Phil wishes you all a Happy New Year!! - January 1, 2019

At the Cinequest Film Festival in March 2018.

Hello everyone out there on the internet and welcome to 2019!! Hard to believe that another year has gone into the history books! Now granted, the state of the world of 2018 was very bleak, which was reflected and referenced in many of the movies I watched. In these dark times, we look towards the world of art to see its commentary and views of life, love, and the political and social issues that have plagued this country, especially since November 2016. Overall, it was an interesting year; a year full of great movies, surprises, and losses.

As I mentioned in past posts, the Bay Area institution The Camera Cinemas officially closed all its locations in 2017, marking the end of an era of movie going experiences for many film lovers like myself. Basically, they went out of business, and I was completely devastated by this news. The Camera Cinemas played a pivotal and vital role not only for this blog, but on myself as well. They were the only place I could see the very best in independent cinema, documentaries, foreign film, as well as spotlight local films, artists, and film festivals like the Cinequest Film Festival and CASMFest. They were so important to the landscape of the Downtown San Jose area that, truth be told, hasn’t been filled yet. In 2018, both the Pruneyard Campbell and Downtown SJ reopened as new film theaters, with Csmera Cinemas co-founder Jack Nybloom being part owner in both businesses. The old Camera 7 reopened in the summer as the brand-new Pruneyard Dine-In Cinemas, completely remolded and refurnished with new reclining leather chairs, enhanced visuals and surround sound, and a restaurant Cedar Room (formerly the old Boswell Bar) as part of theater, providing very delicious meals and tasty drinks for the moviegoers. I had the pleasure of seeing some movies there and I did have a very positive experience, the old Camera 7 is still there with me. Same was said with the Camera 3 Cinemas on the corner of Second Street and San Carlos in downtown. It was reopened in February as the 3Below Theaters & Lounge, picking up where the Camera 3 left off. It’s still the home for the Comedy Sportz Impov Comedy Group, the midnight screenings of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with my friends The Barely Legal shadowcast, an home for some of the best indie, foreign, and documentaries from all over the world. Now owned by Nyblom and with the former owners of the long gone Retro Dome in Saratoga, they added some new ingredients to the theater, namely retrospectives of classic Hollywood movies, and stage plays as well. So as the old saying goes, "Everything that’s old is new again." While I’m sad to say goodbye to the Camera Cinemas, it’s nice to welcome both the 3Below Theaters and the PrunyDine-In Cinemas to my movie going world!

After the Camera Cinemas closed, I frequented another local theater business, which also went through some renovations last year as well. The Cinelux Theaters have also been a staple here in the Bay Area, and I was more than happy to give them my support. I saw a plethora of movies at my three favorite locations: the Cinelux Alamden Cafe & Lounge in San Jose, Cinelux Plaza Theatre in Campbell, and the Cinelux Tennant Station Stadium 11 in Morgan Hill. Established over 50 years ago, the Cinelux Theateres are a great alternative to the overwhelming mall theaters, and they support several local organizations and international charities like March of Dimes, The Second Harvest Food Bank, and UNICEF for example. So if you’d like to support local businesses and are a cinema lover, then please visit your local Cinelux Theatres!!

With 2019, a wide array of works of art has now become part of the public domain, especially silent films. This is very good news for my friends over at the Niles Essany Silent Film Museum, which I came back as a volunteer and docent. It felt good to be back to one of my favorite places in the Bay Area, having been part of the museum family since 2006! We had a lot of great shows in 2018. Some of the highlights for me were the annual Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival, Charlie Chaplin Day weekend, our DVD release party for the museum’s silent film BRONCHO BILLY AMD THE BANDIT’S SECRET. Originally titled THE CANYON, the movies took four years to complete, and was made using the old hand cranked film cameras from the museum and was shot on Kodak black and white 35mm filmstock. The final cut looked absolutely stunning! It looked like it came straight from the silent film era! It was incredible to see, and I was so happy to get it on DVD! And now with copyright expired, many of the movies we have in our film vault can now be exhibited without the monetary constrainments that prevented the museum from screening them. So keep your eyes peeled to the museum’s website for some awesome silent film shows in the new year!!

 Then there are all the films that are now available on a plethora of streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and my personal favorite, Shudder. So many great films either fly under the radar or don't get to be screened at movie theaters, and therefore, having these media outlets gives the filmmakers a chance for an audience to find and watch their movies. And if this means watching a movie on my TV, iPad, or iPhone, then so be it! I just want the opportunity to view films that I wouldn't be able to see any other way. Not only that, but I'll be reviewing a lot of cool movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to indie films, cult classics to porno chic, comedy and GLBTQ films. You name it and I'll be watching and reviewing it!

As you can see, I'm gonna be very busy and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'll have some other surprises that'll make you want to come back over and over again. So get ready folks for one hell of a ride in 2019!!

Thank you all out there who have been reading and supporting my blog. I don't get paid doing this. I do it for the fun of it. I'm a film fanatic, cinephile, movie junkie, whatever you want to call me. So I hope you'll stick around another year as I bring you another year of reviews, fun and adventures!

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

Phil sees BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY at the Pruneyard Dine-In Cinemas - Dec. 12, 2018

As a kid growing up in the 1970's and 1980's, there was one band that dominated the world and brought to the masses some of the most original, experiential, and groundbreaking rock anthems in all of music history. And that band was called Queen. Fronted by the charismatic Freddie Mercury, the band went on to sell out stadiums all over the world, and sold a staggering 300 million albums. When Mercury died from AIDS related illness on November 24, 1991, the world mourned and life became a lot less magical. For several years, there have been several attempts to bring the story of Queen, and more specifically Mercury's life, to the silver screen, but it looked like it wasn't meant to be. Fast forward to 2018 and I'm at the Pruneyard Dine-In Cinemas, ordering some delicious food from their Cedar Room restaurant, and relaxing in their reclining chairs to watch the long-awaited Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic entitled BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.

