Fighting for the top of the box office, in a re-run of their US face off, are two major 80's properties getting dusted down for a modern reinvisioning. Whilst I'd probably be joining our American cousins and plumping for little Jaden Smith I suspect the A-Team will be victorious this side of the pond. Of course that's all academic as the film of the week is Aussie incest drama Beautiful Kate.
The A-Team
The trend for milking the nostalgia of 30 somethings continues with the return of televisions least likely quartet. The war they're veterans from has been updated but much of the plot will doubtless stay the same, with added editing and Liam Neeson taking George Peppard's shoes.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Friday, 30 July 2010
Keeping it in the family (Out this week - 30/07/10)
Hilary Swank
Happy Birthday to
Hilary Swank
36 today
Who would have thought it would by Hilary Swank who brought me back to the blog after a few days off? An actress more sinned against than sinning. Actually it's a little ironic as she's namechecked in the play that's kept me away: Baby Jesus Freak (the line being: "I've never even seen your C**k, if it wasn't for the fact I'm pregnant I'd think you were Hilary Swank.") Oh, and Hilary, if you're reading this I'm sorry I've used your birthday to promote myself but you need to do more interesting stuff to stop me.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Sandra Bullock
Happy Birthday to
Sandra Bullock
46 today
I've yet to catch up with Sandra's oscar winning performance in The Blind Side by I am sure she didn't deserve some of the snark and bile from the internet about her crowdpleasing role. Oddly enough Sandra's not used this opportunity to forge through with her career, there's nothing coming up at all let alone nothing I'm interested in seeing.
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Barabara Harris
Happy Birthday to
Barbara Harris
75 today
As well as being a strong film actress with a back caalogue including Hitchcok's Family Plot and Robert Altman's Nashville Barbara has been wowing them on the stage in Broadway musicals and more impressively improvisational theatre (with The Compass Players) since the mid 60's. Now more or less retired she can relax knowing that her contributions will be felt in the industry for a long time.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
And Brad will interview the survivors (Film News - 24/07/10)
Comic-con is upon us once again. It looks like a lot of fun but let's be honest it is to film news what the budget speech is to financial news. Lots of ceremony and sales pitching with all the important news having been leaked weeks ago. With that in mind most of this weeks stuff concerns nuggets released from the first half of the week with the major exception of our top story:
World War Z
Max Brooks' novel about the zombie apocalypse was awesome in two main ways. First and primarily it features a Zombie apocalypse. Second it takes that and does something truly original by structuring the book around a selection of interviews with the survivors. It's an audacious move that Hollywood should be very wary of following appropriately, make it too much like the book and you'll turn off the audiences, move too far away and you have a generic Zombie flick that could be based on any property.
Naturally this complex tightrope isn't putting off any writers and the planned adaptation is still on, and still has Brad Pitt attached in a key role, according to Brooks himself. There's no news on the role Pitt will be playing although it's more likely to be the interviewer linking the various stories than any of the individual interview subjects. Either way this is certainly one to look out for.
The book - truly awesome.
Read on for sheriffs, outlaws and gifted musicians.
Anna Paquin
Happy Birthday to
Anna Paquin
28 today
For "True Blood" Anna has dyed her pitch black hair blonde and I can hardly recognise her as The X-Men's Rogue let alone her role in 1993's The Piano. Of course another birthday passing for Paquin means another year of asking where is Margaret, Kenneth Lonergan's You Can Count on Me follow up? It looks like there's still no sign of the Post Traumatic Stress related movie but Anne Thompson at Indiewire has hope.
Friday, 23 July 2010
You're - still - a toy! (Out this week - 23/07/2010)
Pixar do it again, the annual tradition of opening a movie to critical acclaim and box-office domination continues for another year. You have to wonder what they put on their cornflakes. It's quite a good week for counter-programming too with three other films that could have sneaked a film of the week mention if it wasn't so competitive. Nevertheless the crown inevitably goes to Toy Story 3.
