Jerry Curl

[ Editor's note ] It’s a tough time to be a good movie nowadays. I mean, just look at what’s popular: an American Pie remake? A Three Stooges movie? Titanic ?! In this blogger’s not-so-humble opinion, there’s something seriously wrong with the American viewing public. But this isn’t about what’s wrong with movies. This is about one film that got it all right. Last week, I went to see the tragically underrated, gaytastically funny Mirror Mirror . As a reimaging of the age-old Snow White tale, this film took every creative liberty imaginable and improved it by leaps and bounds. The story mostly follows an evil but campy Queen (played to the hilt by Julia Roberts) as she steals control of a kingdom. To do so, she exiles its rightful heir, Snow White (played somewhat lack-lusterly by Lily Collins). Left to fend for herself in the woods, she comes across seven resourceful rebels (read: dwarves), charms them as only pretty lost princess’ can do, and enlists them to win back her birthrig...

[ Editorial note ] I caved in to the pressure of the masses last night and saw the much-hyped and highly anticipated Hunger Games . While I didn’t read the best-selling novels (nor do I plan to), I can report that the film itself was an unexpected edge-of-your-seat thriller. It was visually stunning, thought-provoking, and action-packed. Also, it had Lenny Kravitz and you all know how I feel about Lenny Kravitz . I’m sure many of you haven’t seen it yet, so I won’t give away too many plot points. Not that there’s a whole lot of plot to give away. It’s pretty much about a group of kids, picked at random and put into a no holds barred game of survival. Think: the Triwizard Tournament sans all le magique . However, this is not to say that the film lacks anything. On the contrary, The Hunger Games packs a lot of heart and poignant meaning into a story about teenagers slaughtering each other for the televised amusement of others. The stand out of The Hunger Games is undoubtedly ...

[ Editor's note ] Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not easily impressed. Whether it's food, fellas, or films-- I tend to expect more than most. Call it a penchant for snobbery or an affinity for the finer things in life. Either way I just happen to know what I like. This being my modus operandi , you can imagine how trepidatiously I approach revamps of established franchises of my childhood. Enter The Muppets , by way of Jason Segel . Admittedly, when I first heard Mr. Segel was going to spearhead the Muppet return (see Norma Desmond's policy on comebacks), I was a little apprehensive. When I heard that they were creating a new Muppet just for the film, I was scared. And when I heard it was going to have musical numbers, I cringed at the thought of Jason Segel singing. But then I heard that Amy Adams was going to co-star and all was put right in the world. Having seen The Muppets on Thanksgiving night I can confidently say that Segel and Adams did well by ...

[ Editor's note ] I was doped into seeing Immortals last night. And you're looking at just about the only redeeming thing in the whole film. Luke Evans turned in a truly terrific performance as Zeus (above). He was both tender and mercilessly unyielding. He was mighty, but controlled. His internal conflict was the only worth-while conflict in the whole of Immortals . Everyone else left a lot to be desired. Freida Pinto is pretty and the girl can act, but only one of those attributes was in evidence here-- and not the one that counts. Stehen Dorff played Stephen Dorff in a Greek warrior costume. And Mickey Rourke basically phoned-in his performance. Even sweaty, sexy, shirtless, hunky Henry Cavill couldn't make up for this 110 minute mess. But Lord knows he tried , and tried , and tried . Plot-wise, it was essentially a rag-tag bunch of peasants versus a mighty evil king. There's an oracle, a magic bow, and pretty boys in gold lamé . Gods get involved, Titans ar...

[ Editor's note ] There are very few gay films I can publicly admit to liking. Most, if not the majority of them are about one of three things: 1) Slutty boys doing slutty things. 2) Campy boys doing campy things. 3) Beautiful boys incomprehensibly falling in love with dorky guys. None of which speak to my experiences as a gay man. (Well, maybe the second one. A little.) But I digress. This week I'd like to recommend a great gay film that breaks with the mold. It's a film with heart; rich in likable characters and beautiful boys. Shelter is about a young guy whose dream of going to art school gets sidelined by family obligations. Zach spends his days working a dead-end job and helping his hot mess of a sister care for her son. He finds great comfort in surfing, drawing, and hanging with his pal Gabe who lives on the wealthy side of town. Gabe's older brother, Shaun, comes home to find solace at the family beachside home after a particularly bad breakup. A successful wr...

[ Editor's note ] My sincerest apologies for not writing a column this weekend. It was an uncharacteristically busy weekend in my neck of the woods. Anyway, this weekend’s topic was supposed to be on the fantastic season finale of True Blood but I've since reconsidered. This week I’d like to discuss the more epic re-release of Disney’s The Lion King . Let me start by saying that this film and I go way back. I was 8 years old when The Lion King first came out in 199-blah-blah... and I’ ve treasured it ever since. My love runs so deep that I’ ve committed entire chunks of dialogue to memory; a fact that my 11-year old god daughter both loves and is a little weirded out by. For countless reasons, the Lion King stands as the crowning jewel of Disney Animation. I know many of my Disney- lovin ’ pals would put up a good fight to that distinction, but I believe it to be the absolute truth. It has the most perfect plot, a sensational soundtrack (thanks Elton!), and the most well-d...