The film's official synopsis: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

My jaw dropped in my lap when I saw actor Rami Malek come across the screen! He looked, acted, and sounded like Freddie Mercury! It was uncanny!

Phil wishes you all a Happy New Year!! - January 1, 2018

At the VICTOR CROWLEY screening in Monterey.

Happy New Year everybody!! Well, another year has come and gone. While I didn't blog as much I would have liked to, I still saw a lot of films last year. Plus my life changed again. I moved back down to San Jose, I'm getting ready to go back to my old career and I'm watching movies at new theaters. So like the old saying goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

However, 2018 will be another fun-filled year! With the loss of the Camera Cinemas (the Camera 12, Camera 3 and the Camera 7 all closed in the last two years) as well as the Bluelight Cinema, I'll be seeing films more at the Cinelux Theaters, which is another locally owned business that I'll be supporting quite a bit. The old Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose will be re-opening as 3 Below, which will pick up where the Camera 3 left off, including the midnight screenings of THE ROCKY PICTURE SHOW with my friends The Barely Legal gang!! Also, I'll be going to the Cinemark Century Theaters as well as the AMC Theaters to watch my movies.

Not only that, but I'll be reviewing a lot of cool movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to indie films, cult classics to porno chic, comedy and GLBTQ films. You name it and I'll be watching and reviewing it!

With me being back home, I'll also be attending all my favorite film festivals and events, including the Cinequest Film Festival, CAAMFest, The San Francisco Silent Film Festival, The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and the Peaches Christ shows!!

As you can see, I'm gonna be very busy and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'll have some other surprises that'll make you want to come back over and over again. So get ready folks for one hell of a ride in 2018!!

Thank you all out there who have been reading and supporting my blog. I don't get paid doing this. I do it for the fun of it. I'm a film fanatic, cinephile, movie junkie, whatever you want to call me. So I hope you'll stick around another year as I bring you another year of reviews, fun and adventures!

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

Phil sees BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR at the Camera 7 Pruneyard Campbell-November 9, 2013

The recently released foreign film BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR has been receiving a lot of controversy since its win at the Cannes film festival this May. Now with this in mind, I couldn't wait to see what the hoopla was all about. Now I thoroughly enjoy viewing foreign film because they are much more sophisticated and more mature; meaning their outlook on love, life, sex, and humor are treated with respect and splendor. So with all of this hype surrounding the film, I ventured over to the Camera 7 to see this latest French export.

The film's official synopsis: Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos), a 15-year-old girl dreaming of experiencing her first love, has an unsettling erotic reverie with a handsome male classmate that upsets the romance before it even begins. Adele fantasizes about Emma (Lea Seydoux), a mysterious, blue-haired girl she encounters in the street, and soon the confident older art student enters Adele's life for real, making way for an intense and complicated love story that spans a decade.

Based on the 2010 French graphic novel Le Bleu est une couleur chaude by Julie Maroh,the film has that look and energy of the French New Wave movement from the 1960s: filmed mostly hand held, shot on real locations, and portraying love and life as a celebration. This is something I believe that most American films lack: the spirit of human soul. The celebration of being alive and living in the moment.

Director Abdellatif Kechiche (he also wrote and produced the film) really crafted an amazing picture that really shows us that love knows no boundary and doesn't care if you're straight, gay, black, white, etc. Kechiche shot the film almost like a documentary, in that we see everything that happens to these two girls; the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.

Kudos goes to both Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux for their award-winning performances as the two star-struck lovers. However, they go far beyond that, as they bare it all in one of the most passionate and explosive lesbian love scene that has ever been captured on film. Now I have seen my far share of queer love scenes, but this was just so graphic, raw, and realistic. I think the screen that I was watching it on began to melt because of the heat coming from the scene! It really was the most intense love scene I have ever witnessed.

So this is where the controversy comes in to play. Both lead actresses expressed disdain for Kechiche, saying they felt exploited during their love scene, complained about his behavior during the film's shooting and said that they would never work with him again. Several other crew members  accused him of "harassment, unpaid overtime and violations of labor laws." The film's been banned in several locations and theaters across the country.

Despite all this negativity, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR is the most beautiful, breathtaking, poetic film about love that I have ever seen in my entire life! And let me just say this to those who only see the film as a lesbian/gay film: it is not a queer film. It's more than that simple definition. It's about your first love, and all the wonderment that comes with it. Who doesn't remember their first love? I still do and it still has the same affect on me now as it did when I was a young man. This is my pick for best movie of the year. So do yourself a favor and see this film while it's still playing in the theaters! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the CAAMFest San Jose Opening Night Gala at the Camera 3-August 16, 2013

Friday night I attended the inaugural CAAMFest San Jose Film Festival! Formerly known as the San Francisco International Asian America Film Festival and usually held in March, this year marks a new name for the festival and a new month. But it's still held at the Camera 3 Cinemas here in Downtown San Jose! Before the screening of the opening film, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) executive director Stephan Gong thanked all their sponsors and partners, without whom this festival would not happen. Stephen also talked about having this festival separate from the fest in San Francisco and their goal is to hopefully grow this to a week long festival, which I would love to see! After all the introductions, writer/director Arvin Chen was called up to introduce his film to the audience and thanked us for coming out to see it on this warm, summer night. Then it was time to watch the South Bay Premiere of the film WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW?

