Walking the Line
Scandal can be so delicious, until it's served on youhttp://www.outsmartmagazine.com/advertising/adconduit.php?jumpurl=www.oasisintown.com/&adbanner plate. 'The Walker' comes to DVD. Plus DVD shorts including 'Sweeney Todd,' Tila Tequila, and Bette Davis. Feature by Eric A.T. Dieckman; DVD shorts by Nancy Ford, Eric A.T. Dieckman, and Jack Varsi
With a fantastic supporting cast (Lauren Bacall, OutSmart cover girl Lily Tomlin, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, and more), Woody Harrelson takes the lead role as Carter Page III, a Tennessee Williams-styled Southern homosexual living in the shadow of his father, a man who played a significant role in uncovering the Watergate scandal. A Washington, DC, socialite, Page's only foray into politics is his role as confidant, card partner, and platonic escort to the wives of some of the most powerful men in the country.
He leads a fastidious life, everything in its place, whether it's his expensive toupee or the people in his life. He keeps his relationship with his lover to himself, though he is open about his sexuality, to the amusement of his jet-setting canasta partners. He puts off finding a gallery for his lover, a fine-art photographer who makes his living as a paparazzo.
When Page drops his close friend (Scott Thomas) off for a rendezvous, the friend finds her lover murdered. Protecting her from scandal, Page comes to her aid. Instantly, he becomes the chief suspect in a very serious criminal investigation. Frustrated, he chides his boyfriend for being part of a system that could easily discredit him forever. Even though his many connections begin to deteriorate in no time at all, Page maintains his cool, spouting off clever Southern-sounding witticisms throughout. He, with his partner's help, must take it upon himself to clear his own name, and save himself from the humiliating transition of socialite to outcast.
Ironically, his paparazzo papi's very trade helps to save the day. As the real murderer flees the two, the boyfriend, with a small digital camera, snaps shots of him as they chase after him. The flash is enough to blind him, preventing him from seeing a car just before it collides with him. Oh, paparazzi, we hate that we love you.
Harrelson plays a flamboyant homosexual without the expected flamboyant affectations. Moreover, he shows us a strong individual who astutely conceals his vulnerabilities. There are few moments when his weakness surfaces, but when they do, we see someone as human and afraid as the rest of us. Tomlin does a fantastic job as a friend who seems unconditional at first, but merely fair-weathered and, in the end, just as political with her relationships as the city in which the film is set.
Photo caption: Walk like a man. Woody Harrelson as Carter Page III is the gay escort of characters played by Lauren Bacall, Kristen Scott Thomas, and Lily Tomlin in The Walker. ___________________________________
DVD Shorts
Forgiving the Franklins What happens when a born-again Christian family has a collective near-death experience and meets Jesus who then strips away the trappings of original sin? They awake to find themselves staring as innocently at the world as Adam and Eve. But their jaded moral-majority neighbors are not ready for purity and innocence free of the confines of right-wing dogma. And when the son (of legal age) explores homosexuality with his gym coach, coach is not prepared for the boy to be so open about their relationship. The suburbs will not allow a return to the Garden of Eden. 2006. Written, directed, and shot by Jay Floyd. From Indie-Pictures (www.indie-pictures.com). Preview: Eric A.T. Dieckman
Spider Lilies In this David Lynch-esque, award-winning film by Zero Chou, Jade (Taiwanese pop icon Rainie Yang) is a webcam girl with a heart of gold and a life-long crush on Takeko, a butchy yet sensitive inker. Together they learn that behind every tattoo is a secret. Wolfe Video (www.wolfevideo.com). Preview: Nancy Ford
Boys Love Conservatives find love through unexpected romances with reckless free spirits, regardless of language or culture. In this case, young magazine editor Akira (uptight) interviews teen model Kisaragi (wild). The interview begins at Kisaragi's home where Akira is taken by Kisa's paintings. The interview continues over dinner, then moves steamily to a bathroom stall. But the demands of Akira's career and jealousy from Kisa's compatriots put their passion to the test. 2006. Co-written and directed by Kohtaru Terauchi. Japanese with English subtitles. From Picture This! Home Entertainment (www.picturethisent.com). Preview: E.D.
