very special event on Thursday 27 February at Café de Paris to mark their 30th anniversary, dubbed ‘Bright Night: a bit of a do about something that matters’.

    The night will feature PACE’s new Patron, Will Young alongside the brilliantly acerbic comedian Jen Brister, and is being held to raise much-needed funds to help this charity to continue providing vital services to the LGBT community. There will be an auction, lots of music, dancing and laughter.

    Some of the auction prizes are quite astonishing, including a specially-made Grayson Perry sculpture, a Versace suit worn by Elton John, a ski holiday in the French Alps from European Gay Ski Week, a private capsule on the London Eye and many others (see the full list below).

    PACE provide face-to-face and online support, counselling and advice services covering all aspects of life, including relationships, coming out, mental health and domestic abuse. Although London-based, they provide services nationwide so LGBT people anywhere can access the support they need.

    Unfortunately, recent funding cuts have meant that PACE is facing some tough times ahead and Bright Night is an opportunity to raise the essential funds that keep their services running.

    Tickets for this glitzy and fun night are £55 (or £120 for VIP, which includes a meet and greet, private lounge and VIP bar). We have negotiated a 30% discount for our readers by entering promo code LTDGAYUKPROMO at http://bright-night.eventbrite.co.uk/

    AUCTION PRIZES:
    A ski holiday in the French Alps
    A specially-made piece by 2003 Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry
    A fabulous Versace suit worn by Sir Elton John
    A private capsule on the London Eye for up to 12 guests including priority boarding, 3 bottles of champagne and entry to the 4 D cinema experience
    Two tickets to see Jane MacDonald with the opportunity to meet her after the show
    A 3 night stay in 5* Lanlas Farm, West Wales for up to 5 people with an energy healing session or yoga session with deep relaxation
    Vouchers and Wine from Tesco
    Lush gift set
    Will Young’s signed autobiography
    5 signed books from Sarah Waters
    A signed copy of Stephen Fry’s The Fry Chronicles
    Money boxes from the Paul O’Grady Show
    Signed memorabilia from Clare Balding
    A signed book from Gok Wan

  • XTINA praises Miley’s Dirrty chaps

    Christina, tweets her support for Miley’s Chap Wearing on the Bangerz Tour.

    Christina Aguilera, who famously wore a pair of chaps for her 2002 music video of Dirrty has tweeted her support of Miley who wore them for part of her Bangerz tour.

    As the still from Xtina’s smash hit Dirrty below shows, the blonde songstress was styling out chaps when Miley was just 10!

    She tweeted:

    ‘Cheers from one dirrty girl to the next @MileyCyrus…wear em’ loud & proud, girl- yes!!’

  • Groom the perfect beard

    Growing a beard is probably the one of the most masculine journeys a man can take on his way to grooming glory.

    While there is an attractive disheveled quality about a bearded fellow this could be uncharted territory for some and to avoid looking like a reject from Shipwrecked I’d recommend giving my Grooming article your undivided attention.

    Before you start growing your beard you should be aware of how one shouldn’t look. Ill give you a clue (shudders at the thought) Brad Pitt for Chanel N5. Avoid this look like the plague; it won’t do you any favours. Thankfully brands like Martin Margiela and Missoni and hotties like Justin Timberlake and Hugh Jackman have provided us with true facial hair inspiration serving up manly bearded realness. God bless them!

    Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a lazy man’s easy way out of shaving because grooming and prep work still come into play. Here are my tips to grow, groom and maintain the perfect beard.

    
1. To get started you’ll need some tools of the trade. I recommend getting a good quality beard trimmer.
    These are widely available and can usually be found at bargain prices in most Boots stores. You’re very welcome. You’ve probably already got a razor, don’t throw it away you’ll need it to shape your beard and remove unwanted hair from areas you want to keep smooth. Also have a small pair of scissors handy to cut away any stray hairs your trimmers may have missed.