Meet Weichung (Richie Jen). He's an optometrist who was just promoted to manager, is married to the beautiful Feng (Mavis Fan), and they have a son. Life should be good for him, but when he runs into marriage planner Stephen (Lawrence Ko), an old friend from from his gay past, he begins to question his sexual orientation, especially now that his wife wants to have another child. Things begin to get even more complicated when he meets good looking flight attendant (Wong Ko Lok). To make things even more problematic, his younger sister Mandy (Kimi Hsia) has a pre-wedding panic attack and dumps her bland fiance Sen-Sen (Stone) at a department store. Yup, life's not boring for Weichung.

The film was sweet, heart warming, and laugh-out-loud hilarious! Arvin Chen did an incredible job with crafting a story that was fantastic, filled it with believable and relatable characters, and combining surreal and realistic settings and situations that are just beautiful. The film is honest, funny, and is like a breathe of fresh air! I absolutely loved the film! This is what I would call a perfect film! Now I originally wanted to see the film when it was playing during the Frameline 37 Film Festival, but I couldn't make it to the screening. I am very happy that I now got to see this incredible, enchanting, and wonderful film, especially here in San Jose! After the screening, Arvin participated in a fun and informative Q&A session with the audience.

After the screening, we all went to the gala afterparty which was held at the San Jose Museum of Art. There was plenty of food, drinks, and wine to enjoy. Music was played and people were having a very good time! Also the museum had some very cool exhibits to coincide with the festival: Questions from the Sky: New Work by Hung Liu and New Stories from the Edge of Asia: This/That.

What an amazing night, and this was just the beginning! The festival continues for the rest of this weekend so come out to the Camera 3 and partake on the fun! To view the film schedule and to purchase tickets, visit the CAAM website at http://caamedia.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil's DVD Review: GAYBY (2012) from Wolfe Video-July 24, 2013

GAYBY
Starring: Jenn Harris, Matthew Wilkas, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Mike Doyle, Alycia Delmore, Jack Ferver, Jonathan Lisecki, Charlie Barnett, Alex Karpovsky, Sarita Choudhury, and Adam Driver.
Cinematography by Clay Liford
Written and Directed by Jonathan Lisecki
Distributed by Wolfe Video

When I attended last month's Frameline 37 Film Festival, I saw some of the very best queer films I have ever seen. These films were funny, touching, shocking, educational, but above all, they were made by some of the most talented filmmakers out there. Today's movie review had the pleasure of being the Closing Night Film at last year's festival, and it's been distributed by the fine folks over at Wolfe Video (located right here in my hometown of San Jose). While comedic and heart warming at the same time, GAYBY also touches upon a subject that is very relatable regardless of sexual preference.

Straight yoga instructor Jenn (Harris) and gay comic book store owner Matt (Wilkas) have been best friends since college. Now being in their 30's, they're starting to feel old, especially Jenn, who really wants to have a baby. Problem is that she has no boyfriend and no potential suitors. Matt is also single and still trying to get over his ex-boyfriend. In the end, Jenn proposes to him their old plan of having a baby together....the old fashioned way! While preparing for parenthood, they both continue dating in an attempt to try to find love and happiness, but will it ruin their plans of having a baby together?

Both Harris and Wilkas have great on-screen chemistry together, playing off one another with precise comedic timing and flawed vulnerability which makes them relatable and believable. We know people like these in our everyday lives. They work with us, they're our friends and neighbors, and our relatives. Harris's Jenn looks, talks, and acts like a normal woman who is desperate to have a child of her own. Also, Ferver and Lisecki as Jenn and Matt's gay best friends bring so much comedic relief that I almost died laughing everytime they came on screen! These guys are hilarious!!

Now the film is based on a short that Jonathan Lisecki did a couple of years ago. Here, we see the continuation of that short, expanding the characters and the situation that ties everyone together. Here is a film that is both funny and romantic, but I wouldn't label it as a romantic comedy. It transcends the normal formality of labeling and really distinguishes itself as a uncategorized movie. It's queer, it's funny, it's silly it's romantic, it's sad, it's topical, it's everything that you the audience projects into it. Therefore, you cannot label the film; by doing so, you're limiting its potential and visibility as a crossover film.

The film has been screened at numerous film festivals, such as the Los Angeles Film Festival, SXSW, and of course Frameline 36. It has also won several Best Film awards, including from Out On Film Atlanta LGBTQ Festival and Boston Independent Film Festival.

The DVD has some cool bonus features: audio commentary, deleted scenes, previews, and the original GAYBY short I mentioned earlier.

GAYBY is one of my favorite DVD releases of 2013 thus far! It's wildly entertaining, full of interesting and believable characters, laugh out loud funny, and touching as well. This is one of the best LGBT films I've seen in a while! 5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!!

GAYBY is currently available on DVD at your local retailer. You can also purchase a copy at the Wolfe Video website at www.wolfevideo.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends FRAMELINE 37: Day Four-June 23, 2013

Welcome back to my final day of attending the Frameline37: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival!! I saw another three outstanding films on Sunday, so sit back, relax, and enjoy my reviews!

The first film I saw was the documentary THE CAMPAIGN. This locally produced made film chronicled all the hard work and grass roots activism that transpired back in 2008, when the evil Prop 8 Bill was put on the ballot. The documentary showed all the volunteers that worked hard in defeating Prop 8; all their blood, sweat, and unfortunately, their tears. When Prop 8 passed, it devastated the queer community, especially here in San Francisco. The film spotlights those who really made an impact during the campaign.

