Q Movie Blog » VIP Q Movie Pick

Mx Justin Vivian Bond (legendary artiste)

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:53:56 +0000

“I have found myself thinking about Marlon Riggs‘ film TONGUES UNTIED a lot lately. I first saw it in the Castro Theater in 1991 and was deeply affected by its poetic, forceful and unflinching portrayal of the experience of men of color in America. As a feminine white queer I found it resonated very deeply with my own experience as well and continues to do so.

This amazing film deserves a fresh viewing not only for the political and social issues it addresses but more importantly, to me, for the haunting beauty of the words of poet Essex Hemphill.”

Recently described as “The greatest cabaret artist of (v’s) generation” by Hilton Als in The New Yorker, singer, songwriter and Tony-nominated performance artist Mx Justin Vivian Bond, is an Obie, Bessie and Ethyl Eichelberger Award winner. Visit the JustinBond.com website to find out everything you want to know about the fabulous Mx Justin Vivian Bond including v’s new book, Tango: My Childhood, Backwards and in High Heels.

Mx Justin Vivian Bond’s February 2012 Events Calendar:

TORONTO, Canada
Feb. 9 and 10
Justin Vivian Bond reads from v’s memoir Tango
followed by a book signing
Rhubard Festival
Buddies in Bad Times Theater
10 pm
Info

SAN FRANCISCO, California
Valentine’s Day! 8pm
Love: Ali McGraw
Special guest for Screening of Love Story and Conversation with Ali McGraw! Featuring Mx Bond singing a “Sorry” medley. Should be kooky.
Tue, February 14, 2012
8:00 pm
Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA
$22.50 – $45.00
Info/Tickets

LOS ANGELES, California
February 17,18 -8:30 pm
February 19 -7:00 pm
Justin Vivian Bond’s Low Double Standards -an Entitlement Program
in concert with Lance Horne and Nathann Carrera
The Red Cat
631 West 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213 237-2800
Info/Tickets

SAN FRANCISCO, California
Feb. 21
Hosting Radar Productions Spring Benefit
Info/Tickets

SAN FRANCISCO
Feb. 23
A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT EVENT
Tonight Mx Bond returns to SF in concert with an evening of “Low Double Standards”
Mx Bond will be joined by Leigh Crow -Aka Elvis Herselvis
and THE WHOA NELLIES!
20 years ago Mx Bond and Leigh Crow were married and tonight they celebrate their perfect long-term, long-distance love affair with a blow-out concert and party.
THIS IS A DO NOT MISS EVENT!
The Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-885-0750
Doors 8 pm Show 9 pm
Info/Tickets

SAN FRANCISCO
Feb. 25
RADAR Book Club featuring Justin Bond & Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Saturday, February 25
Viracocha, 998 Valencia St.
$10, Doors 2:30/ Show at 3
Special guests Justin Bond (Tango: My Childhood, Backwards and in High Heels) and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots?). Hosted by Michelle Tea. Limited seating. Advance tickets will be available!
Info/Tickets

Cathy DeBuono (actress, AND THEN CAME LOLA; WE HAVE TO STOP NOW)

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:47:25 +0000

“One of my favorite lesbian movies has to be D.E.B.S. I had no idea what I was getting into when I rented it, but as the film unfolds one could make super strong arguments for the presence of some really clever metaphor. The girls themselves were like Freud’s personality components. “Dominique” the id, “Max” the super ego and “Amy” the ego. “Janet” gives voice to the inner child and together they engage in a journey that illustrates the development of one solid self as it faces the anxiety of discovering it doesn’t fit inside society’s box. I loved it. Or… I made all of that up in my own head. Either way director Angela Robinson is brilliant for taking me there.”

Enjoy Cathy’s terrific performances on DVD in the hit lesbian comedy/drama AND THEN CAME LOLA — freshly re-released for Valentine’s Day 2012 with new box art and new low price and in her hilarious web series WE HAVE TO STOP NOW: SEASON 1 (both now available from WolfeVideo.com — click thru to see the trailers and reserve your DVD).

Michelangelo Signorile (radio host and blogger)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:08:59 +0000

“I’m going to be predicable and name one that is among everyone’s favorite, but I honestly can watch BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN over and over again — and I have! Beyond the performances and the weepy love story, it’s just a beautiful film and even more so on the big screen. Thank you Ang Lee!”

Michelangelo Signorile is host of The Michelangelo Signorile Show on SiriusXM 108, 2-6 ET weekdays. And also Editor-at-Large for Huffington Post Gay Voices. You can find him on Twitter at: @MSignorile.