    2. Just because you now have hair covering the skin on your face it does not mean you can forgot to a, moisturise (massage moisturiser into your beard using your fingertips to reach the skin and prevent flaking) and b, exfoliate (Your skin is still producing dead skin cells and these are currently building up in your beard, gross) I am currently using Facial Fuel Energising Scrub and Facial Fuel Moisturiser for men from Kiehl’s. For the areas I’m still shaving I’m using Ultimate Men’s After Shave Balm & Moisturiser, also by Kiehl’s.
    3. As always preparation is the way forward and just as you condition your hair you should also be conditioning your beard. Simply massage a little bit of your everyday conditioner into your beard whilst in the shower. You’ll thank me for the big difference in softness and who ever is on the other end of your kissing session is going to thank me, even more, when the chin rash they got used too is a thing of the past. Again, You’re very welcome.

    4. Beard Oils are very popular and I can see why not only do they smell great the oils help moisturise surface skin and protect and condition the follicles. Massage into your beard as part of your grooming regime. I’d keep the scent quite fresh and masculine aiming for notes like bergamot, sandalwood, mandarin, grapefruit and vetiver.

    5. Finally, a little trick that’s helped me out more times than I can bless Madonna for. Comb your beard. Taking a fine tooth comb to your beard will help style it and if done so throughout the growing period will keep it looking sleek and smart instead of shaggy and unruly

    A Final Note 

A beard is not for everyone. I honestly think id pee my pants a little bit if I saw Justin Bieber sporting a beard. However, how are you going to know unless you give it a go? The best part about a beard is if you decide it’s not for you, you can just easily shave it off. I might have to treat you all to a grooming article for the perfect shave next. Watch this space…

  • COLUMN | The Fainting Couch

    This week has seen me languishing on my sofa.

    ’ve always been a sickly person from childhood onwards with migraines, infections, joint pains and a general lack of robustness. This has carried on into adulthood along with an unhealthy dose of health anxiety and a bag full of pills for every eventuality. I I can swallow a whole handful of pills in one (is this the meaning of deep throat?). You’d think I’d be better at it by now but I’m absolutely rubbish at being ill.

    I’ve had a rip-roaring kidney infection with associated back pain, nausea, joint aches and high fevers. Nipping to the loo every five minutes is no fun either especially when it entails what I call Cockburn (it’s pronounced Co-burn, so they tell me). Before you start thinking the worst, it’s not an STD, just some hideous bacteria that has sneaked its way in and knocked me off my perch, probably exacerbated by being tired and stressed. Not that I’d be ashamed of an STD. It happens to the best of us.

    I have fond memories of childhood illness: watching ‘Sons and Daughters’, Tomato Soup, Lucozade in crinkly cellophane wrappers and boiled eggs whilst lolling on the sofa with a favourite book. I except these are just skewed memories. Nostalgia often casts a rosy glow on things that weren’t like we remember them at all. We can look back on a tedious holiday full of atmosphere and recrimination and remember it as a jolly time. Festive gatherings are often edited with family rows and disappointments on the cutting room floor. Being ill is rubbish. It’s boring and dull. Just how much ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ can you watch before going out of your mind? When I’m at work, I crave a week off but never in my fantasy does that week off involve frequent G.P. trips and lying in a pool of sweat and shivering.

    I have a romanticised ideal of illness that stems from reading too many Victorian novels where the heroine languishes on her fainting couch, a small dog on her lap and a bottle of Laudanum to sip. In reality those couches were stuffed with horse hair and terribly uncomfortable, I’m sure, and no one really wants the Laudanum as it’s just a historic term for Heroin and that’s a route I’m not planning to go down.

    It was a bad prognostic sign when I had to walk out of a play, as I was feeling so sick and shivering with fever. I never leave a good play and consider it bad manners to walk out. As bad as it’s been for me to feel so rough, my poor partner (who works from home) has suffered more. As Baby Jane to my hollering Blanche he’s had to fetch and carry, listen to my pitiful whine and exhibit a huge amount of patience.

    Luckily for him, I’ve been sleeping about 18 hours a day so he’s had some respite. I may have dreamt that moment where he hovered clutching a pillow menacingly over my face. Maybe I didn’t, though and I wouldn’t blame him.

    I can’t imagine being seriously ill or having some chronic condition as so many people do. I’m not cut out for it. The people who suffer like this have my empathy.