The film was a painful reminder for me about what happened during that election. Even though the country made progress my electing Barrak Obama as president, the passing of Prop 8 was like a slap in the face! It became clear to me that even though we live in the 21st century, the thought of gays and lesbians getting married was blasphemies. To me the issue was more about civil rights than gay rights. I voted against Prop 8 while members of my own family voted for it. Of course we know how the Mormon church got involved with the Prop 8 campaign and how the used their money to swing the vote for their side. But history has been made and a grave mistake has been corrected. Even as I type this, DOMA has been defeated and Prop 8 no longer exist. Gay and lesbians have been getting married in masses. And I for one am very happy to see all my queer friends get married! After the screening, many of the film's cast and crew participated in a Q&A session. This was such a powerful, moving, emotionally charged film!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

The second film of the day was another amazing documentary. I AM DIVINE tells the story of the beloved Divine, the infamous underground drag queen starlet that rose to fame through the films by his best friend John Waters. Appearing in such classic trash films like PINK FLAMINGOS, FEMALE TROUBLE and LUST IN THE DUST, Divine went from a Baltimore drag queen to Hollywood superstar, thanks in large part to Water's first mainstream film HAIRSPRAY, which garnered her acclaim and attention. But on the eve of Divine's Hollywood debut, she passed away. Those interviewed for the film include Mink Stole, Tab Hunter, Ricki Lake, members of the legendary Cockettes, and of course John Waters.

The film was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jeffery Schwartz (he made last year's outstanding documentary VITO), and was largely crowdfunded through Indiegogo and Kickstarter. For me, I loved Divine. Ever since I first saw her in HAIRSPRAY, I knew that I wanted to see all her films. She has become a drag icon in the gay community and she and her legacy will forever live on! Many of the film's crew and interviewers were on hand and conducted a Q&A session with the audience. Another  superb and loving tribute to the one and only Divine!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

The third and final film I saw on Sunday was the hilarious comedy WHO'S AFRAID OF VAGINA WOLF? Meet Anna (director Anna Margarita Albelo), a forty year old, latino, lesbian filmmaker who lives in her friend's garage and chain smokes while trying her to do list: lose 20 pounds, find a girlfriend, and write the script for her feature film debut. Oh she also dresses up in a vagina costume. When she meets Katia (Janina Gavankar) she finds the inspiration to write her film (but plans to use the film as a way to win Katia's heart). Joining Anna on her madcap adventure are her two best friends, Penelope (Guinevere Turner) and Chloe (Carrie Preston), but things don't work out well for the film or for Anna. Will she able to make her film and make Katia her girlfriend or will she go back to square one all over again?

The film is funny from beginning to end! Anna does a great job at both acting and directing, and seeing Guinevere Turner up on the big screen again was just icing on the cake! Our two leads have great on-screen chemistry (of course it also helps that they've been friends for years) and their comedic timings are outrageously funny! After the film both Anna and Guinevere conducted and interview and a Q&A with the audience. A terrific lesbian comedy that will have you laughing down the aisle! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

And there you have it! My very first trip to a Frameline Film Festival! I had so much fun at this festival that I'm already planning to attended more screenings at next year's festival. In the meantime, the festival continues until June 30th so there's still time to check out all these amazing films! To purchase tickets, passes, and to view the screenings schedule, visit their official website at www.frameline.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends FRAMELINE 37: Day Three-June 22, 2013

Hello again everybody and welcome back to Day Two of my trip to Frameline37: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival!! On Saturday I saw three films, including a midnight show featuring the one and only Peaches Christ!! Keeping me company on my trip was my best friend and make-up artist Michelle Snyder. So let's get this party started!!

The first film we saw was a documentary called BIG JOY: THE ADVENTURES OF JAMES BROUGHTON. Poet, author, filmmaker, trickster, artist, James Broughton was all these things and more.  He was part of the San Francisco Renaissance. He was an early pioneer of the experimental film movement in America. He was also the inspiration of the beat movement. He was part of the Radical Faeries as well as a member of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence named Sister Sermonetta. He had love affairs with both men and women, and briefly lived with the film critic Pauline Kael and they had a daughter named Gina. But it wasn't until Broughton met student Joel Singer, that he had finally fallen in love. And Joel became his muse, and created several new short films as well as new poetry books. James and Joel remained together for the next 25 years until his death on May 17, 1999.

The film was simply wonderful as well as inspiring! Here is an artist who made art his life, his passion, and his career. While he was making his incredible body of work, he was hiding in the closet, which affected his art because he was acting straight. But he followed his dream and became an acclaimed and award winning filmmaker and author. To the artist inside of me, I wished I could've been more like him! Truly an inspiration! After the screening, the producers as well as people interviewed in the film came onstage to conduct and funny and touching Q&A. Just a fantastic documentary! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

The second film Michelle and I saw was the new film by the award winning lesbian director Jamie Babbit. BREAKING THE GIRLS is one outstanding thriller that features some great thrills and jaw dropping twists and turns! Sara Ryan (Agnes Bruckner) is young law student who works as a bartender. One night her friend and fellow classmate Eric (Shawn Ashmore) walks into the bar and somewhat flirts with her. This does not sit well with Brooke (Shanna Collins), who's dating Eric. Broke begins to sabotage Sara's life and until she has nothing left (she loses her housing, her scholarship, and her job). Enter Alex (Madeline Zima) a striking, mysterious, wild, beautiful and spoiled rich bitch lesbian who comes to Sara's rescue. The two women instantly bond and soon a love affair begins to bloom. But then things become complicated as lies, deceit and murder begin to consume Sara's life, thanks to Alex. To save her life, she reaches out to Eric and to Alex's gold-digging stepmother Nina (Kate Levering) for help, but will it be too late?

