Movies Dearz

With the holidays fast approaching, here are some new books that would make great gifts for all the cinematically inclined on your list... or yourself!

For the sci-fi fan: Filled with enough facts and figures on the creation of one of the most popular science fiction movies of all time to weigh down the Nostromo, Alien Vault: The Definitive Story of the Making of the Film(Ian Nathan, Voyageur Press) is a must have for all Alien aficiandos. The weighty tome features director Ridley Scott’s own annotated storyboards, Polaroids and script pages; the elegant but disturbing concept artwork of H.R. Giger; costume designs by Moebius; and ten meticulously reproduced artifacts, enclosed in vellum envelopes, for readers to remove and examine more closely.

For the Twi-hard: Blood-suckers on screen are all the rage of late, so it's not surprising that a fourth edition of Alain Silver and James Ursini's The Vampire Film(Limelight Editions) was unearthed earlier this year. Now subtitled "From Nosferatu to True Blood", this newly updated and expanded volume contains an enclycopedic listing of vampire movies and television programs and is chock-full of full color (mostly red) photos. The book is structured thematically, incorporating vampire films of all eras into chapters on vampire lore, male and female vampires, Dracula, and more.


For the aspiring screenwriter: If you think Hollywood films can be formulaic, screenwriter and film fanatic Todd Klick proves it in his new book Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs to Know(Michael Wiese Productions). A "how to" guide on how to write the next great screenplay, Klick does a minute-by-minute breakdown of classic and contemporary films to reveal the story telling technique that drives great movies, from Star Wars to Tootsie to The Six Sense to The Godfather. "Good movies do the exact same thing, across the board, in succession, during each and every minute. Doesn't matter if it's minute 1 or minute 101. Even if one movie ends at minute 85 and the next ends at 120, they still abide by this strict, minute-by-minute blueprint," says Klick.


For the classics connoisseur: Chronicling the 50 newest titles added to the National Film Registry in the past two years, Daniel Eagan's Americas Film Legacy: 2009-2010(Continuum Books) shines the spotlight on such favorites as Dog Day Afternoon, Grey Gardens, The Muppet Movie and Pillow Talk, as well as such lesser-known gems as Lonesome, Precious Images and Quasi at the Quackadero.

And speaking of the NFR, their 2012 Movie Poster Wall Calendar(Universe Publishing) is also available. Next year's edition includes poster art for such classics as It's a Wonderful Life, The Invisible Man, The Maltese Falcon, North by Northwest, Singin' in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz.

Click on the links above to order these books from Amazon.com.

Whether you're a T-Bird or a Pink Lady, the latest edition of Limelight Editions' Music on Film book series spotlighting the ultimate 50's musical Grease is the word. This compact tome, written by Stephen Tropiano (author of Music on Film: Cabaret and The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on Television) packs a whole lot of facts and trivia on the making of the #1 movie musical of all time into its 128 pages.

For example, did you know the Grease movie was almost an animated one directed by Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat)? Or that original casting ideas included Elvis as Danny, Ann-Margret as Sandy and Lucie Arnaz as Rizzo? Or that the film's famed Rydell High was actually three separate Los Angeles-area high school locations?  Or how infamous porn star Harry Reems came this close to playing the school's athletics coach?


A quick read, Grease: Music on Film also delves into the creation of the original stage musical, through its three Broadway productions all the way up to its recent Chicago revival that returned to the show's raunchier, R-rated roots. In addition to insights from Grease creators Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, quotes and anecdotes from the filmmakers -- including infamous producer Allan Carr, first-time feature director Randal Kleiser and members of the cast -- are also featured.

Beyond the stage and screen Greases, the book also covers its less-than-successful (but still beloved in certain circles) sequel Grease 2 as well as its presence on television, like the You're the One That I Want reality competition series that cast its last New York revival. I particularly got a kick out of the list of promotional tie-ins, like the "Grease Hustle", that were attempted around the time of the film's 1978 premiere.  Alas, they didn't include some of the various merchandise, such as the Grease Barbie line,that have sprung up over the past 30+ years.

Although scant on pictures, Grease: Music on Film will definitely be the "one that you want" for every Grease fan. Click hereto purchase the book from Amazon.com.

Curious about a career in craft services? Think you got what it takes to be an on-set tutor for Abigail Breslin or a stunt double for Pamela Anderson? Always wondered how you could be a hair stylist on American Idol or the co-host of Entertainment Tonight? If you are looking to make it big in show biz but don't know how to do it, authors and entertainment industry vets Mark Scherzer and Keith Fenmore may have the answers for you in their new book Hire Me, Hollywood!

