Michael Jackson 1958-2009 (RIP)

I don't know what to say... two pop culture icons lost in one day. I was leaving for the movies when I first heard the news (then but a rumor) so I'm just catching up now. Like many pop stars Michael Jackson wanted to be in movies and the Peter Pan obsession in particular was one he never shied away from expressing. His Steven Spielberg / Peter Pan project never happened -- well it did but without songs and without Michael Jackson and in a different form altogether -- and neither did the movies. But, like Madonna, he was a mammoth small screen star by way of the music video.

And a mammoth star in general.

I can't say that I was ever a big fan and the sordid tabloid problems turned me off as much as anyone but it was hard to live through the 70s or 80s without having some connection to his work. Here are four of my favorites from his oeuvre. I'm not claiming they're necessarily his best but they're four that mean something to me personally or bring back vivid good memories.

And finally Liberian Girl and Leave Me Alone. I include these not because they have special significance to me but because they perfectly illustrate Michael Jackson's obsession with celebrity in general and the family he found in other celebrities. There are tons of stars in the first video (including Olivia Newton John & John Travolta "acting" together!) and it's dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor, the lone Jackson obsession to which I can fully relate. She's one of the true immortals. La Liz also factors heavily into the second video.

Madonna's statement...


Well said.

Suggested reads
Towleroad have you heard Jay Brannan's sung tribute? It's beautiful
Arjan Writes is shocked
Roger Ebert has a great piece
The Disney Blog remembers Captain Eo
fourfour Rich is as readable as ever

If all the shit that he went through couldn't knock Thriller, Off the Wall, Bad and, to whatever degree, Dangerous and HIStory out of our hearts, minds and asses, a little thing like death isn't going to, either.

Scanners investigates the mask and the problems with adult stardom
IFC Daily collects the web obits
Gawker collects the headlines. God, the NY Post is an embarrasment
A Socialite's Life collects the celebrity reactions

GLAAD it wasn't Chuck and Larry

I never know what to make of GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. I totally understand their raison d'etre but they've made some odd calls over the years. Remember when they totally endorsed that Adam Sandler movie? The one with the absurd and frankly damaging premise that gay men have it easy when it comes to employer benefits and insurance.

Anywayyyyy. Like every organization that has more than 1 member they give out awards. Here are their film-related nominees for the year that was...

Outstanding Film – Wide Release
Brideshead Revisited (Miramax Films)
Milk (Focus Features)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Columbia Pictures)
RocknRolla (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (The Weinstein Company)

The new Brideshead underlined the previously gay-in-subtext-only nature of the piece so I understand why they went for it even if I didn't think much of it. Milk is a gimme. I've already mentioned how pleased I was with Nick and Norah's take on sexuality. I assume VCB is here due to the molten hotness of the Scarlett & Penélope mash session. Weren't they aware that that's too much hot for a darkroom? I mean, there are chemicals in there, ladies! I enjoyed that CruzJo tangle as much as any man would have, but it still seems like a stretch to me for this award. RocknRolla is here because...??? If you've seen it, please share in the comments. I didn't know there was anything queer about Guy Ritchie Guy Ritchie's latest.

Outstanding Film - Limited Release
The Edge of Heaven (Strand Releasing)
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (New Open Door Productions)
Save Me (First Run Features)
Shelter (Regent Releasing)
XXY (Film Movement)

I'm sort of angry that everyone began to write about how great The Edge of Heaven (pictured left) was after it had already left the cinema. Why didn't anyone tell me of its worth when it was in theaters? I suppose this is a "my bad" situation since I loved Head On by the same director. I should've pounced on that one. The others I'm less familiar with beyond the Oscar submission XXY and the pleasant Shelter (which I wrote about here). But if they were going foreign here I find it hard to believe that there weren't worthier entries than a Noah's Arc film. GLAAD was into threesomes this year apparently so why not Christophe Honoré's Love Songs?

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY
Chris & Don: A Love Story (Zeitgeist Films)
Freeheld (Cinemax)
A Jihad for Love (First Run Features)
Saving Marriage (Regent Releasing)
Sex Change Hospital (WE tv)

Freeheld was an Oscar winner last year. I've heard good things about A Jihad for Love which is about gay and lesbian muslims. Have any of you seen it? I have a Chris & Don screener. I have too many screeners. When can I watch them? If only screeners would arrive steadily throughout the year and not crush the postman with their weight during Oscar season. Poor flattened postman.