The film is easily her greatest production to date. Sporting a top notch and professional cast, high production value, and one outstanding script (courtesy of iconic lesbian actress/screenwriter Guinevere Turner), Babbit breaks the mold of what a lesbian film could and should be! And by working in a totally different genre, she gets to stretch out her wings as a director and really venture into a whole new world with new toys to play with. Interesting set-ups and lighting, long takes, and intricate characters are what we find in the film. Plus not too mention, hot steamy lesbian action that well make you sweat! An amazing piece of cinema from beginning to end! Destined to become a true classic!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

Before the screening, the festival presented Babbit with the Frameline Award for her contributions to queer cinema and even showed a reel with clips from her work in film and television. After the screening, she and Turner took the stage for a fun and interesting Q&A session!

After the screening Michelle and I went and had a few drinks over at the bar Twin Peaks on the corner of Castro and Market. Then we dashed across the street for some very yummy pizza! Then it was back to the Castro Theatre for the special midnight show!!

For this year's Frameline, the festival teamed up with the iconic Peaches Christ for a Midnight Mass extravaganza! Peaches screened one of the greatest queer horror films of all time: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART 2: FREDDY' REVENGE!! And she had a very special guest for the show: the film's scream queen star himself Mark Patton was there live and in-person!! Michelle and I made our way to the front row so we could see all the action!

The show began with a horrifying and scary (in a good way of course) opening act with our hostess dressed up as Peaches Krueger doing was she does best; torturing a young nubile teenage boy in his sleep while leading a dance number with hot and sexy gay guys dressed up in leather! Peaches' make-up was just incredible! I think even Robert England himself would be impressed!

After the song and dance, Peaches thanked the audience and welcomed the return of the Midnight Mass!! She then wasted no time in bringing up Mark Patton for a very interesting and quite informative interview. Mark recalled the making of the film, the long hours, him knowing how queer the film was and so forth. He also talked about coming out and living in South America. Peaches had another surprise up her sleeve, as she called up the film's cinematographer Jacques Haitkin to the stage! After the interview, both Mark and Jacques took questions from the audience. There was also a costume contest, and then it was movie time!!

In the film, Mark portrays Jesse, the new kid in town who's family has just moved into Nancy Thomson's old house on Elm Street. However it doesn't very long till he's having the same horrific nightmares that plagued poor Nancy had about Freddy. Jesse befriends his neighbor and classmate Lisa, whom he tells about his horrible nightmares but she doesn't believe him. That is until she starts having the same nightmares herself. After doing some research on Freddy, she finds out that he's planning to take it over Jesse's body, but she may be too late. When he does takes over Jesse's body, all Hell breaks loose.

In hindsight, it's a wonder that no one in the film, cast or crew, noticed or questioned some of the material in the film. After watching it years later as an adult, I was flabbergasted on just how gay it was! The gay innuendos, the coach being tied in the shower and being whipped by towels, the leather bar scene, the list goes on and on. Go back and watch it again. It looks a lot different as an adult than it did when you were a kid! The film has gone on to become one of the greatest homoerotic horror films of all time!! And Mark has been hailed as a scream queen icon!

And that was my second day at Frameline37!! Remeber the festival continues until June 30th so there's still time to check out all these amazing films! To purchase tickets, passes, and to view the screenings schedule, visit their official website at www.frameline.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends FRAMELINE 37: Day Two-June 21, 2013

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Phil's Horror Watch: Entry 32: Phil watches CHILLERAMA (2011)-December 3, 2011

Hello there my faithful followers and welcome to the return of Phil's Horror Watch! Now there's quite a lot of you out there that deep down inside, whether you want to admit it or not, are big time horror fans. And a lot of you really enjoyed my month-long horror movie marathon back in October. So tonight I decided to "resurrect" the series, picking up right where I left off in October. Now with this new installment, I couldn't help but review tonight's movie. Directed by four of the freshest, talented, and twisted new voices of horror comes the horrifying, the grotesque, the disturbing, and the hilarious film called CHILLERAMA!!

Theatrical Movie Poster (2011)

So here is the plot in a nutshell: It's the closing night of the last drive-in theater in America and Cecil B. Kaufman (Richard Riehle) has planned the ultimate movie marathon: screening four long lost horror films to his faithful drive-in patrons. These films so rare that they have never been shown publicly ever in America until this very special night! Sounds like it's gonna be a fun-filled night right? So what could possibly go wrong you might ask? Everything and anything!

In the tradition of classic anthology films such as TALES FROM THE CRYPT and CREEPSHOW, the film offers four different tales of terror brought to life by four talented directors. These films push the envelope with their subject matter, their gratuitous amounts of gore and sexual innuendos, bad jokes, and their blatant disregard of moral and god taste. So you know you're gonna have a good time! The film offers these cinematic gems:

WADZILLA: Directed by Adam Rifkin (DETROIT ROCK CITY), the film's about a middle-aged man named Miles Munson (Rifkin) whose personal physician Dr. Weems (Ray Wise) prescribes him the experimental drug Spermupermine to strengthen the sperm Miles already produces. However the side effect is that the drug increases the size of his one good sperm to mammoth proportions! This hilarious tribute to 50s monster movies boasts a really fun cast (which includes Sarah Mutch, Owen Benjamin, Tracy Dawson, Lin Shaye, and the great Eric Roberts) and amazing special effects by The Chiodo Brothers (Stephan, Charles, and Edward), the creative guys who brought us the cult classic KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE. A great film to kick things off with!