    I try to look for a positive in most things. I can only find two: I’ve spent less money and lost half a stone in weight. Thankfully, I’m starting to feel better and my diseased urinary tract is settling down, thanks to a course of strong antibiotics. I’m actually looking forward to going back to work and having some normality. Stay well, people.

  • BOOK REVIEW | Henry Darger, Throw Away Boy

    ★★★ | Henry Darger, Throw Away Boy

    Henry Darger (1904-1973) was an Chicago-based artist, who was completely unknown in his lifetime. He created pieces of art that depicted children. In some of the art children were innocently enjoying life and in others they were being horrifically tortured. Darger also completed two fantasy manuscripts entitled The Realms and Crazy House. Many critics dubbed Darger as a mentally unstable individual who may have thought about harming children.

    But as Jim Elledge uncovers in Henry Darger, Throw Away Boy that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Elledge has spent a decade researching and writing this book which gives a comprehensive insight to the life of Darger. It is well researched, which is indicated by the extensive bibliography and notes sections.

    The book starts by describing the poverty, dangerous street life and Darger’s lack of supportive loving parents. Darger’s mother died in childbirth and his father was an alcoholic. It is suspected that Darger was sexually abused on a number of occasions throughout his childhood. This commonplace abuse, did make uncomfortable reading at times. His behaviour, even as a young child, was feral which is understandable given the emotional trauma he experienced. His bad behaviour led to his father putting him in a religious mission and later an asylum institution.

    Darger escaped the institution and became a Janitor in a hospital. He began to create his art and write his manuscripts, as a way to fictionalise his traumatic childhood experiences. In his manuscripts he wrote about a number of secret societies, all that have one mission: to protect children. He fell in love with a man (Whillie) and continued to work tirelessly on his art over the decades that followed. But after some early criticism, he didn’t feel able to share his work with the world. It wasn’t until after his death that his landlord discovered the work.

    Essentially Elledge tells the story of a gay man filled with fear and shame because of societies attitudes towards children, child abuse and gay people. Glossy pages show some of Darger’s work, but more would have been welcome.

    Elledge brings Darger’s story to life through his engaging writing style. If you’re into gay art – in all its forms, you’ll love Henry Darger, Throw Away Boy. Available from Amazon

  • SINGLE REVIEW | Ruth Lorenzo, Dancing In The Rain

    We all remember Ruth Lorenzo from the X Factor, yes? She did that incredible cover version of Princes’ Purple Rain, yes that’s Ruth Lorenzo.

    Well she has unleashed her new single, Dancing In The Rain is a half Spanish / half English 3 minute romp of epic electronic ballad goodness.

    Starting off with some evocative pianos and violins, then come the drums and electro riffs in place of the afore mentioned pianos and violins to accompany her powerhouse vocals.

    She is also hoping that Spain will pick her this year as their Eurovision 2014 entry, and they really would be mad not too. It’s far to good to go un-noticed by most people.

  • MUSIC | The Friday Fiver

    Hoorah! It’s Friday! and here are 5 very good songs that should put you in that weekend mood.

    Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones – I Got U
    Following up one 2013 biggest No1’s is not a task I would wish on any act, but this follow up to Need U is an absolute corker! A massive sun soaked house anthem, with Caribbean drums, epic piano riffs and a very clever sample of Whitney Houston’s My Love Is Your Love. ★★★★★

    BUY IT NOW

    Manila Luzon & Jinkx Monsoon – Bring It!
    2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race finest, combine on this fun, hi energy dance pop stomper. If you like fabulous outfits and hunky men dancing in their pants then you’ll love the video. ★★★

    BUY IT

    Prides – The Seeds You Sow
    Last year Chvrches made a bit of a splash with their synth-pop refreshed for the 21st century sound and hot on their heels are Prides, dabbling in stadium filled choruses and a sound you can only describe as “epic” It’s no wonder blogs and taste makers are falling under their spell. ★★★★★

    BUY IT

    Miley Cyrus vs. Cedric Gervais – Adore You
    Serial tongue-sticker-outer and general menace to society has roped in new remixer-of-the-moment Cedric Gervais to rework the 3rd single from her awfully titled #Bangerz album, while the original is a mid-tempo electro-ballad, Gervais has reworked it into a fully fledged peak time club anthem for the Spring season. ★★★★