Sonja What's cuter than a young brunette girl dancing around in her underwear? A young brunette girl dancing around in her underwear who speaks German in a soft voice. In this award-wining coming-of-age story, 16-year-old Sonja finds a friend and confidant in the scooter-riding Julia. The more their friendship grows, the more they realize their mutual love is more than platonic. And they dance in a locker room in their skivvies, too. 2006. Written and directed by Kirsi Marie Liimatainen. German with English subtitles. From Picture This! Home Entertainment (www.picturethisent.com). Preview: E.D.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical becomes bloody resplendent under the guiding hands of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, and more. (Well, it's resplendent, and bloody, very bloody.) If you've ever wondered if Depp can sing, he can, and quite well. His duet with Carter is both hilarious and touching. 2007. Directed by Tim Burton. From Paramount Home Entertainment (www.paramount.com). Review: E.D.
A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila MTV made the first reality dating show wherein lesbians compete (alongside straight men) for the love of a bisexual woman, cyber-sexpot Tila Tequila. Unfortunately, reality shows are not known for making anyone look good. The lesbians exhibit themselves as pernicious man-haters, and Tequila comes off as more dilettantish and fashionably bi than legitimately gay. The show also makes VH1's The Flavor of Love look like PBS' Masterpiece Theater. From Paramount Home Entertainment (www.paramount.com). Review: E.D.
Last Request Despite a promising cast (Danny Aiello, openly gay Mario Cantone, Mary Birdsong of Reno 911, Frank Vincent, and Vincent Pastore, both of The Sopranos), this screwball comedy is just plain terrible. Pop (Aiello) is on his deathbed. His dying request: a grandchild on the way before he croaks. Son Jeff bungles his plans to find wife and impregnate her in time. 2006. Written and directed by John DeBellis. From MTI Home Video (www.mtivideo.com). Review: E.D.
Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory Vol. 3 and The Bette Davis Collection The new "Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory Volume 3" mines the MGM vaults once again and comes up with an assortment of films that probably won't impress the casual (read: nonobsessed) movie viewer, but may induce something like nirvana in those of us who actually exist for, say, obscure Ann Sothern movies. Yes, Miss Sothern turns up in at least two of these not-quite-classics, 1941's Lady Be Good and 1950's Nancy Goes to Rio, while the nearly forgotten Eleanor Powell tap dances her way into our hearts and damn near through the floor in three of them, namely 1936's Born to Dance and the Broadway Melody extravaganzas of 1936 and 1938, the latter featuring Judy Garland's legendary Dear Mr. Gable. Other goodies include Two Weeks With Love (1950), Deep in My Heart (1954), and Hit the Deck (1955). Perhaps the real standout of this set is 1955's Kismet, with Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Vic Damone, and Dolores Grey alternately shouting, screeching, and steamrolling those lovely melodies of Alexander Borodin.
Meanwhile, a new Bette Davis Collection showcases the iconic actress in her post-Warner Bros. period, with films ranging from 1950's classic All About Eve to 1965's not-quite-so-classic The Nanny. This is perhaps the third or fourth release of All About Eve on DVD, but the new two-disc special edition boasts extras that hardcore obsessives won't be able to live without. (Don't miss the featurette on the real Eve Herrington!) Other titles include 1955's The Virgin Queen, making its DVD debut here, plus Phone Call From a Stranger (1952) and Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964.)
If you must know, there is also a "Bette Davis Collection Volume 3" that has just been released by another company and not sent to us for preview. Miss Davis, it appears, will always be with us. Classic Musicals from Warner Home Video (www.warnerbros.com). Bette Davis from Fox Home Entertainment (www.foxhome.com). Reviews: Jack Varsi