I WAS A TEENAGE WEREBEAR: Written and directed by Tim Sullivan (2001 MANIACS series), this loving musical tribute and spoof of classic teen films such as REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, GREASE, and TWILIGHT is set in 1962 in sunny Southern California and focuses on a sexually confused teen named Ricky (ex-porn star Sean Paul Lockheart) who becomes a harry, leather clad werebear after being bitten on the ass during a wrestling match by bad boy rebel Talon (Anton Troy). Sullivan also wrote the songs in the film, like "Love Bit Me On The Ass," "Purge This Urge," and "Do The Werebear." Sullivan, who is openly gay, included many gay culture references in his film, such as bears which are "big hairy burly men" in the gay community. Kudos to Mr. Sullivan being brave enough and exposing horror fans to the queer subculture. The film also includes actors Gabby West (winner of the TV reality series SCREAM QUEENS), Adam Robitel, Lin Shaye (again) and Ron Jeremy (on the cover of a bear magazine, of course).

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANKENSTEIN: Written and directed Adam Green (HATCHET series, FROZEN), this black and white film is about Hitler "trying to create the perfect killing machine to win the war." Joel David Moore hams it up as Hitler, reducing him to a hilarious parody. During the making of the film, Green on purpose had Moore not learn any German. While the cast were German actors and spoke fluent German, Moore's sexy co-star Kristine Klebe (Eva Braun) only taught him how to say stupid, irrelevant German. Moore speaks "gibberish" throughout the film, but correct subtitles are displayed. Moore's German included words like "Boba Fett" and "Osh Kosh B'Gosh" which only made by laugh harder! Also Hitler's Frankenstein monster called Meshugannah is played by the iconic Kane Hodder (FRIDAY THE 13th's Jason Vorhees and HATCHET's Victor Crowley). The film is hysterical and is one of my favorite segments.

ZOM-B-MOVIE: Written and directed by Joe Lynch (WRONG TURN 2), the film is the wrap around to CHILLERAMA. Taking place at the formentioned drive-in, the film features a buffet of killer and horny zombies, hellbent on having sex with anything and everybody! Starring Corey Jones (Tobe), Kali Thorne (Mayna), Brendan McCreary (Ryan Miller), Ward Roberts (Miller), and Laura Ortiz (Des), the film contains enough sex, boobs, gore, and naughty bits that it's a wonder it didn't receive an X rating! Also, there are numerous movie quotes to fill a space cruiser, from STAR WARS and DIE HARD to THE GOONIES and SPACEBALLS, you can make it into a drinking game! Of course the best line comes from Tobe (ala Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD), "When there's no more room in Hell, the dead shall fuck the Earth!" Oh yeah, did I mention the zombie orgy at the drive-in? OK, there's a zombie orgy at the drive-in. Yeah, you gotta see it to believe it folks!

The film was released in various major cities across the country from September 15, 2011 to October 29, 2011. While the film's been receiving mixed reviews all across the board, make no mistake, it is still entertaining as all Hell. Trust me when I say that you will not be bored with this film. And while it's not everybody's cup of tea, I wouldn't be surprised if it lives on as a midnight movie. It's funny, scary, gory, and sure to entice people to dance in the aisle. Also the film has some great acting in it and everybody obviously had a lot of fun making this, and it shows! You're not supposed to take the film seriously, you're supposed to have fun watching it, and the entire cast and crew accomplishes this in spades!

CHILLERAMA is rip-roaring, gore-soaked, sexually exposed, queer loving, horror film to ever come out! What other film out there can you see leather clad queer werebears wrestling, Hitler singing a sorrow filled song,  a dancing Jewish Frankenstein, zombies sexing it up, and a giant sperm molesting the Statue of Liberty? I'll tell you where! Right here people, so check out this mother of all tribute to horror anthologies! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!!

CHILLERAMA is currently available on Blu-Ray and on DVD from Image Entertainment. To purchase a copy, visit the Amazon website at www.amazon.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil reviews STONEWALL UPRISING-Sept. 1, 2011

Last month at the majestic Castro Theatre, they had a free screening of the new PBS documentary called STONEWALL UPRISING. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this special event. However, today I was at my local library and I saw the film on DVD, so I checked it out. And I am so glad that I finally got to see this moving and informative film.

The documentary chronicles exactly what happened on that fateful night of June 28, 1969. Through on camera interviews by those who were there, filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbrone did an incredible job retelling the Stonewall Story. The horror of being arrested for being different, the police brutality that befell on gays during that time, and the final stand against bigotry and hatred.

There's a lot more that I could write about in this review, but after watching it THREE TIMES IN A ROW, I have been rendered speechless. This is THE most important event in GLBT history. In fact, out of this event rose the Gay Rights Movement that inspired millions of gays and lesbians to come out of the closet, to fight for equality, to stand up and to make their voices heard. However, none of this would have happened if not for the Stonewall Riots.

STONEWALL UPRISING is a powerful, emotionally charged documentary that will inspire you to go out and make a difference in the world. And you should be inspired by these brave individuals that said enough is enough. Change was in the air back in 1968, and after all these years, it is still in the air. Highly recommended!!

STONEWALL UPRISING is now available on DVD. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the PBS website at http://www.pbs.org/

To learn more about the Gay Rights Movement, visit the GLBT Historical Society website at http://www.glbthistory.org/

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's recommendations for the National Film Registry: Part III: WORD IS OUT-July 8, 2011

Hello, and welcome to my series of film recommendations that I'm planning to submit to the National Film Registry. After viewing the amazing documentary THESE AMAZING SHADOWS a couple of months ago, I went to the Registry's website and noticed there were films that the Library of Congress should look into adding. As a result of this discovery, I decided to pick my own film recommendations that fulfills the criteria of the registry of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," while at the same time choosing films that might have been overlooked due to oversight, or of ignorance of the film's impact on culture and society.