Off-Cinema I was pleased to see nominations for music artists like Jay Brannan, Magnetic Fields and Hercules and Love Affair. GLAAD's theatrical awards went very tranny. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If you ever have a chance to see Justin Bond (the total genius -- "gee-nee-uss" to quote Pené -- of Kiki & Herb fame, Dina Martina or Taylor Mac perform, you must. But approach with caution if you're the sensitive or easily frightened type.

Here's a full list of GLAAD nominees for those who are interested.

Now Playing: 4th Leftovers, Del Toro's Menagerie and Roman Polanski?

L I M I T E D
<--- August assembles an interesting cast, Josh Hartnett, David Bowie, Robin Tunney, Naomie Harris and Rip Torn to tell the story of a dot com entrepeneur (Hartnett) in crisis
Death Defying Acts -This Harry Houdini bio actually got made after all? I'd lost track. Guy Pearce & Catherine Zeta-Jones
Garden Party Elusive Vinessa Shaw and the O.C.'s Willa Holland headline this sexual LA ensemble piece
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired I'm totally confused about this documentary. I liked it a lot. It showed on cable and now it's in theaters? Oh for wacky distribution.
The Stone Angel Ellen Burstyn remembers her past as a feisty young woman (played by Christine Horne). Based on the bestseller.

Roman Polanski Wanted and Desired & Death Defying Acts

W I D E
Hellboy II: The Golden Army Guillermo Del Toro brings his menagerie of comic book adapted beasties back. Will his recent Pan's Labyrinth breakthrough bring in a larger audience for the second round?
Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D! My BFF turned to me after this trailer played the other day and said "All the movie stars in our age range are starting to play Dads with teenage kids. We're old" Um, yeah, thanks for the reminder. Why don't you drop my popcorn and knock my drink into my lap now while you're at it.
Meet Dave Eddie Murphy has tiny aliens steering him. He's a spaceship. Har-dee-har-har.

L E F T - O V E R S
Hancock Will Smith, superpowered. That's all audiences needed to know over the holidays.
Holding Trevor -a gay romance starring multi-talented Jay Brannan (of Shortbus fame) and other cuties.
Kabluey -an indie comedy from Scott Prendergast. Co-starring Lisa Kudrow and Christine "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!" Taylor
Diminished Capacity an actor friendly comedy featuring Alan Alda, Virginia Madsen, Lois Smith, Dylan Baker and Bobby Cannavale
The Wackness -the buzzy weed-loving indie comedy with an eclectic cast including Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Method Man and Mary-Kate Olsen
Tell No One - A French thriller with fine cast: Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze, Francois Berléand and Kristin Scott Thomas (yay!)

Seeing anything this weekend? Seen any of these already? Tell everyone your plans. It's all about oversharing.

*

Young Linkywood

Don't trust anyone over 30!

Topless Robot thinks Channing Tatum looks nothing like G.I. Joe
<--- WIMB Yummy Amanda Seyfried in Vogue
Bad and the Ugly Milo and Hayden on the set of Heroes 3rd season. I hate to be a jerk but the producers know that just giving them new hairdos won't make that show any better, right? Right?
Miami Herald Anne Hathaway is learning to play the banjo (?!)
Towleroad Josh Hartnett is now hawking cologne. Will Scarjo make Ryan wear it?
ModFab celebrates Jay Brannan (Shortbus)'s CD

NewNowNext Provincetown Film Festival swoons over Gael Garcia Bernal
---> Pop Seoul Seems that Rain (Speed Racer ...and currently filming Ninja Assassin) has to make nice with his hometown fans after deserting them for Hollywood.
Gossip Girls Kirsten Dunst hits the Coldplay concert in NYC. She's also been speaking out about her depression battles. Get well soon. (y'all know I love her and I need more crazy/beautifuls, Marie-Antoinettes and Virgin Suicies)
Guardian examines the public hostility often directed at Keira Knightley. Interesting piece.

Can I Get You Another Link?

Cinema Styles "I drink your milkshake" is going to have a long shelf life. This is one of the best true stories I've read.
--> i09 Samuel L Jackson pics from the Spirit. Samuel L Jackson is in way too many franchises. Let me get this straight "The Octopus" is also "Shaft" is also "Nick Fury" is also an "xXx" Agent is also "Mace Windu"? TOO MUCH. Please stop.
Anne Thompson on the problems w/ Indiana Jones press rounds
Mighty God Kings superhero movie problems and advised fixes
/Film has a new still from Vicky Christina Barcelona. Why am I so excited for this? It's not like Woody is regular w/ the brilliance...
Lost in the Frame speaks true in regards to Iron Man (except for the bit about waiting for credits to end as being dorky... I call that "watching the whole movie")
Blake Snyder on screenplay 'beat sheets' and Iron Man & Forgetting Sarah Marshall. This is one of the most horrifying screenwriting articles I have ever read. No wonder movies are so formulaic.