[ Editor's note ] Disclaimer: I happen to think Helen Mirren should be in every film ever made. I've loved her in everything she's done and would blindly follow her into any crazy endeavor she sets her sights on. And believe me, the woman has done crazy . Well this weekend I went to go see her be brilliant yet again in The Debt . The film centers on 3 Israeli agents bent on bringing an old Nazi war criminal to justice. From IMdB : The espionage thriller begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel (Mirren) and Stefan (Tom Wilkinson) about their former colleague David (Ciarán Hinds). All three have been venerated for decades by their country because of the mission that they undertook back in 1966, when the trio (portrayed, respectively, by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, and Sam Worthington) tracked down Nazi war criminal Vogel (Jesper Christensen) in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team's mission was ac...

[ Editor's note ] Last evening, I went to see Marvel's latest superhero installment with my pal Evan. As the story of the God of Thunder, Thor is every bit the blockbuster one expects of the summer movie-going season. Only, it's still Spring. That technicality aside, the film boosts an impressive amount of CGI -soaked action scenes that would make any comic book nerd tingle with excitement. A similar tingle crawled up my leg when Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth , strolls on screen shirtless (see left). His mesmerizing muscles are part of the overall theme of this film: bigger is better. Set in Asgard, legendary realm of the Norse Gods, the story centers on King Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins) and his two sons Thor and Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston ). On the day Thor is to be crowned King of Asgard, the Frost Giants attempt to steal a source of power which once belonged to them. Although the world-threatening plot is neutralized, conflict between father and son arises wh...

WARNING: This review contains film spoilers. Read at your own risk. [ Editor's note ] Tangled is the best Disney feature film in 10 years. This is not an exaggeration. This is not my Disney fandom run amok. This is not some desperate attempt at getting you to see this film. This is a straight up fact. Despite having been released way back in November, I just recently went to see Tangled at the behest of a few friends. I was hesitant to watch it because of the hack job Disney did with its trailers. Highlighting the role of the male lead over the girl, the previews were trite and unfunny. They were essentially slapstick gone wrong and failed to produce any interest in the film. As I understand it, Disney tried to aim the Tangled trailers at the boy demographic after the Princess and the Frog failed to generate the profits Disney was hoping for. However, if you’re making a movie about a princess (as Rapunzel unquestionably is) market it as such. There is no shame in fairy tales. G...

WARNING: This review contains film spoilers. Read at your own risk. [ Editor's note ] Weekend before last, my gal pal Cecilia and I treated ourselves to Colin Firth's newest Oscar contender, The King's Speech . As the story of King George VI (Elizabeth's father), the film recounts his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped him become worthy of it. In a lot of ways, this film is less about exploring the cult of the Royals than it is about the remarkable and unexpected friendship between a King and his unorthodox therapist (played by the incomparable Geoffrey Rush). It is a film that cuts through the entanglements of what's proper to reveal what is ultimately a very human connection. Firth's interpretation of stammering King George is pitch-perfect (no pun intended). He brings to life a man that is at once regal and flawed-- A man who struggles to find who he is while trying to define his nation's role in the world. Conf...

WARNING: This review contains film spoilers. Read at your own risk. [ Editor's note ] A couple of weeks ago, I went to see Natalie Portman's latest film Black Swan . Directed by Darren Aronofsky , this new film is just as dark and thought-provoking as you'd come to expect from the same guy who did Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler . Black Swan is essentially the story of Nina Sayers ( Portman ), a ballet dancer who wins the lead in "Swan Lake". In her unrelenting quest for perfection, Nina's life is consumed with dance. Becoming the Prima Ballerina of the company, she feels pressure from the company director (Vincent Cassel ) and from her oppressive mother (Barbara Hershey) to be excellent. As rehearsals for the new production go on, Nina's mental state starts to crumble and she's wracked with paranoia, hallucinations, and uncontrolled sexual desire. Enter Mila Kunis . In perhaps the hottest girl on girl action scene I've seen yet, Mila Ku...

[ Editor's note ] Let me preface this discussion by saying that I wholeheartedly love the Narnia films. Despite their inexplicably lukewarm reception, I think they’re beautifully done. Although they lack the the gravitas of a Tolkien film, these films are a fun mix of imagination and swashbuckling adventure. Well last night, my tall pal Dan and I took a 3D trip to Narnia aboard the Dawn Treader. Chalk full of the familiar magic, high-seas drama, and rather poor acting we’ve come to expect, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was everything a fan would want and more! The story begins with 2 of the 4 Pevensie kids (Edmund and Lucy) taking refuge from the war at their uncle’s home in Cambridge. Peter and Susan are in America with their parents, leaving the two youngest behind. Miserable and isolated, Edmund and Lucy cling to each other and their memories of Narnia to get through the irritations of their priggish cousin, Eustace Scrubb. One day, the painting of a ...