Baaria
Golden Globe nominated Italian film following generations of a Sicilian family through births, marriages and deaths, through the rise and fall of Fascism the mob and the communist party, and all via the eyes of a Shepherd's Son.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Happy Birthday to
Philip Seymour Hoffman
43 today
Looking back now it's difficult to remember that time when Hoffman was everybody's favourite below the line character actors, effortlessly walking about with scenes from more famous and experienced stars. Three Oscar nods later we realise how quickly times change. In 2011 we'll get a chance to see him square off with Brad Pitt in the long-delayed Moneyball and play religious con-man The Master in Paul Thomas Anderson's next movie, which may or may not be called The Master.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Terence Stamp
Happy Birthday to
Terence Stamp
71 today
Is Stamp the most beautiful man who ever lived? He burst onto the screen in Billy Budd as the object of Robert Ryan's obsession and sadistic torment in Herman Melville's study of men at sea. It's hard to argue with Ryan either. I'd want to control Stamp completely if I were him.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Inception
2010. Dir: Christopher Nolan. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy and Ken Watanabe. ●●●●○
To misquote Zhuangzi (4th Century BC Chinese Philosopher) "Last night I dreamed I was a butterfly and now I'm now sure if that was Inception". Although given the nature of the films climax that pithy (and not terribly original) start veers awfully close to spoiler territory. Chris Nolan's 7th and most expensive movie to date is all about the nature of our existence and our understanding of how dreams interface with reality.
Or is it?
Robin Williams
Happy Birthday to
Robin Williams
59 today
Few actors generate as much positive and negative opinions as former stand-up Williams. Positive because he is a rarely talented comic actor who can easily project the turmoil inside (just watch his performance in Good Morning Vietnam if you want any proof) and negative because his back catalogue is stuffed with saccharine monstroscities that waste that talent. Next up is some voice work in Happy Feet 2 - it might not be Aladdin good but the original did showcase his talent well.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Running
Over the last 7 days I have been asked by someone in the real world why my blog is called Runs Like A Gay and I told him my quick glib answer but I think I owe the full excuse to all of you (including A. if you're still reading).
When I first started this blog the ultimate aim was to use it to talk about my running and to inspire my training programmes. Unfortunately whilst I enjoy running it's very difficult for a amateur jogger to make the nip round the block seem in any way interesting so I've spent most of my time on the more social filmic posts. That's the running bit. I also wanted to give it a faintly comic edge on the theme of the popular children's insult of running/throwing/catching like a girl - the truth be told most girls can run/throw/catch much better than me so there had to be a variation. As I am gay it seemed an obvious word to use.
Now I realise the potential for a play on the word to be taken as offensive, I even suspect that I have lost some 'hits' because of it, but I am from the Lenny Bruce school of insults and imagine that the more we accept words as just collections of letters then any potential hurt from their use can be completely wiped away.
Anyway this week I went out 5 times, ran a total of 57.1 km over 5 hours, 36 minutes. It wasn't a great time, but these included the first of my longer runs on the road to the Nottingham Marathon, so I'm just happy to be increasing the distances.
By the way the glib answer is that you can tell I run like a gay because I listen to showtunes on the i-pod. You should see me huffing and puffing my way up Prestwich clough trying to both run and do Velma Kelly's dance moves in Chicago.
Tuesday Trailers - Salt
August is going to be a real blockbuster-centric month for me, with the third trailer that's getting me intrigued being for the Tom Cruise vehicle that underwent a sex change and took on Anjelina Jolie. It opens in the US this weekend and I expect this to be a bona-fide hit, the sort of film that does exactly what it says on the tin and does it well without reaching to be something it isn't. This is the second trailer which may just give too much away - be warned.
Salt is released on 20 August 2010.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Personal News - Extra bits
"Baby Jesus Freak" has a review.
It's available on remotegoat and it's a well balanced positive review. So I'm happy.
That's all really.
Personal (18/07/10)
Just a quick note to let you know that the first three performances of "Baby Jesus Freak" went very well, we had pretty good audiences and I think we were all more than satisfied with our performances. (Although I personally thought I went a bit eggy in one scene).
We also held discussions with the audience after each of the performances to discuss the issues raised in the play such as the Woman's Right to choose and the very nature of existence. If anyone reads this who attended I'd like to thank you for your contribution to the discussion.
We now have few days of well earned rest before the second wave of performances at the Continental in Preston on Saturday and Sunday at 8 where we will be part of the Preston Tringe Festival. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Networking, or something more? (Film News - 17/07/10)
What with the usually running routine, the temping job and doing a play (did I mention "Baby Jesus Freak" is on this week?) I've not had the chance to look at much news this week - not to mention less chance to actually write this piece hence the delay, so please forgive me if something has really jumped out at you that I've missed - and feel free to add it in the comments.
Paper Wings
Back on Wednesday an article appeared in the UK's free commuter paper about a big, star-studded Scientology meeting that took place in a quiet restaurant in LA. Among the patrons were both high-profile and long rumoured practicitioners of the beliefs including Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Anna Kendrick and Eric Dane. Like a fool I bought into the idea that it was just a get-together for like minded individuals to discuss their shared beliefs. Of course that wasn't true (obviously really because when have Scientologists been known to be so open about their activities) and later I read that it was a read though of one of Cruise's potential projects: Paper Wings a drama set in the world of rodeos.