Alonso Duralde (101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men)

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:41:39 +0000

“One of my favorite LGBT movies is Pedro Almodóvar’s ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER. He hits all the notes here — comedy, tragedy, sexuality, melodrama, friendship — and juggles them all beautifully, resulting in a perfect little movie that will leave you laughing and sobbing in equal measure.”

Get more info on Alonso and his must-read book: 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men or his terrific (and timely) holiday movie guide, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Leslie Jordan (star of SORDID LIVES, MANGUS!)

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:43:01 +0000

“My favorite LGBT film is MAURICE I had already devoured the E.M. Forster novel (which was only published after his death because of the gay content) and was such a huge fan of all the movies of the Merchant/Ivory guys, I was beside myself when I got wind a movie was coming out based on the book. I waited with bated breath for the release. And I was not disappointed. The coming out story of a man of his high station finding true love with the “gameskeeper’s son” was enthralling. And all that frontal nudity! Having a real penchant for bad boys myself I could hardly keep from sobbing out loud when they finally came together for good in the candle lit boat dock house. What a great movie!”

Check out Leslie Jordan in his NEW DVD release, MANGUS! or in the fabulous: LESLIE JORDAN: MY TRIP DOWN THE PINK CARPET; or see him in SISSY FRENCHFRY on the hilarious AVAILABLE MEN gay shorts DVD; or get the original movie version of SORDID LIVES now on DVD.

Matthew Rettenmund (blogger & writer)

Q Movie Blog — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:23:53 +0000

“My favorite gay movie of all time is Parting Glances (1986). It wasn’t the first gay movie I’d seen, but it was current when I saw it during my first year at stodgy, asexual University of Chicago, and it showed me a New York and a gay life I longed to be a part of and simultaneously feared. There’s a comfort between the main couple that’s beautifully communicated, and the poisonous quality of settling is not a theme often explored in gay or non-gay films. Steve Buscemi‘s AIDS victim (we called them “victims” then) and his best friend (Richard Ganoung) have the most touching relationship, one that plays with humor and sadness and even love. Imagine that… dying people are still living and still have the balls to be in love. Rough around the edges, there’s still nothing wrong with this movie—not even 25 years later.”

Check out Matthew Rettenmund‘s excellent blog: BoyCulture.com and get your hands on the movie he wrote, Boy Culture!

Diane Anderson-Minshall (Editor, The Advocate)

Q Movie Blog — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:27:39 +0000

“The Sticky Fingers of Time. Director Hilary Brougher (who is currently filming Chloe Sevigny and Abigail Breslin for sure to be creepy Innocence) cut her writing and directing teeth on this queer sci-fi noir time travel flick. The story revolves around a cool bisexual writer named Tucker Harding — who is the perfect blend of butch and femme in one woman — who is somehow imbued with the power of time travel after covering the hydrogen bomb testing in Nevada circa 1952. (Just an FYI: what would have made it better is if she had run into Vivian and Cay from Desert Hearts who were also in Nevada in the ‘50s.) Anyway, something wonky happens and Tucker (who is played by Terumi Matthews, who by the way deserves a much better career than she’s had) is catapulted to 1997 where meets suicidal lesbian writer Drew (who must help save Tucker from her own murder), an ex lover named Isaac (who holds the key to this whole thing), and a time traveling femme fatale, Ofelia, who is dark and beautiful and has a tail. It’s murky and confusing and erotic (I said she had a tail), and the cinematography is low budget noir meets concept sci fi —something few directors could pull off—but at its heart the movie is about how we’re all trapped in trying to change our past and our future, or as Ofelia says, “What could have been and what yet could be” whether it’s good for us or not.”

Diane Anderson-Minshall is the executive editor of The Advocate Magazine and SheWired.com; editor in chief of HIV Plus magazine; and author of four mystery novels, the latest of which is Punishment With Kisses.

Charles Busch (star-writer-director, A VERY SERIOUS PERSON)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:42:46 +0000

“Hmmm. My favorite LGBT movie? Well, I’m such an old-fashioned gay boy that it would have to be I COULD GO ON SINGING starring the one and only Judy Garland. I guess any movie starring Judy Garland is of gay interest, but this one is really great in that Judy plays a famous singer beset by personal demons. Doesn’t get better than that and it also stars the gorgeous Dirk Bogarde. I usually prefer my movies to have some gratuitous male nudity and this doesn’t, but it’s still my all-time favorite.”

Click thru here to get your tickets for a special November 28th one-night only staged reading of Matthew Lombardo’s Tea at Five (a benefit for the Ali Forney Center) starring Charles Busch as Katharine Hepburn (at 7pm at the Lucille Lortel Theater, 121 Christopher Street, New York City). For more information, visit www.teaatfive.org.