For my third recommendation, the film I chose is a documentary that was a first of its kind to tackle the subject of homosexuality. Made in 1977 by a local San Francisco outfit called the Mariposa Film Group, they reached out to the Gay Community to create a testament recorded onto celluloid that now stands one of the most important films in the GLBT genre. The documentary film is entitled WORD IS OUT and it is one of the most touching, informative, and enlightening films that I have ever seen.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1977)

The film interviews 26 gays and lesbians about their lives and the struggles they have all had to endure. It is divided up into three parts: the first part (or act) is hiding in the closet, which many in the film had been hiding in for most of their lives. The second part is their coming out experiences as well as their physical and emotional contact. The third part of the film focuses on their concerns and what the future holds for them as they are now exposed to the world. Through such raw and personal testimonials, we the audience feel as if we've known these people all our lives.

Released in 1977, ten years after the Stonewall Riots, and one year before the assassination of Harvey Milk and three years before the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic, the film captures a moment not just in GLBT history, but history in general. It looked at that moment that things were about to change in the United States at that time. Things did change, but it would not be good. Throughout GLBT history, it was one set back after another. But eventually strides were being made, leading up to having Gay Marriages as a possibility in some states and becoming a reality in others. The film captures that the possibilities were numerous and limitless, and for those interviewed in the film, some achieved their dreams, and some unfortunately didn't live long enough to see the GLBT movement making massive changes in the world.

WORD IS OUT is one of the most important documentary films in the genre, along with THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK and BEFORE STONEWALL. It showcases the struggle of a minority group to come out without being judged by society. Now queer culture is part of pop culture as well as society. Everyday there are hundreds of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals coming out of the closet and revealing their true selves to the world. Back in 1977, this was not common, but thanks in large part to the film, many of those closeted came out, being inspired by the stories of those who saw themselves up on the silver screen. This is why WORD IS OUT deserves to by part of the National Film Registry.

WORD IS OUT is now available on DVD. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the Mariposa website at http://www.wordisoutmovie.com/ 

To vote for the film to be chosen, visit the National Film Registry at http://www.loc.gov/film/filmnfr.html 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's recommendations for the National Film Registry: Pick # 1: THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984)-May 1, 2011

Hello, and welcome to a first in a series of film recommendations that I'm planning to submit to the National Film Registry. After viewing the amazing documentary THESE AMAZING SHADOWS a couple of weekends ago, I went to the Registry's website and noticed there were films that the Library of Congress should look into adding. As a result of this discovery, I decided to pick my own film recommendations that fulfills the criteria of the registry of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," while at the same time choosing films that might have been overlooked due to oversight, or of ignorance of the film's impact on culture and society.

For my first recommendation, I chose one of my favorite documentaries that still, to this day, continues to influence, educate, and enlighten those who view it. A documentary about an extraordinary individual who made history for the gay rights movement, only to be assassinated eleven months after being the first openly gay man to be elected into public office. The documentary I'm talking about is 1984's THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK.

Original Movie Poster 1984

Directed by Robert Epstein, produced by Richard Schmiechen,  and narrated by Harvey Fierstein, the film chronicles the life and death of Harvey Milk. Born in New York and transplanted to San Francisco in the late 60's, he ran for public office three times before becoming elected onto the Board of Supervisors in 1977. While on the board, he fought for several issues, such as rent control, senior citizens, but the issue he fought for the most were Gay rights. In 1978, he fought against Proposition 6, which would ban all gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. Shortly after defeating Prop 6, both Milk and Mayor George Miscone were assassinated by Dan White, a fellow Board member who had recently resigned, but was seeking reinstatement. The ramifications of White's actions are still being felt today.

The interviews in the film from Milk's friends and former employees are very effective. The film was made less than six years after his death, and all who participated were still stunned, shocked, and saddened that their friend was no longer around. White, who only served five and a half years in prison, committed suicide less than two years after being released.

Cover for Criterion's DVD Release 2011

The impact this film has had on society and culture is unmeasurable. It's lasting legacy has influenced the Gay Rights Movement, Gay Activism, on civil rights in general, and on Hollywood. The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards in 1984. In the fall of 2008, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and director Gus Van Sant brought Harvey's story back to the big screen with MILK, starring Sean Penn, whose performance as Harvey would garner him the Best Actor award at the Oscars in 2009. The documentary was also just re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray by the Criterion Collection this year.

THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK is a film that will forever be remembered as a testimony of how one individual helped make history, and changed the world for the better. Harvey Milk, thanks in large part to the film, will continue inspire people for generations to come. His life, his story, and his contributions will live on forever. This is why the film should be part of the National Film Registry.

To purchase a copy of THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK on DVD or Blu-Ray, visit the Criterion Collection's website at http://www.criterion.com/

To learn more about the National Film Registry, visit their website at http://www.loc.gov/film/index.html

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil reviews ELENA UNDONE-April 6, 2011

For the past several decades, Hollywood has been cranking out the same old contrived, mundane, romance films that are both light on story and romance. Quite frankly, it's been far too long since I've seen a film that treated the topics of love, sex, and relationships on an intelligent, adult level. Recently, queer cinema has been exploring these subjects with the utmost care. It is here that I saw an amazing, heartfelt, romantic film that I have ever seen. One that, in my opinion should be ranked with some of the best romance films of all time. The film I am talking about is entitled ELENA UNDONE.