Now I remain to be convinced that a bucking bronco based plot is worthwhile it must be admitted that's a perfect cast on paper (sorry). What I think most worries me that I (and the Metro) were pefectly willing to accept this meeting had more divisive aims. I confess my personal prejudices against Scientology (which I should treat with no lesser or greater validity than any other belief system) allowed me think the worst both before I knew it was film related, and to a certain extent after when I started to assume the castings were predicated by a shared religious background. I suspect I'm not alone in this but that prjudice is wrong and should be fought against.
After all, if there is a bias it is hardly a first and hardly necessarily detrimental to the project. There have been plenty of examples throughout the history of Hollywood where producers/directors/actors have found a common bond which brought them together be it spiritual, political or just that they became good friends. Ultimately I hope the film is casting the best talent for the right reasons, but if a project does involve friends getting together then that's good too and I wish them the very best on the film.
Smith and Cruise come out of the four hour meeting certainly looking positive.
Read on for Hollwoods most famous mothers, the concept of hell and a biopic that's been in the works for 11 years.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Diahann Carroll
Happy Birthday to
Diahann Carroll
75 today
Isn't she absolutely stunning in that photo? Diahann is a actress and singer who got started in the local Gospel choir in Harlem she joined when she was 6 and through the twin forces of her talent and personality became the first Afican American actress to headline a major US TV series "Julia". There are no doubts she broke barriers like few women of her generation. Here she is at the Royal Albert Hall proving what a great performer she is:
Friday, 16 July 2010
Maybe it's not in your head (Out this week - 16/07/10)
The title of this new release summary isn't just a reference to the dreamscapes of our film of the week but it's also a line from "Baby Jesus Freak" - I may have already mentioned that I'm performing at the Lass O'Gowrie, Charles Street, Manchester all this weekend. I know some of you can't make it due to geographical constraints but if you don't have that opportunity the next best thing would be this weeks MVP Inception.
Bluebeard
Block buster shy francophiles have a bumper week with three big releases on the arthouse/foreign film circuit. The more lightweight of them is this adaptation of the classic tale of serial killing husbands and naive wives, jumping between two sisters reading the story for the first time and the events themselves this should keep the kids entertained.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Jackie Earle Haley
Happy Birthday to
Jackie Earle Haley
49 today
Following Jackie extraordinary performance and subsequent Academy Award nomination for Little Children I suspect he knew he only had a limited window in which to establish a legitimate career in movies, being short of stature on top of his ethereal facial structure means parts are harder to come by. But now he's made his money with Watchmen and the Elm Street remake he'll hopefully have more opportunity to experiment on film.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Tuesday Trailers - The Last Airbender
I'm bracing myself for the comments now. In spite of the racebending casting furore and in spite of the appalling reviews for M. Night Shyalaman's latest epic you have to admit this trailer is pretty awesome. Do you think we can sue for false advertising?
The Last Airbender will be released on 13 August 2010.
Harrison Ford
Happy Birthday to
Harrison Ford
68 today
I know it's not a particularly recent photo, but be honest when you saw it was Ford's birthday you immediately thought of either Han Solo or Indy. As well as passing my best wishes for his birthday I'd like to wish Ford and Calista Flockhart hearty congratulations following their wedding in June, and to say I'm looking forward to seeing Morning Glory.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Running
I don't know if I told you but I've signed up for the Nottingham Marathon again. Foolish really, but I'm having to step up my training another notch. I've bought some new trainers (still shiny and clean too) and am getting up nice and have psyched myself up even on days I've not wanted to go out.
Overall between Sunday 04 July and Saturday 10 July I went out 4 times and ran a total of 21.2 miles in 3 hours 14 minutes and 48 seconds. (I'll admit that's not very far when you consider I'll be running 26 and a bit miles in 9 weeks.) If I continue at that pace I'll do the Marathon in 4 hours and 55 seconds so I need to speed up as well if I want to brwak the all important 4 hour barrier.
Personal News (11/07/10)
Nothing new to add. Baby Jesus Freak opens this week. If you're near Manchester see it.
That's all.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
More Bad Bankers (Film News - 10/07/09)
I was initially worried that it was going to be another very quiet week, the Independence Day holiday limited press office action and the rumour mill. Even on Tuesday there wasn't much happening, but as the weeks gone on we've had a plethora of stories, most of which are at the very early stages but there's enough to get into a mild conversation about them.
Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio has been linked to the big screen adaptation of Jordan Belfort's "Wolf of Wall Street", for a long time it was likely to one of his collaborations with Martin Scorsese. Now Martin is preoccupied with Hugo Cabret Leo's gone to some of his other former employers to get it underway, including the notoriously busy Ridley Scott. Belfort's memoir is a cathartic expose of his former life as a broker, exposing both the immense wealth he obtained and the close to the line and often downright illegal activities he had to do to maintain it.
What I find most interesting about this story is how little Hollywood has tried to denigrate the financial system which kick-started the last recession. There was a banking conspiracy in The International and lefty Oliver Stone has resurrected the icon of greed Gordon Gekko, but other than that the studios have left well alone.
To me this is as much an indication of how the modern production system has failed as any other. In the 70's satire ruled the box office, the production companies were proud to highlight their views on politics, war and modern culture. Now mainstream movies are so anodyne there is little attempt to reflect the reality of modern life back at the audiences, even the banks and broker houses who everyone agrees are the badguys in this global slowdown have go away without censure.
Perhaps the idea of biting the hands that feed them is too scary to most of the studios, especially in these times of financial woe where reduced funding could well cause even major companies to go the wall - see MGM or the leaked Warner Bros. papers that indicate Harry Potter is losing money! I will certainly be supporting this movie, though. It is time for political cinema to return to the mainstream.
In case anyone's forgotten Leo has other pictures out about now, including the hotly anticipated Inception (above).
Read on for priests, pianists, unlikely sequels, youtube, more fairy tales and the latest news about a major broadway to screen adaptation.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Reflections on Coping (Out this week - 09/07/10)
Deciding what to watch at the cinema this weekend will be relatively easy for most people, in fact if the wind is right I can probably hear the frantic screams of Team's Edward and Jacob as they glorify their new Gods. I do mean the sarcasm, but not maliciously, the reviews are easily sighting the latest Twiglet adventure as the best of the series so far, however for the film of the week, in a very competitive middle standard week, will be the 7/7 themed picture London River. 
Frownland
If the trailer is anything to go by this American indie will have scratching your head and trying something else, but if you like your hero's babbling and leechlike then this could be for you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Tom Hanks
Happy Birthday to
Tom Hanks
54 today
One of the most critically and commercially successful actors of all time, even if his star has begun to wane. I say that, but we all know Toy Story 3 which he is the lead - even if Pixar is the star - will be this years highest earner as well as beloved by critics. Given that the Langdon movies have been improving it's possible The Lost Symbol might even be a decent film too.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Anjelica Huston
Happy Birthday to
Anjelica Huston
59 today
Anjelica had one of the greatest starts in show business that you could imagine, the daughter of the legendary director John Huston and granddaughter of Walter Huston. Yet she chose very much to go it alone, minor roles and walk-ons filled her early years slowly building her own reputation, eventually picking up an oscar for Prizzi's Honor. I'm still pretty unsure about the twitcher movie The Big Year coming next year, but I am a little more interested knowing she's in it.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Whatever Works
2009. Dir: Woody Allen. Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr, Patricia Clarkson and Conleth Hill. ●○○○○
The philosophy of this film, which Larry David's Boris is keen to point out on numerous occasions, is that life is hard and transient enough that we should all strive for our own temporary measures of happiness, for Whatever Works. At heart it's a message of tolerance and forgiveness, that happiness is so fleeting we should hold on to it however it's obtained and not to begrudge other people's methods. Beautiful. Unfortunately the movie had the opposite effect on me, I left the cinema less happy then when I went in and I'm willing to forgo other people's happiness if this sort of tangled mess is the result.
I'll start in a positive way by listing the elements of the film I liked: the concept of Boris breaking the fourth wall and alienating the other characters was interesting (although it wasn't done well or with any consistency), Evan Rachel Wood gave a passable ditzy blond of the Mira Sorvino school of Allen heroines, the score was the usual easy jazz we've come to expect from Allen's movies and... No, don't expect any more, that's all I liked.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Knight and Day
I bet you thought Tuesday Trailers was gone for good. Luckily what August lacks in depth of movies it makes up in breadth so there's a fair smattering of trailers to keep us going through July. First up is James Mangold's latest action adventure starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. You'll note I started pluging this on Tom's birthday, although it made it into the top 20 most anticipated films so it's hardly new to the radar. From the trailer I'm getting a Romancing the Stone vibe, with plenty of cheese, should be fun whilst it lasts. What do you think?
Knight and Day opens on 06 August 2010.
