There’s lots of movie news to share, so let’s start with the biggest news, the announcement for the Opening Gala Film for the 36th annual Seattle International Film Festival and it’s (hopefully) a good one: an adaption of the acclaimed Jonathan Ames novel, The Extra Man, directed and adapted by the team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini who did such an excellent job with American Splendor. It stars Paul Dano (from “There Will Be Blood”) as Louis Ives, a misfitted young man dreamily pursuing a life as a gentlemanly writer in Manhattan but guiltily plagued by a few sexual obsessions. Lacking much money, Louis ends up sharing a small shabby apartment with eccentric older man, Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) who makes his living as an “extra man” available to escort lonely, older, well-off women who need a companion for dinner parties and social events. Henry isn’t gay but the relationship between the men does become close and meaningful as Henry mentors Louis, while Louis desperately tries to keep secret his interest in Ladies of the Transgendered Variety while pursuing his crush on a sweet, young, NOT transgendered co-worker played by Katie Holmes. I’ve read the book, (and heartily recommend it; it’s a great read and Ames is a talented writer, both of fiction and non-fiction pieces that he has collected into several books) and I have high hopes for the film. The Extra Man will open the film festival on Thursday, May 20th at Benaroya Hall and the directors will be in attendance and it’s likely some of the cast will be there as well. Tickets are already on sale for this must see event.
Of huge interest to gay audiences, the Grand Illusion has scheduled the acclaimed 1978 documentary Word is Out, a look at the lives of 26 lesbian and gay Americans and the lives they lead in a post-Stonewall and pre-AIDS society, for a week long run beginning tonight. Hailed as a groundbreaking work, the film has “impacted audiences around the world…by destroying stereotypes of the gay experience…” It’s well worth your time.
A little further down the road, the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival opens on April 17th for a weeks run in various venues around the city as its home theatre, the Langston Hughes Performing Art Center is undergoing renovation and seismic upgrades. Of special interest to LGBT audiences will be Vintage, on Sunday April 18th, “a fantasy documentary which…explores three African-American families through the eyes of lesbian and gay siblings”. This award winning film by Thomas Allen Harris combines recreations with visual and audio collages and emotional conversations with the families profiled and will screen at Central Cinema at 5pm. Also of interest, Tapologo, a film examining the lives of HIV infected women in sub-Saharan Africa screening on April 20 and the opening night film on April 17 at the Cinerama, Nurse. Fighter. Boy a powerful documentary about the fight against Sickle Cell Anemia a disease that occurs in 1 in every 350 births. Well worth checking some of these films out.
On a more frivolous note, don’t forget the Innocence Lost series playing at Three Dollar Bill this month starting out with tomorrow night’s Fortune and Men’s Eyes and Cher’s cinematic debut, Chastity on Thursday April 8…the picture is from Score, playing on the 22nd and it’s hot, hot, hot! All screenings are at Northwest Film Forum.
And finally, a sad goodbye to Charlie/Blake Carrington…actor John Forsythe passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 92. (Has anyone broken the news to Alexis?) The handsome, silky voiced actor was also known for his work in Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry, In Cold Blood and a kinky little role in …And Justice for All but was best known for his tv work in Bachelor Father in the 60’s and as the voice of Charlie in Charlie’s Angels and most notably as the patriarch of the dysfunctional Carrington clan in the beloved 80’s soap opera, Dynasty…(yes, beloved, nearly every gay man in the America was addicted to this show, for at least awhile in the 1980’s…in between listening to Bananarama and protesting the evil Reagan Administration we had to have SOMETHING to fill our time with…) So, a toast to John Forsythe!
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