Subtitled "Your Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Most Exciting — and Unexpected — Jobs in Show Business", this breezy tome is more of a "how did" than a "how to" as it serves up enlightening (and "uncensored") interviews with thirty "industry insiders". Some of the names you'll recognize (Stan Lee, Leonard Maltin, True Blood's Sam Trammell), most you won't. For Hire Me, Hollywood! covers every link in the show biz food chain, from heads of network programming and senior talent producers on down to the guy who makes protein shakes for the stars.

Each interviewee (including at least three out participants: Dancing with the Stars costume supervisor Howard Sussman, creative director David Thomas and special effects artist Steven J. Scott) offers up their own stories of how they made it in their various fields. From nerve-racking first days on set to personal career triumphs (like being singled out for praise by none other than James Cameron), one tenet remains constant throughout: be passionate about what you do and things will happen for you. In other words, think of Hire Me, Hollywood! as a "How to Succeed in Show Business by Really Trying... and With a Little Bit of Luck!"

Hire Me, Hollywood! is now available for purchase at Amazon.com.

The cavalcade of Yuletide-themed movies and TV shows seems to grow longer and denser with each passing year. When I was a kid, we only really had the Rankin-Bass animated specials such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to look forward to, as well as It’s a Wonderful Life and a few film adaptations of A Christmas Carol. Each December now brings a number of new productions intended to help a cheer-hungry public ring in the holidays… and make a tidy profit for their backers in the process.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (opening December 3 in New York and in Los Angeles on December 10) is a clever horror-comedy suitable for older teens and adults. In Finnish writer-director Jalmari Helander’s feature film debut, an archaeological team uncovers biological evidence behind a local Santa Claus-related legend. Whereas Northern European Christians believed St. Nicholas rewarded well-behaved children at Christmas time, they also told stories of a massive horned beast — the Krampus — that would punish naughty boys and girls by beating them, carrying them to Hell and/or eating them.


In Rare Exports, the Krampus is all too real if in a temporary state of suspended animation, and it comes complete with vicious, protective “elves” awakened by the archaeological dig. A little boy, Pietari (endearingly played by Onni Tommila), notices his friends are starting to disappear along with his neighbors’ potato sacks and electrical appliances. As Pietari realizes what’s going on, it falls to him to convince his father and other adults in town before the Krampus regains its strength and goes on a rampage.

Helander has an excellent visual style in addition to his storytelling skills. He is assisted very well here by cinematographer Mika Orasmaa. The film’s low budget is at times apparent and ultimately prohibits an all-out presentation of monster mayhem, but Rare Exports still boasts fine acting (Peeter Jakobi, who plays “Santa” initially, is creepily good) and impressive if minimal special effects. The screenplay features inspiring messages common to the holiday movie genre about faith (in this case, “Always believe… always”) and family, as well as a very funny finale. This is a must-see for anyone interested in a darker take on Christmas myths and traditions.


Happy Holidays is another new, frequently funny if less-than-“merry and bright” Christmas story. It is currently available for viewing on Hulu, iTunes and Amazon On Demand but will be screening theatrically this December in New York, various New England cities, and Los Angeles (visit the film's official website for details).

Set in Connecticut, the plot revolves around a gay man, Patrick (the engaging Paul Hungerford). The pet groomer backs out of their planned trip to see his partner’s family for Christmas when an old high school friend calls with a crisis. Alden (John Crye) has turned down his longtime girlfriend’s marriage proposal, primarily because he has recently converted to Judaism and she isn’t Jewish. Alden’s conversion is news to Patrick, but he feels guilty about Alden spending Christmas alone even if his friend is no longer celebrating the holiday.

The two are soon reunited with another friend from their high school days, Kirby (Thomas Rhoads, who does a great job of making his unpleasant character likable). Kirby is back in town for his father’s funeral, so Patrick and Alden are duly sympathetic at first. Things change, though, once they discover Kirby cheating on his wife and Kirby begins speaking negatively of Patrick and his partner’s relationship.


The talented James C. Ferguson, who wrote and directed Happy Holidays, seems to have taken many cues from the cinematic master of East Coast angst, Woody Allen. While the film’s seriocomic dialogue is perhaps most reminiscent of Hannah and Her Sisters, Ferguson chose to shoot in black and white à la such Allen works as Manhattan, Stardust Memories and Celebrity (as Allen has often drawn from the b&w style of Ingmar Bergman). The photography is great except in a gym-set scene, during which the actors’ faces appear murkier than need be.