    BUY IT

    The Presets – Goodbye Future
    Indie & Blog darlings have returned after a couple years away, and by the sound of this it was a well deserved break as they have returned with a very modern rave anthem, it reminds me of Underworld’s Born Slippy and that is not a bad thing whatsoever. ★★★★

    BUY IT

  • THE BRITS 2014: Round Up

    The BRIT Awards, a night of celebrating the best in British music and handing out awards to deserving souls whose talent has shone though over the previous year. It should be a joyous occasion and make for great television, but sadly something has gone seriously wrong with this awards ceremony. Although having flashes of great moments, this year’s BRIT Awards were almost completely unbearable to watch. Want to know why?

    (more…)

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Amateur Girls St. James Theatre and UK Tour

    ★★★★★ | Amateur Girls St. James Theatre and UK Tour

    Julie is a 30 something auxiliary nurse living in a high rise flat in Nottingham with her cat, Lulu.

    She’s always up for a laugh with nights down at the local clubs with a sneaky bottle of vodka in her handbag, a penchant for Take That and a swig of wine at home in the evenings. She spends her days working with elderly people, making sure their physical needs are met and her spare time, making porn to meet another kind of physical need altogether.

    Amanda Whittington’s powerful yet hilarious play takes the form of an Alan Bennett style monologue that is 70 minutes long. Lucy Speed (best known as Natalie Evans in Eastenders) gives a magnificent performance and somehow the play carries the audience off to another world by the power of superb acting and clever use of sound. Julie’s accidental transition from ‘good-time girl’ to amateur porn star is credible and thought provoking as the piece examines the tension between choice and coercion in relation to women and sexuality. Watching Julie’s naïve progress and hearing her history unfold is a heart breaking experience yet Whittington manages to also make the story extremely watchable with masses of humour.

    Whittington researched her subject, basing the play on the experiences of genuine sex workers and is drawn chiefly from the true story of one auxiliary nurse who worked in the ‘amateur’ porn industry whilst holding down a job in a hospital. The play never feels preachy or predictable and although Julie’s experiences aren’t always good they’re also not always terrible and are at times, really good fun for her. There’s a clever line that wavers constantly over whether she’s a victim, a woman using her sexuality to empower herself financially or a hapless naïve. I certainly left the theatre thinking about the theme.

    I was especially impressed with Speed’s Nottingham accent (I’m from those parts and as somewhat of an expert, can say that she did it really very well) and her performance is absolutely second to none. I laughed, winced, gasped and felt near to tears for Julie, thanks to the tremendous skills of Speed, a woman with fantastic talent.

    Fifth Word are definitely a theatre company to watch out for wit their previous Edinburgh Fringe smash hit success ‘Bones’, which was again an exceptional piece of theatre. I can’t recommend this play enough.

    Catch the play at the St James Theatre, London until 21st February:
    http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/amateur-girl

    U.K. tour dates until 15th March 2014:
    http://fifthword.co.uk/projects/spring-2014-tour-amateur-girl-by-amanda-whittington

  • F1’s Bernie Ecclestone Backs Anti-Gay Stance In Russia

    In an interview with CNN’s Ben Wyatt F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed he agrees on President Putin’s stance on homosexuality.

    CNN are reporting that F1 Racing Boss Bernie Ecclestone, 83, ‘completely agrees’ with President Putin’s anti-gay stance, stating that he even admires the President.

    He said in the interview with Ben Wyatt:

    “He [Putin] hasn’t said he doesn’t agree [with homosexuality] just that he doesn’t want these things publicized to an audience under the age of 18. I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you’d find 90% of the world agree with it as well.”

    The businessman who was born in Bungay is reported to be worth $3.8 BILLION. He is the President and CEO of Formula One Management and has been married 3 times.

    He went on to say: “I’ve great admiration for him and his courage to say what he says…[It] may upset a few people but that’s how the world is. It’s how he sees [the world] and I think he’s completely right.”

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