Out on DVD this week

The big news this week is the release of Stardust, the film based upon Neil Gaiman's graphic novel. It stars Charlie Cox as a young man who gets transported to a magical world where he finds and falls in love with a fallen star - played by Claire Danes. Okay, it sounds sort of hokey but actually it was a charming film. Of gay interest is the curious part played by Robert Deniro, who has a turn as a closeted, cross-dressing gay pirate named Captain Shakespeare. He befriends the star-crossed lovers and even has a bit of a story arc of his own when his pirate crew discovers him in a dress. He fears the worst - a homophobic mutiny. I won't spoil it by telling you what happens but the resolution to his story comes as a pleasant surprise. Definitely a good rental if you haven't yet seen it.

Also out this week, Clone High the animated Canadian series which ran for only one season and follows the high school exploits of a bunch of clones of famous historical figures (Lincoln, Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, JFK, etc.)

It's a strange and satirical riff on teen dramas such as 90210 or Degrassi: The Next Generation. Every episode begins with the line "Tonight, on a very special Clone High..." and each show then tackles a spurious social issue (ex. "The ADD epidemic" or kids smoking raisins to get high.)

The show includes some gay supporting characters (JFK clone's foster parents are a male couple), and also has a lot of voice talent (Nicole Sullivan, Andy Dick, Michael McDonald, Donald Faison, Joe Flaherty, Will Forte among others.)

That's about it for gay interest DVD releases this week, but of definite interest to music fans is Once, which is a love story about two Dublin street musicians. Winner of the World Audience Award at Sundance.