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Out at the Movies: "Were the World Mine", "Lake City" and a little sleeper called "Twilight"
OK, the big movie of the weekend is the big-screen adaptation of the hit teen novel Twilight. But if the "Team Edward" fanatics and their mothers have bought up all the tickets, there are other films of queer interest opening this weekend. Find out which after the break!
Yes, this weekend is all about Twilight, based on the best-seller by Stephenie Meyer and directed by Catherine Hardwicke, whose explorations of teen-girl angst run the gamut from Thirteen to The Nativity Story. While most post–Anne Rice vampire fiction has generally had some sort of queer subtext, you won't find it here. But since the taste of gay men and teenage girls often runs parallel (I confess to having been a Sassy subscriber), fans of the book won't want to miss the broodingly faithful adaptation, even if there's not much here for non-converts.
If the glamorous undead isn't your bag, keep an eye out for Were the World Mine, opening this weekend in limited release. A fave of the gay film festival circuit this year, WTWM tells the story of a gay high-schooler who gets cast as Puck in the senior production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The rugby-playing students in the all-boy institution balk at having to play female roles in the traditional Shakespearean style, but they come around when "Puck" sprays them with a love potion that leads to outrageous results.
Tanner Cohen and Nathanial David Becker (above) are absolutely adorable as the film's male leads, and Twin Peaks fans will enjoy seeing Wendy Robie (who played that show's eyepatch-wearing drapes obsessive) as the school's open-minded English teacher. Also opening in limited release today is Lake City, written and directed by Hero author Perry Moore and his partner Hunter Hill. The film stars Troy Garrity (Soldier's Girl) and Sissy Spacek as a son and mother awkwardly reunited years after a family tragedy tore them apart. With a supporting cast that includes Rebecca Romijn, Drea de Matteo, Barry Corbin, Keith Carradine and Dave Matthews, this sounds like an indie worth checking out. Submitted by on Fri, 2008-11-21 16:21. |
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Were the World Mine
My partner and I just got home from seeing "Were the World Mine" (I live in NYC) and I have to say I have a new favorite film. It was absolutely stunning, wonderful, beautiful, etc. and very romantic. If you have someone special, you should definitely take him.
I immediately downloaded the soundtrack on iTunes and we're bringing more friends to go see it again on Monday night. Loved it so much. Can't wait for the DVD!
It should be noted that Troy Garrity
And not to mention...
I would totally be a Vampire for him
Hot. I'll suck his blood.
Check out my blog: http://muchbetterthanworking.blogspot.com
It should be noted (repeatedly) that --
"the taste of gay men and teenage girls often runs parallel" is just the tip of the iceberg. What's at issue is the taste of some women (young and old) for gay men.
YES, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU -- FAG-HAG!!!!!!!!
You know who you are. You know what you want. And you know the exquisite masochism of not getting it.
What is Twilight other than the ultimate fag-Hag fantasy? He's gorgeous. He's dangerous. You can't have him. Yet he's ever so sensitive to your desire for him. So sensitive that you're the most special person in his life, even though you're not "in his world." And were you to touch the forbidden fruit (pun intended) well doncha just know the consequences would be calamitous (ie. AIDS!!!!!!!)
Twilight is sick. And so are you, sweetheart.
There's a song about this, dear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELaLrS-KDJo
I hope
He's just not that into you, Sue
There's a difference
So would Diane Von Furstenberg, dear.
Twilight sucks and were the world mine in australia?
Must say since civilisation made such a big deal of twilight, it has just reaffirmed my suspicions that as a whole we have not really improved in general sophistication and taste.
Twilight although an ok story, was relatively cliche, written very simply with no artistic or sophisticated style, in fact no style at all. Stephanie Myers is definately not some 'literary' genius.
So imho, twilight is an entertainable enough read, but it's nothing special.
Also, does anybody know when "Were the World Mine" is to come out on DVD?? From what I've read it's not coming to Sydney (Australia.) I really want to see this :)
"But for 3 years I had roses, and apologise to no-one."
Twilight is Mormon
Twilight is Mormon propaganda by way of the Munsters:
http://stoney321.livejournal.com/317176.html (all 4 books spoiler warning)
Stephanie Meyer "The Mormon Anne Rice"?
"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." (Dorothy Parker)
Maybe it would make sense for someone from After Elton to interview her about her position on the Mormon Church's involvement in the Prop 8 campaign.
Ms Meyer seems to move through the world as a Mormon Author so I don't think it would be inappropriate
Mormon Mom and 'Twilight' Author Finds A Teachable Moment in Vampire Film
Friday November 14, 2008
(UNDATED) Stories about love, lust and the undead may not seem like the best vehicle for teaching teens about faith and morality. But for Stephenie Meyer, who has been called "the Mormon Anne Rice," her best-selling "Twilight" books and upcoming movie contain plenty of teachable moments.
Meyer, a wife and mother of three from Phoenix, who is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and graduate of Brigham Young University, says she has become accustomed to people asking her, "What's a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires?"