Click here to see the trailer (and get the DVD) for Charles Busch’s wonderfully original directorial debut, A VERY SERIOUS PERSON.

Barbara Grier (founder, Naiad Press)

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:30:16 +0000

The QMovieBlog and Wolfe mourn the passing of Barbara Grier, founder of Naiad Press. She was a pioneer in lesbian publishing and a leading force in preserving lesbian literary history. Barbara shared her VIP Q Movie Pick with us in October 2009. We share it today and honor her memory:

“When the subject is so near and dear to the heart the answer or answers have to be suspect. My favorite is CLAIRE OF THE MOON. It will always be, but it is for lots of wrong reasons including, but not limited to, the wonderful music. Another I like immensely for better reasons is OUT OF SEASON. I like the sense that the people in the movie are real. I believe they exist. I would not be surprised to run into them on the street.

I cannot help but throw this in. There has never yet been a properly funded lesbian film. I hope there will be before my death. But I know because it is clear if you look at straight films, that women’s issues have no meaning in the world, they just don’t. Now it may/will change, but it is still a long uphill battle. Look at all the lesbian films, a very thin field indeed.”

Learn more about the life’s work and legacy of Barbara Grier at: http://www.glbtq.com/literature/grier_b.html

Rikki Beadle-Blair (director, KICKOFF)

Q Movie Blog — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:49:21 +0000

“Like all of us, I have a ton of favourite gay films – but today my two favourites are: THE HOURS – in which all but 3 of the main characters are gay and it takes place in worlds so far removed from mine that I somehow recognised and related to… and O FANTASMA – a rare and extraordinary Portuguese film that explores our wildest animal instincts and desires, that had ‘em freaked out leaving in droves at the screening I attended, but stunned and inspired me beyond belief.”

Rikki wrote the screenplay for the 1995 drama, STONEWALL and directed the hit British series, Metrosexuality. His fabulous new gay soccer comedy, KICKOFF is fresh off the LGBT film festival circuit and coming to DVD and VOD on January 17, 2012. You can watch the trailer now at WolfeVideo.com!

Here’s a short description of KICKOFF to tempt you:

What happens when the hardest team in the Sunday Soccer league comes up against a gay team (pun intended) and finds they’ve finally met their match? Watch and wince as fledging referee Elton Glixton struggles to control this testosterone tsunami as rude-boy meets gay-boy in this outrageous new comedy set in the crazy gung-ho world of 5-a-side football. The latest and craziest from award-winning writer/director Rikki Beadle-Blair (Bashment, Stonewall, Metrosexuality). High-voltage entertainment from a vibrant and sexy 17-strong cast.

Daniel MacIvor (writer, TRIGGER)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:59:59 +0000

“I would have to say that my favourite LGBT movie remains the first I ever saw, John Schlesinger‘s Sunday Bloody Sunday starring Murray Head as a bisexual artist involved with the straight Glenda Jackson and the gay Peter Finch. The film was made in 1971 and has the first male/male kiss in mainstream cinema. One of the great things about this film is that Finch’s character is a gay man for whom his gay-ness is not an issue but simply a part of who he is as a man. And the scene with Glenda Jackson crying and eating fudge has to be one of the best moments of acting in film.”

Watch the trailer (and reserve your DVD — coming November 22nd) for Daniel’s wonderful new women’s drama, TRIGGER — a powerful portrayal of the connection between two former rock and roll bandmates (Molly Parker and Tracy Wright) who reunite for a tribute show in hopes of recapturing their once magical connection.

Also from the pen of writer-actor Daniel MacIvor is the classic gay coming of age drama, WHOLE NEW THING (he stars in the film as well)!

Ashleigh Sumner (AND THEN CAME LOLA)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:31:19 +0000

“My favorite queer movie of all time is HIGH ART. Great performances. Great script. Great film. Lisa Cholodenko can do no wrong.”

Speaking of great performances, script and film be sure to check out Ashleigh in the fabulous lesbian feature, AND THEN CAME LOLA and her newest screen appearance in the gay comedy, I WANT TO GET MARRIED (co-starring Matthew Montgomery and coming to DVD December 13th, 2011).

