(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Zootopia; Eddie the Eagle; London Has Fallen!

DISNEY

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Zootopia
3 STARS

Inventive Zootopia an Animated Mammal Metropolis of Fun!

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: MK gets Below 'The Surface' with Director, Michael Saul, now on DVD and VOD!

Saul with actors, Hains and Redford        (Ariztical)

by MK Scott

Following a world premiere at Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, The Surface has captivated audiences and critics at screenings nationwide.

From award-winning director Michael J. Saul (Crush, Adults Only, Go Go Reject), The Surface stars Australian model Harry Hains in his leading role debut, alongside Michael Redford and Nicholas McDonald.

The Surface tells the story of Evan Jones, an orphan who was shifted from one foster home to another for years. Now a disaffected college student, he lives with his wealthy boyfriend, Chris. Their social and financial differences have made their relationship increasingly volatile despite their love for one another.

While sifting through relics at an elderly man's yard sale, Evan finds an 8mm movie camera. The man offers to teach Evan how to use it if he comes back the following week. Upon returning, Evan meets the man's 43-year-old son, Peter. Peter gives him reels of old 8mm movies that are collecting dust in the garage. The home movies, featuring a young Peter and his boyhood friend touch a nerve with Evan. Their youthful flirtations and tenderness are uncomplicated and pure. Evan begins to live vicariously through the home movies and his friendship with Peter soon turns romantic. Evan's relationship with Chris splinters as he pushes for greater understanding of himself and the notions of family, love and fulfillment.

I spoke with Saul, via email, about his intriguing film and what's next? 

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: All about Arthur Allen's 'WINNING DAD' available at Vimeo On-Demand on 12/1!

by MK Scott

Just in time for the holidays--the season of many potentially strained family dinners--comes "Winning Dad," a movie that aims to ease the generational divide over gay rights through humor and understanding.


Already an audience favorite (and one of my Top 5 at this years SLGFF) at more than a dozen film festivals around the world, "Winning Dad," will soon be available, according to a press release, in the US exclusively through Vimeo-On-Demand on December 1st.

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: Jake Biondi Moves Forward with Boystown, Season 4!

by MK Scott

According to his Press Release and in honor of his birthday on November 5, author Jake Biondi is pre-releasing autographed paperback copies of his highly anticipated book ‘BOYSTOWN Season Four.’ The signed novels will be available on his website www.JakeBiondi.com beginning on November 5. All other formats for the book will be released on November 13!


Biondi revealed the cover for the fourth book of his ‘BOYSTOWN’ series on October 1 and the response has been incredibly positive. “Fans are crazy about fourth book’s cover,” Biondi said. “In fact, some fans have said it’s the hottest one yet.” The cover of the book, which was designed by Michael Vargas, features many of the ‘BOYSTOWN Boys’ whom readers have come to associate with the series.

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: MK chats with Director, Tom Bezucha, about 15 yrs of his milestone, Big Eden, now available on Blu Ray!

Bezucha and Gross on the set in 2000           (WOLFE)

by MK Scott

As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, we also have to honor the 15th for Big Eden. 

Appearing on numerous top LGBT movie lists since its wildly popular debut in 2000, BIG EDEN stars Arye Gross as Henry Hart, a thirty-something gay artist living in New York City who returns to his Montana hometown of Big Eden to visit his ailing grandfather, Sam (George Coe). Henry has never actually come out to Grandpa Sam, and as he grapples with his own process of self-acceptance he also continues to pine over handsome Dean Stewart, his straight crush from high school (Tim DeKay, "White Collar"). As the town's general store proprietor Pike Dexter (Eric Schweig, "Blackstone") begins to fall for Henry, the people of Big Eden rise to the occasion to play cupid.

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Bastards: Visit; Walk in the Woods!

SHOUT!

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Bloodsucking Bastards
3 STARS

Goofy Bastards Draws Just Enough Blood to Satisfy!

Universal Pictures

The Visit
3 STARS

Shyamalan Returns to Form with Creepily Imaginative Visit!

Broad Green Pictures

A Walk in the Woods
2 STARS

Woods a Respectful, if Forgettable, Walk into the Wilderness!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of We Are Your Friends; No Escape; Mistress America!!

WB

by Sara Michelle Fetters

We Are Your Friends
2 STARS

We Are Not Your Friends an Energetic Music-Driven Cliché!

Weinstein Company

No Escape
3 STARS

Brutal No Escape a Relentlessly Bloodthirsty Thriller!

Fox Searchlight

Mistress America
3 STARS

Baumbach’s Mistress a Theatrically Charming Comedy!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of U.N.C.L.E.; Phoenix; Straight Outta!

Warner Bros

by Sara Michelle Fetters

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
3 STARS

Ritchie’s U.N.C.L.E. an Elegantly Classy Update!

Sundance Selects

Phoenix
4 STARS

Spellbinding Phoenix a Thrilling Resurrection!

Universal Pictures

Straight Outta Compton
3 STARS

N.W.A. Still Has Lots of Import to Say in Biopic Straight Outta Compton!

(MOVIE FREAK) F4 2.0; RICKI; GIFT!

20th Century Fox

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Fantastic Four
1 STAR

Fantastic Four Clobbers the Audience with Moronic Stupidity!

TriStar Pictures / Sony

Ricki and the Flash
3 STARS

Ricki and the Flash a Rocking Good Time!

STX Entertainment

The Gift
4 STARS

Edgerton’s Gift an Unsettling Psychological Stunner!

(OUTview AMERICA) CLASSIC: MK's 2010 chat with Caitlyn's new 'Pal', Candis Cayne!