But as she told one Mormon-themed Web site, "Unconsciously, I put a lot of my basic beliefs into the story."
"Twilight," published in 2005, was the debut vampire novel in the series of books that has now sold nearly 10 million copies, generating the kind of frenzy among tweens and teens that rivals Harry Potter.
The film version opens in theaters nationwide on Nov. 21.
On the surface, "Twilight" is little more than the latest incarnation of vampire legends that have circulated in many cultures for centuries, and which have been popularized in novels like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897) and Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles'' series (1976-2003).
Yet Meyer's religious and moral values clearly shine through, even though Mormonism is never mentioned.
Heroine Bella Swan has the same insecurities and anxieties as any 17-year-old girl. But when she falls for Edward Cullen, a handsome fellow student who happens to be a vampire, she confronts the kinds of existential questions that religion addresses.
"The most obvious Mormon influences can be seen in the ways that Meyer has her teenage heroine stand up for marriage and, ultimately, motherhood," says Jana Riess, author of "What Would Buffy Do: The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide" and co-author of "Mormonism for Dummies."
"But anyone who is familiar with the Book of Mormon can also discern deeper theological themes, from the Mormon reinterpretation of the Fall of humankind -- which inspired the apple on the `Twilight' book cover -- to the theme of overcoming the natural man, which we can see when Bella wrestles with her desires and decides whether or not to become a vampire."
The concept for the "Twilight Saga'' series of books came in a vision, says Meyer, who is 34 and had never published a word before pitching her idea to an agent who got her a $750,000, three-book deal.
She doesn't read vampire books or watch R-rated movies like "Interview with the Vampire."
And the sexual tension that pervades the stories is a natural byproduct of Meyer's strict Mormon upbringing. Growing up as a good Mormon girl among other good Mormon girls and boys, she met her future husband as a child but the two did not associate outside of church activities until they began dating when she was 20. They married nine months later.
Unlike many other young adult novels, there's no sex in "Twilight,"
even though Meyer's editor suggested otherwise. None of the characters drink alcohol or indulge in profanity, but there is plenty of heavy breathing and sexual tension.
Meyer's treatment of sexuality is a hot topic on Mormon-themed Web sites like normalmormons.com and motleyvision.org that make up the online "bloggernacle."
A writer on motleyvision.org, which explores Mormon art and culture, says Meyer's books show "how abstinence leads to a heavily charged play of small gestures among Mormon teenagers and young adults."
And in a post on normalmormons.com ("It's true. We're out there."), a relative of Meyer's writes:
"Edward and Bella could barely touch or kiss for fear that Edward might get carried away and suck her blood in a fit of passion. Very similar to that of two young BYU/high school students who aren't yet married and can't touch each other for fear it will lead to sex. I'm sure it was easy for Stephenie to describe with firsthand experiences."
By STEVE RABEY
c. 2008 Religion News Service
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Just saw Were The World Mine...
"Twilight" definitely has thematic AIDS/gay (& Mormon!) subtext
So did Cronenberg's "The Fly" "Interview with the Vampire" and lots of other films. The idea is, sex is dangerous and can kill you, and especially when you bring vampires into the mix (neck biting et all), the metaphor should be obvious. Alan Ball has described "True Blood" as a show about fear of intimacy. You give yourself to someone, body fluids are swapped, it usually happens at night, etc.
Oddly, this fear plays off Mormon values of marriage and fidelity, i.e. Don't Mess Around Until You've Made A Commitment. (SPOILER: in "Breaking Dawn" Bella finally makes the ultimate commitment to Edward, with logical plot follow-through.) "Twilight" has some violence (not excessively), but no sex at all, just temptation--exactly the sort of thing Americans, especially religious ones, are thrilled with. (No wonder younger teens love it, as do their mothers.) Resisting temptation fits right in with the True Love Waits crowd.
However, this fear we're discussing can also play off gay themes, which is (I think) what David was referencing--the idea of the "forbidden fruit," being an outsider with a secret double life, not being like "normal" people. These same themes cropped up in "Fright Night," where the geeky friend is clearly desperate for Chris Sarandon to "intiate" him. ("The Lost Boys" also had this to some extent.) "True Blood" is more forthright about the queer subtext of vampires, and includes gay characters; however, it's also a more challenging (in all sense of the word) and gruesome show, because it doesn't play "safe" or pull punches.
Mormons are defiinitely vampires
Mormons with open minds....
"Latter Days" baby, "Latter Days"
THAT has one of the all-time hottest gay love scenes ever, largely because the actors and the director have done such a great job of racheting up the sexual tension. When it finally happens, it's incandescent.
My partner actually had two hot Mormon boys chat him up in front of our house last week--one actually asked if he needed help carrying his groceries in (!!!!). Alas, his mind jammed, and he didn't think to ask them in to play out the aforementioned scene with us, or even give them a piece of his mind about Proposition 8. (Shades of the "Men on a Mission" calendar--boy, do the Mormons know how to cast their recruiters, or what?)