Paul Marcarelli (writer, THE GREEN and yes, he was also the Verizon Guy)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:02:34 +0000

“I am a huge fan of all things Todd Haynes, and while his work is not exclusively LGBTQ focused, I would have to say his perspective and thematic drive have been immensely influential on my own work and creative sensibility. I love that in films like Poison, Safe and Superstar (which I was lucky enough to see on VHS back in the early 90′s), he exposes the darker corners of the human psyche, but at the same time, he finds a way to challenge us to respond with the broadest possible spectrum of emotion and thought. After watching the full eight hours of his Mildred Pierce (two times through) a few months back, I decided to watch Far From Heaven again. I love that movie. Every frame possesses its own energy, tension, beauty and purpose. In it he pays homage to the films of Douglas Sirk, specifically All That Heaven Allows, but also manages to comment on the culture and mores of America in the 1950s in a way that feels fresh and totally relevant to a contemporary audience. And it holds up. In fact I think this film and what it has to say about the potent toxicity of repression will remain important until someone figures out how to do away with homophobia in all its forms. Even then, the film would stand on its own as great story-telling.”

Click thru now to watch the trailer (or order your DVD) of Paul’s powerful new gay drama, THE GREEN (coming to DVD from Wolfe November 22nd) or look for it on VOD and digital nationwide starting October 18th.

Marie [Riese] Lyn Bernard (Autostraddle.com Editor in Chief and CEO)

Q Movie Blog — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:41:53 +0000

“I’m gonna say that SAVING FACE, objectively, is the best lesbian movie I’ve ever seen. It’s so underrated, but impeccably orchestrated, funny, and compelling, like any good romantic comedy. The best foreign lesbian movie ever is FUCKING AMAL [SHOW ME LOVE]. So tender! But my heart of hearts of hearts, because it lives inside my body which has eyeballs, has seen BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER 56 times, and will see it 56 more times before I die, because it is a masterpiece, and one of a handful of lesbian movies I feel like straight people have also seen and/or heard of. Right? It’s so funny. And Clea Duvall! Mhm.”

Discover more of Riese’s fabulous writing and the joys of her wonderful lesbian website — Autostraddle.com!

Jane Lynch (L Word, GLEE, Bam Bam & Celeste)

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:16:18 +0000

“My favorite LGBT film is DESERT HEARTS. During one summer in the early 90′s I had occasion to watch this film via video over 50 times! It was a major transitional time for me and Donna Deitch’s beautiful desert landscape and passionate images set my imagination flying. A stranger in a strange land hoping to escape herself only to be faced with herself. It all starts with a train coming into town and ends with a train leaving town; classic. Never had I seen in celluloid such real passion and desire between two women. I also adore Audra Lindley’s performance; the scene with Helen Shaver in the lodge over brandy is genius. I could not get enough of this story. Nor would my romantic musings let it go as I created an entire scenario for Cate and Vivian after they got on that train to New York.”

We love her on GLEE, adore her on THE L WORD and are always thrilled to see in her dozens of amazing performances! Own one of Jane’s funniest roles (in BAM BAM & CELESTE) or check her out in FABULOUS!: THE STORY OF QUEER CINEMA.

Ash Christian (director, MANGUS!)

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:13:14 +0000

“My favorite LGBT film would have to be TORCH SONG TRILOGY. It really affected me when I saw it. I think it was the first queer film that I saw – and it’s always stuck with me and really made me want to get out of my small town and move to New York. It was a great story with inspired actors and direction. It made me want to make movies to tell our stories to the rest of the world.”

See the trailer for Ash’s wonderful new movie, MANGUS! (coming to DVD and digital on December 6th from Wolfe)!

Craig Chester (actor-writer-director, ADAM & STEVE)

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:34:34 +0000

“My favorite LGBT film is one of the first - PARTING GLANCES. It’s one of the few films made about gay life and the AIDS crisis DURING the crisis. It’s incredibly observed, funny, warm, and true. It’s one of the few films that deals with the machinations of a committed relationship between two men and it’s refreshingly ‘grown up’ compared to most of the gay sex farces that seem to dominate now a days. Watching PARTING GLANCES reminds us of the most difficult period in our history – but also the time when we had the most soul.”

Discover Craig’s hilarious film ADAM & STEVE (yes — he wrote, directed and stars in it).

Erika Randall-Beahme (co-director, LEADING LADIES)

Q Movie Blog — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:53:22 +0000

“THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURE OF 2 GIRLS IN LOVE it is! I remember the countdown til this film came out. I remember the charge I felt waiting in line and then sitting in a theatre, a real, public theatre, waiting for the darkness to wash over the me, ready to lose myself in this love story… but more I remember loving being there in the light with all those other women just before it started, finding myself in a story about my own life, a story that was so new and unexpected. Teenage queer girls need these stories–and this film is, to me, part of the world that inspired LEADING LADIES.