Sylvester Stallone
Happy Birthday to
Sylvester Stallone
64 today
Let's be honest, if you were looking for a bunch of badass mercenaries to keep you safe this summer it wouldn't be the smug A-Team, the weird Predators or the highly prophetic Losers. Hands down it would be The Expendables with Stallone directing, writing and starring you know any loose drug cartels are going to toast by the end.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Personal News (04/07/10)
Another week with little to expand on my personal musings, I've not been applying for anything on the basis I only have one month before I start my corporate contract so I can't audition for anything too long term - I also have a ridiculous beard for Baby Jesus Freak, which limits my casting opportunities. I suppose I could talk about how I completed my tax return today, 7 months ahead of the deadline I'll have you know... But it's really not that interesting. All I need now is a rich sugar daddy to pay it.
We're getting very close to Baby Jesus Freak, now. It's on in just under 2 weeks, tickets are available for the performances at The Continental, Preston - where we're performing as part of the Presto Tringe (Fringe) festival. They can be purchased here. Tickets for the Lass O'Gowrie, Manchester on 16-18, 26 and 28 July will be available soon, or on the door.
Oh, and if I haven't explained it the plot goes a little something like this:
Drunk at his mother’s funeral, Born Again Christian Daniel falls into bed with non-believer Lauren. Putting his mistake behind him, Daniel promptly falls in love with Beth. But, proving that God definitely has a sense of humour, Lauren phones with some news: she’s pregnant...
Eva Marie Saint
Happy Birthday to
Eva Marie Saint
86 today
During her heyday Eva Marie starred against most of the greatest lead actors of the time, including Marlon Brando, Cary Grant and Paul Newman, and used those moments to allow her own personality and talent to shine through. Looking back at her performances I am mostly impressed by her poise and decorum, an inner dignity that always shone through in the roles.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Lies, damned lies (and Film News - 03/07/10)
OK, I'll admit it. There are two big fat elephants in the room. I want them to go away, you want them to go away, they're making it difficult to concentrate on the mushroom vol-au-vents of this weeks news and they don't go with furnishings at all. So if talking about the elephants can remove the elephants here goes. I am not interested in seeing Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher, espeically not if it wil be directed by Phyllida Mamma Mia Lloyd. Mark Ruffalo has said he's working on a film adaptation of The Normal Heart - I've pretty much given up on my chances to appear in a local staged version of it (not that I've had a no yet) and it's still a little raw. Have they gone now? OK, lets move onto the rest of the news.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
If you have any knowledge of the British involvement in Iraq you will know a Walter Mitty is a pejorative term for middle ranking intelligence officers who admit we went to war on a lie. That said the original 1947 film (below) starring Danny Kaye and directed by Norman Z. McLeod was a curious romp about a serial fantasist, continuously creating wild alternative lives to remove him from his dull day-job and overbearing mother until a real life adventure (involving crown jewels and shady European criminals) drags him out of his depth. There have been several attempts over the years to resurrect the character, with actors like Jim Carrey, Luke Wilson and Mike Myers all circling the role at one point. The latest star to have an interest is Sacha Baron Cohen, and he might just be able to make the remake a reality. Personally whilst I was underwhelmed by Borat I think he might just be perfect for the role, and will be able to bring both the cocksure attitude and the parcical action together.
Read on for spooky families, magical automatons, sequelitis, international terrorists and the production that's hacking itself to death, as well as the latest production updates from IMDb.
Tom Cruise
Happy Birthday to
Tom Cruise
48 today
Born of the third of July doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Is Cruise bashing still in vogue, I thought his self-mocking performances in Knight and Day (which I am looking forward to) and as Les Grossman would've begun to dilute that although looking at the posts on various websites you'd think he regularly ate babies. I suppose you have the same arguement with Cruise as we had with Sean Hayes a few weeks, ago when the performance is good enough you can forget Hayes is gay and that Cruise is a bit weird, and with Cruise the vast majority of his performances make me forget so I guess I'm a fan.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Touch of the greenstuff (Out this week - 02 July 2010)
In the murky race for cinema receipts studios use marketing, the festival circuit and celebrity interviews all to maximise sales, but nothing is as good as the art of timing. Dreamworks' green skinned ogre is managing that feat by releasing in the UK the weekend after England were unceremoniously (and quite justly) dumped out of the Football World Cup. What's more as no other studio has anything near it's scope the film of week is Shrek Forever After.
The Ballroom
Perhaps the best way to celebrate the World Cup this week is this Brazilian drama, following a number of couple during one balmy night of ballroom dancing. There's some nice music and delicate tangoing in the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Karen Black
Happy Birthday to
Karen Black
71 today
I agree wholeheartedly with Karen's sentiment in the photo, but you think she could have posed with a real gravestone, the whole pic looks a little fake. Few people work as much as Karen, 5 films currently in production according to imdb, tragically all of them look awful. You've got to slow down love and just take some passion pieces, please.
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