Ferguson’s script and the film are best when it keeps things light; the characters’ more serious conversations tend to be too long and intense. Most of Happy Holidays is smart and frequently amusing, especially its score that has fun with Christmas and period music stylings. The opening jazzy title music instantly brings Charlie Brown’s “Christmas Time is Here” to mind and the film’s closing song, “Happy Generic Winter Holiday,” is a hoot.


Finally, the holiday season can’t be called complete by gay men until all have seen Make the Yuletide Gay. This occasionally amateurish but sweet-natured and thoroughly enjoyable comedy by Rob Williams (of the more recent, award-winning Role/Play) was released on DVD earlier this year by TLA Releasing.

Beyond these three movies, one can rightly wonder how to begin sifting through the glut of mediocre movie merriment each year to find the true seasonal gifts? Fortunately, gay film critic Alonso Duralde has ridden to the rescue! The author of 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men has just published Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas (Limelight Editions), a handy guide to virtually every film that has anything remotely to do with the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.


What I enjoy most about reading another critic’s take on a particular genre is learning more about movies I’ve never seen and, in a few cases, never heard of. In this regard, I’ve put several films Duralde mentions on my “must see” list this season provided I can hunt them all down. They include the French films La Buche and A Christmas Tale; the 1944 film noir-musical Christmas Holiday, starring Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin; The Silent Partner, a heist movie featuring Christopher Plummer as a villainous mall Santa; and the documentary The Store, which focuses on a Neiman-Marcus store in Texas weathering the all-important holiday season.

Reverend’s Ratings:
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale: B+
Happy Holidays: B
Make the Yuletide Gay: C+

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

If you, like me, spent your teen years obsessing over getting into the next high school musical, you'll find a lot to identify with — and enjoy — in Drama Queers!

Author Frank Anthony Polito's fab follow up to his debut novel Band Fags!, Drama Queers! recounts in loving detail the trials and tribulations of, you guessed it, being a "drama queer".  Stuck in the "sorry little suburb" of Hazel Park, Michigan circa 1987, Polito's semi-autobiographical protagonist, Bradley James Dayton, yearns to be a star of stage and screen ... but first he has to graduate from "Hillbilly High".  Complicating matters is his reluctance to be an "openly gay actor", a situation not made any easier when the senior falls for a cute sophomore who also happens to be his chief rival for the lead in the next school play.  And that's just a hint of all the "drama" in this drama department.

Enriching Polito's first-person narrative is a steady stream of pop culture references familiar to anyone who grew up in the 80's, from Jane Seymour's Somewhere in Time monologue to the love theme from Ice Castles. Take it from a fellow member of the Class of '87, Drama Queers! is one "totally awesome" flashback you'll want to take.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Frank and Drama Queers!, winner of the Lambda Literary Foundation Award for "Best Gay Romance" of 2009!

Like this comic strip take on Cinderella by Vince Musacchia, all the classic toon royals get artistic makeovers in the new book The Art of the Disney Princess.

Click here to see more artwork from the book, including Snow White, Belle and the newest Disney princess, Tiana, star of The Princess and the Frog, opening nationwide this Friday.

On November 22, I had the pleasure of joining the cast of Phoenix Rising Artists Collaborative as they presented their last night of Charles Busch's hilarious play, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. All proceeds went to the Desert Mountain States Chapter of the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, which has been helping people fight the diseases since 1949.

As part of the fundraising effort, Charles Busch graciously agreed to personally sign a copy of his novel, Whores of Lost Atlantis, and send it to the person who made the highest bid. At the show, the highest bid offered was $100.00, but we at Movie Dearest are happy to open the bidding up to you, our readers, for the next two days.

If you would like to pledge a donation, please let me know at reelthoughts@aol.com by midnight Thanksgiving night. If your pledge is the highest, we will inform you how to make your donation, and will send your name and address to Mr. Busch, so that he can personally sign and send you your book.

Whores of Lost Atlantis is Busch's fictionalized story of how a wild group of actors came together to create a show not unlike Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, in a bar not unlike the East Village's notorious Limbo Lounge. Busch is as delightful a novelist as he is a playwright, so you'll love trying to discern what events in the book really happened.

By Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.