The film tells the story of two women from two very different worlds. Actress Necar Zadegan portrays Elena, a mother and wife of a pastor. Traci Dinwiddie plays Peyton, a well-known lesbian author. Soon, their paths cross several times, and they strike up a friendship. However, what starts off as platonic soon turns into forbidden desires. Peyton tries to reign in her feelings for Elena, while Elena, never having any thought of being with another women, reveals that she cannot live her life without Peyton in it. Elena pushes their friendship into  full blown affair, without thinking of the ramifications of her choice. For the first time in her life, Elena is happy and in love, but how will she explain to her pastor husband of her sinful decision?

This was a thoughtful and insightful film about love, life, and finding yourself in a world that tells you what is acceptable and what isn't. Through it all, Elena pushes herself to come to grips with what her heart desires the most: unconditional love. And that love comes in a very beautiful form of Peyton. We see from the very beginning that Elena wants something more that what life has offered her. She's searching for something that will make her feel alive, and what's better than unconditional love? Something we all wish to have, but only a few have been fortunate to have and to keep.

The film was directed by Nicole Conn, whose first film CLAIRE OF THE MOON, became a classic in the lesbian film world. Now it would seem that Conn has offered the world yet another classic with this, her fourth movie. With outstanding performances by Zadegan and Dinwiddie and a great script by Conn, this what a romance film should be. The film press also states that it contains the longest kiss in cinema history. After reviewing it, I can honestly say that it lives up to its statement, which by the way, is one of the most delicious kisses that I have ever witnessed in a film before.

ELENA UNDONE is a marvelous film that treats its viewers with a simple story about a subject that we can all relate to. Regardless if you're gay or straight, love is still spelled the exact same way, with the same four letters. Love doesn't care who or what you look like, nor does it care if you're gay or straight. It's a powerful emotion that we cannot live without. A famous singer once said, "All you need is love." And of course he was correct. We all struggle with finding our other half, so we may feel complete. After viewing this film, I hope someday that I will find the kind of love that both Elena and Peyton have. In the meantime, I'll just watch the movie over and over again.

ELENA UNDONE is now available on DVD. To purchase a copy visit http://www.wolfevideo.com/

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil reviews A MARINE STORY-March 10, 2011

For over 17 years, the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy restricting openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving caused over 13,500 people to be discharged from the service. Many of these brave and closeted men and women fought in The Gulf Wars during that time frame, and some have died in combat to protect our rights and freedoms that many of us here have taken for granted. While the policy was recently abolished, there are thousands of stories of people who's lives were affected by its discriminating words. It is within this political climate that director Ned Farr’s A MARINE STORY tells one of those stories.

The film stars Dreya Weber as Alexandra Everett, a decorated Marine officer who was discharged when her sexuality became known. Returning to her hometown and trying to adjust to civilian life, she is immediately recruited to help out troubled teen Saffron Snow (Paris Pickard) to train for boot camp. All the while Alexandra also struggles with her sexuality and her role in society as a civilian. Eventually, the truth of why Alexandra was discharged is revealed and threatens her friendship with Saffron as well as with everyone in town.

Writer, editor, and director Farr made a name for himself with his first feature film THE GYMNAST, which also starred Weber in the lead role. That film garnered him acclaim and the film would go on to win 12 awards from festivals ranging from San Francisco’s Frameline Film Festival to L.A.’s Outfest.  Farr once again teams up Weber (who is also one of the producers) to tell a true story, one that has affected so many lives. Farr has written a beautiful, tight script that grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until the end credits roll. Strong performances by Weber and her co-star Pickard (who also co-producer) lift the story by infusing raw emotions and tenderness to their respected characters.

Stars Paris Pickard (Left) and Dreya Weber

While it’s interesting to view Alexandra’s love and her wishing to return to the military, it is the military’s way of discharging Alexandra that is so alarming. It is this contradiction that really stops and makes you think. While it is known that many gays and lesbians are willing to die for their country (even though they still are denied their basic civil rights such as marriage), has anyone wondered just how absurd and behind the times the military’s mentality is? These people, who are treated like second-class citizens, love their country so much that they, just like their straight counterparts, are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Alexandra is just one of the many casualties that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy caused.

A MARINE STORY first debuted at L.A.’s Outfest in June 2010 and won both the Audience and Grand Jury awards and Weber also won Best Actress. Since then it has gone on to win sixteen awards at film festivals around the country. Just like THE GYMNAST, Farr once again crafted a film that transcends boundaries and blurs the line between gay and straight films. It is a film about human interest.

The film was recently released by San Jose based distributor Wolfe Video, but what makes this event even more important is that it is the very first Blu-Ray release for the company. The Hi-Def transfer looks flawless and crisp. The extras are the same as on their DVD release: behind the scene feature, director's commentary, deleted scenes, theatrical trailer, closed captioned, stereo 5.1 and 2.0, and 16x9 anamorphic widescreen.

Actress/Producer Dreya Webber

We all know someone who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. They might be someone in your family, or someone you go to school with. They might be a co-worker you’ve known for years, or your neighbors who you have BBQ’s with every holiday weekend. It doesn’t really matter who they choose to be with. What matters is are they a nice person? Are they are there to help you if you’re sick and they go get medicine for you? Will they lend you their hand in a crisis? They’re always be there when you need a friend, because they are your friends and you’re good friends with them as well. We all bleed red, white and blue. We are all Americans fighting for the same American Dream. For some reason though, the American Dream is a lot harder to achieve for some. A MARINE STORY reminds us that we all have the same right: to serve our country if we want to, and to fight, protect, and die for our country. But being gay shouldn’t interfere in showing how proud you are to be an American.

To purchase your copy of A MARINE STORY on Blu-Ray and DVD, visit http://www.wolfevideo.com/ 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!