Cayne waves to the crowd at the 2010 Vancity Pride                MKS

by MK Scott

This is an interview I did with Candis Cayne in 2010, actually 5 yrs ago this week. Candis was chosen to be a Grand Marshal for the Vancouver BC Pride and we had met previously that January in West Hollywood at her then-weekly show at the Abbey. These days she is still in demand and even Laverne Cox has given Cayne raves for opening the door for Trans Actresses in Hollywood. Now, Cayne is" hanging and being a mentor" to Caitlyn Jenner and will be a regular on the E! Series, "I am Cait" airing tonight. Here is my 2010 interview, sorry for the quality, I was using my camera phone.

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE INTER-view: Greg Louganis on Survival and his Doc, Back on Board, Debuting on HBO This Week!

lgbtqnation.com

by MK Scott

Last Fall, The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival opened with Greg Louganis' Documentary, Back on Board: Greg Louganis. In attendence was Greg Louganis and I had Brief moment with the Olympic Diving Gold Medalist and Gay/AIDS Activist. Now the film is finally airing on HBO on Tues, Aug 4th. Here is a repost of that interview:

(MOVIE FREAK) M.I.- 5 Vs. Vacation-5 plus Look of Silence!

Paramount Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Mission: Impossible 5
3 STARS

M:I Fuse Still Ablaze with Relentlessly Thrilling Rogue Nation!

WB

Vacation 5
1 STAR

Latest Vacation a Very Bad Trip!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Ant-Man; Southpaw; Tangerine!

Marvel Studios

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Ant-Man
3 STARS

Diminutive Ant-Man a Heroically Goofy Good Time!

Weinstein Company

Southpaw
2 STARS

Superbly Acted Southpaw an Emotionally Manipulative Rope-a-Dope!

Magnolia Pictures

Tangerine
3 STARS

Exhilarating Tangerine a Gender-Bending Odyssey to Self!

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: MK Chats with the Woman behind WOLFE VIDEO on 30 years of Change and Progress!

WOLFE

by MK  Scott

For the past 30 years, the Queer Film mail-order market has changed, and no other company has changed in for the times and had a major contribution to change in the LGBT Community, has been Wolfe Video and its founder, Kathy Wolfe.


Kathy began Wolfe Video as a small mail order distribution outlet serving a largely untapped audience of lesbians and gay men eager for films that spoke to their own lives. Now active in both the film distribution and releasing arenas, Wolfe enjoys a strong presence in the marketplace as the most successful distributor of independent, studio-produced and “self-authored” gay and lesbian themed film, video and DVD products. Kathy has been honored by the National Organization for Women as a recipient of its “Excellence in Media Award,” by Forbes Magazine as an “Up and Comer,” and by The Advocate as a “Hollywood Star Player.” In her spare time, Kathy is an avid restorer of historic buildings; an adventurous traveler; and a collector of almost everything.I was delighted to chat with this true Pioneer this past week!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Minions; Do I Sound Gay?; Self/Less!

Universal Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Minions
2 STARS

Minions Less Despicable, More Forgettable!

Sundance Selects

Do I Sound Gay?
3 STARS

Gay Sounds Off On Complex Questions!

Gramercy Pictures

Self/Less

Existential Sci-Fi Thriller Self/Less Self Destructs!

(OUTview AMERICA) MK INTER-views Mark Strano, Star and Writer of TIGER ORANGE, Now on DVD!

Wolfe

by MK Scott

Wolfe Video's gay drama TIGER ORANGE is available TODAY! After premiering at Outfest in 2014 (winning the Grand Jury award for best actor) and completing a successful and award-winning festival tour, this heartfelt small town drama is being released by Wolfe Video in celebration of 2015 summer gay pride events and festivals. I saw this at the 2014 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival last fall and was one of the good ones. The script was unique and the performances were incredible about 2 Gay Brothers that couldn't be more different than Night and Day. Frankie Valenti aka former adult star Johnny Hazzard plays the Out and Proud and Aggressive brother, while Mark Strano plays the submissive Gay, but traditional brother playing it straight in a small town that he feels content and a responsibility to carry on the Family legacy. I chatted with Strano who shares more insight on the story and its characters. 

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Magic Mike XXL; T5; Gemma Bovery!

WB

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Magic Mike XXL
3 Stars

Mike Still Has Plenty of Magic!

Paramount Pictures

Terminator Genisys
2 Stars

Initially Intriguing Terminator Reboot an Irrelevant Misfire!

Music Box Films

Gemma Bovery
3 Stars

Arterton Shines in Imaginatively Crafted Gemma Bovery!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of TED 2; Overnight; Little Death!

Universal

by Sara Michelle Fetters

TED 2

Ted 2 an Inelegant Sequel and a Worse Satire!

The Orchard

The OVERNIGHT

Bawdy Overnight a Promiscuously Adventurous Affair!

Magnolia

The LITTLE DEATH

Spottily Amusing Death a Limp Sex Comedy!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Inside Out; Dope; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!

Disney/Pixar

by Sara Michelle Fetters


Inside Out

Imaginative Inside Out a Magical Mind Trip!

Open Road Films

Dope

Energetic Dope Overflowing in Youthful Vitality!

Fox Searchlight

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Hanging Out with Me and Earl to Die For!

(MOVIE FREAK) RE-views of Jurassic World; Barely Lethal; Saint Laurent!

Universal

by Sara Michelle Fetters


Jurassic World

Jurassic World Opens Crichton’s Park to Dino-Sized Adventure!

A24

Barely Lethal

Barely Lethal Lacks a Killer Instinct!

Sony Pictures Classics

Saint Laurent

Visually Assertive Laurent Uncomfortably Incomplete!