Also, as a bisexual woman, CHASING AMY was/is really important to me. Choosing someone out of “100% of the population” has long been my mantra and was a revelation to me at the time. Plus I thought Joey Lauren Adams and her weird little voice were wicked hot.”

Erika’s wonderful new film, LEADING LADIES is available for pre-book now from WolfeVideo.com and hits the streets on September 13th at fine retailers everywhere. Erika is pictured above with husband Daniel Beahme at the recent premiere of the film at Frameline35: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (photo by Ana Grillo).

Paris Pickard (actress, A MARINE STORY)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:30:31 +0000

“I would say my favorite gay film is THE BIRDCAGE. My best friend Robin and I used to watch it religiously in middle school and memorize all the lines. I was a huge Robin Williams fan growing up, not a typical celebrity obsession for my generation but I was a bit of a weirdo. The Guatemalan housekeeper Agador never got old. I love the accent, it’s hilarious to me. That might have something to do with my having a Chilean girlfriend now, ya never know.”

Paris’s wonderful new film, A MARINE STORY is out on DVD now — you can order your copy (and watch the trailer) at WolfeVideo.com!

Alison McAtee (actress, BLOOMINGTON)

Q Movie Blog — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:06:04 +0000

“My favorite LGBT film would have to be: HEAVENLY CREATURES. The bathtub scene is a particular favorite. I love the layers of complexity — seeing a ‘gentleness’ that can also contain such violence. Albeit dark, it is a brilliant film. I equate ‘good art’ with that which stirs my soul, and those girls had me riveted.”

Alison’s wonderful new film, BLOOMINGTON is out on DVD now — you can order your copy (and watch the trailer) at WolfeVideo.com!

Sarah Stouffer (actress, BLOOMINGTON)

Q Movie Blog — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:47:02 +0000

“I would have to go totally new school with my pick and say my favorite LGBT film is THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. It has everything! It is light hearted and funny at moments and raw and emotional at others. It was perfect from start to finish for me!”

Sarah’s wonderful new film, BLOOMINGTON is coming to DVD and VOD on May 3rd — you can reserve your copy now (and watch the trailer) at WolfeVideo.com!

Fernanda Cardoso (director, BLOOMINGTON)

Q Movie Blog — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:39:38 +0000

“Hmm… my favorite LGBT movie… I love THE NIGHT LISTENER. I’m into mystery/thrillers and this is a very well told story. I like how Robin Williams never seems quite over the failed relationship with his ex-boyfriend. I guess I identify with the effort he puts into reaching out to other people, even when it ends up not being very good for him. I also have to give a shout out to GO FISH, a very important movie. Being a teenager in Brazil, I had never seen out gay folks on-screen doing “normal things” such as going out on dates. I know independent movies have gotten more sophisticated lately but this one was absolutely eye-opening to me at the time (and I have to say that as an editor I really dig those interstitials!).”

Fernanda’s wonderful new film, BLOOMINGTON is coming to DVD and VOD on May 3rd — you can reserve your copy now (and watch the trailer) at WolfeVideo.com!

Necar Zadegan (actress ELENA UNDONE)

Q Movie Blog — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:38:27 +0000

“I watched a good number of these movies when I was prepping for ELENA UNDONE and the two that stuck out for me were FIRE because it was filled with so much softness and beauty from the actors to the cinematography, and DESERT HEARTS because it wasn’t like a lesbian movie at all really, it was just a good old fashioned love story!”

Necar’s new movie, ELENA UNDONE is fresh out from Wolfe this month. Find it on DVD and VOD everywhere — or buy a copy from Wolfe right now.

Traci Dinwiddie (actress, ELENA UNDONE)

Q Movie Blog — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:22:47 +0000

“My fave LGBT films would be: DESERT HEARTS. I think it’s a total classic!
Also, a hot gal pal of mine turned me on to MY SUMMER OF LOVE. Really engaging storytelling. And for da Boys, a special mention of THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT and THE CRYING GAME.”

Traci’s hot new movie, ELENA UNDONE is out now on DVD and VOD everywhere — or buy a copy from Wolfe right now.

Rob Epstein (Howl, Times of Harvey Milk)

Q Movie Blog — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:26:13 +0000

“My favorite queer film (if you’re asking me right at this moment, and it could change on a dime) would be MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO. Like other Gus Van Sant films, this one has nothing to do with queer identity but everything to do with queer emotions and attraction. And it’s brilliant.”

One of the pioneers of LGBT cinema, Rob Epstein‘s most recent release, the Academy-Award nominated HOWL (starring James Franco as gay Beat poet Allen Ginsberg), is now available on DVD and Blu-ray right HERE.