off cinema
Things Younger Than McCain a whole blog of things younger than the Republican candidate for President. hee. And while we're on politics... Hillary Clinton does not appear in this post but here's her imaginary salute to my May Flowers series... --->
IMDB TV renewals for fall. Are your shows dead yet?
Art Resource the great artist Robert Rauschenberg has died. Here's a gallery of his work.
Jay Brannan (from Shortbus) is going on tour. Can't wait.
YouTube Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Rap. For true BSG nerds only!
Sticky and Sweet So, yeah, got my Madonna tickets. They're terrible but I've had good seats at two previous concerts so I can deal. I don't mind so much. Just to be in the massive stadium. There's always binoculars.

And Now.... A Brief Music Video Break

The deeper I sink into cinephilia the less room I have for other things in my life like music. I can't do a top ten list of favorite songs or CDs since I haven't been paying much attention. But I do occassionally get into something or am convinced to love a song/artist by pleading friends. A close friend of mine --who some of you will know from the comments as 'kristoferrobbin'-- is in town and he's making cinematic concentration difficult. Damn him! So herewith a semi random assortment of 10 videos/songs I dug this year. Enjoy whilst I work on the movie stuff.



Jay Brannan (Shortbus) official video for "Body is a Temple". You should also be reading his blog --good stuff. And I'm sure you've seen Alanis Morrisette's Fergie spoof "My Humps" --it's still the funniest few minutes of film I've seen all year. With the possible exception of The Landlord.


Jackie Beat's "Filthy Whore" [NSFW] which is a spoof/response to Britney Spears lame ass "Gimme More" video. I f***ing love Jackie Beat. One of the only drag queens that still understands the old John Waters school of thinking. Quoth he 'I think a drag queen should horrify a family. I think families should run up the street in fear at a drag queen and not want to invite him home for dinner.' Jackie is terrifying. and genius. Let's pair Jackie with adorable and tiny Mika and "Grace Kelly" --she'd eat both of them alive.



Rihanna's "Umbrella" ella ella ay ay ay and Pink's "U + Ur Hand" because who doesn't love these songs? Pink's CD came out ages ago but it hangs on.


Björk's Volta CD only really scored media wise with the lead single "Earth Intruders" but I actually prefer the second release "Innocence" which has a triptastic beat. If a hip hop artist had thought that one up, they'd be bragging about it for the rest of the CD it's so hot. And let's pair Björk with another legendary crazy gal, Dolly Parton. Her new single is called "Better Get to Living" and her video stars the one and only Amy Sedaris. I mean... why not?


Behold: Charlotte Gainsbourg's "Songs That We Sing" I'm having the crush this year on account of this but mostly her spin on the jilted wife role in Todd Haynes's Dylan dissertation I'm Not There. And in every music post I must spread the gospel of Rufus Wainwright. This is "Rules and Regulations" His music hits me right there.

Finally, these aren't from 2007 but the Ian Curtis biopic Control is and its still haunting me around the edges a week after seeing it. So with Joy Division in my brain, I thought I'd throw up two covers for your consideration. First is Agent Provocateur and Siobhan Fahey (of Bananarama / Shakespeare Sister / ex Mrs. Dave Stewart fame --It makes me crazy that she never records a CD) doing "She's Lost Control" [NSFW] and then there's Swedish singer/songwriter José González with a cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Such a flexible classic.



Any music recommendations you'd like to share? You know what to do.

Song & Dance: Shortbus & Hedwig

Oops. I forgot the Friday music post. But my best friends were over and we were all laughing our asses off at the histrionic lesbo-horror of Notes on a Scandal again. God I love Judi Dench in that movie. She's just so hateful. But the movie...it's just so wrong. In too many ways to count. Anyway, so let's celebrate a far more self-actualized person, John Cameron Mitchell. He's only brought us two films but both are stunning, musical and entirely their own things. So for today's song interlude, some selections from Shortbus(2006, top ten list) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001, top ten list)

From left to right. Here's Jay Brannan doing his sweet original "Soda Shop" (which he also sings in Shortbus) for YouTube viewers. Be patient ... he bitches about IMDB's awful censorship of the film before he gets to the pretty singing. Then there's a collage of performances from the entire cast at the Shortbus premiere party. Directly below that you've got John Cameron Mitchell performing the Hedwig tune "Wig in a Box" at another Shortbus event. The classic "Origin of Love" from the Hedwig motion picture closes this set. Enjoy.