WARNING: This review contains film spoilers. Read at your own risk. Last evening, thanks to a generous invitation from my pal AP, I got the chance to preview Cher and Christina Aguilera's new film Burlesque . As Cher’s long-awaited, triumphant return to the silver screen and Aguilera’s acting debut, this film wonderfully captures the vitality, the bravado, and the show-womanship of both its lead actresses. The plot itself is simple enough: A country bumpkin (Aguilera) seeks fortune and fame in the wilds of LA. On the way, she meets a handsome boy (Cam Gigandet), a been there/down that showbiz vet (Cher), and a millionaire sugar daddy (McSteamy) who threatens to destroy all their livelihoods. Admittedly, it's not entirely ground-breaking. And sure, the plot is rendered secondary to the powerful musical productions. But boy did I enjoy those rapturous musicals numbers! In fact, they left me wanting more. The film’s superb production value and Aguilera’s larger-than-life vo...

[ Editor's note ] Last Saturday night, my pal Jose and I went to see the latest addition to the gay film canon, The Kids Are All Right . Far from being a campy glittery gay extravaganza, this film was a thoughtful glimpse into the inner workings of a gay family. Complex, emotional, and poignant, it was a breath of cinematic fresh air. The film stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as lesbian moms trying to raise their teenage son and daughter. As their daughter Joni (Mia Wasikowska ) turns 18 and gets ready to leave for college, her younger brother Laser (Josh Hutcherson ) asks her to find their sperm donor dad. Enter Mark Ruffalo . Unbeknownst to their moms, the kids meet their biological dad, a local co-op farmer and restaurateur. Although it was her brother who initially pushed for the meeting, it is Joni who gravitates most towards the dad. Eventually, their moms find out and allow the kids to cultivate a relationship with the dad. What unfolds from there on out is total an...

[ Editor's note ] Toy Story 3 is everything a die hard fan wanted it to be and then some. From the old wagon toy chest to the final shot of clouds in the sky that resembled the cloud wallpaper in Andy's first room, the film builds a future on the past we all shared. As the final installment, this film picks up 11 years after Toy Story 2 with Andy packing up his room and moving away to college. In the packing process, he's made to confront the last remnants of his childhood-- namely, Woody and the gang. Having no real need for them anymore but hesitant to get rid of them altogether, he decides to put them in a trash bag and store them in the attic. In a freak film-plot fluke, the toys are confused for garbage and put outside for pickup. From that point on, Woody (who was not put away) embarks on an epic rescue mission to save his friends from garbage trucks, crazed toddler's at a daycare, maniacal toys, and a trip to the city dump.   Yet for all its thrilling ac...

[ Editor's note ] At the insistence of one of my gal pals-- and with American Idol being postponed-- I finally got around to watching Twilight last night. Although I've tried very hard to avoid the mass hysteria that results from reading the books or seeing the film, I decided to chance my soul on Robert Pattinson's brooding stares. This morning I can report that the same hysteria that has overtaken so many has not consumed me. It's not that it was a bad movie, far from it. It's just that there wasn't anything there for me. Twilight is essentially a telling of puppy love between a vampire and a mortal. With all the possibilities that holds, there's no sex, there's no cussing, there isn't a distinguishable hint of male shirtlessness . It's a movie targeted at young adults with young adult content. Anyone expecting something like Interview With the Vampire or True Blood would be in for a rude awakening. That said, it was very enjoyable. The l...

[ Editor's note ] I make no secret of my fandom for all things Jonas. Aided considerably by my 9 year old Goddaughter Abby, I have become a dreaded teeny bopper . Or rather, a tweeny bopper . I have their albums, anticipate their videos, and relish any opportunity to bring them up in random conversation. I'm even secretly growing out my hair to look like Joe's! As all good enablers do, Abby has gotten into the habit of handing me cut-outs of them from Tiger Beat and BOP. I keep those in a private folder... Anyway , this pasted Saturday found me, a 23 year old single male, in a movie theatre full of screaming, dancing, and singing 8 and 9 year old girls. What brought us together for 78 glorious minutes? The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience , of course! It was the funnest movie-going experience I've had since the Mighty Morphin ' Power Rangers Movie . We got to stand up, dance, sing, clap, cheer, and swoon as Joe Jonas went shirtless. The show itself was ...

[ Editor's note ] If you're looking to blow $10 on quality entertainment, avoid seeing He's Just Not That Into You . In what I can only describe as a train wreck of cinematic proportions, this film was in the toilet twenty minutes in. Having read parts of the book and having enjoyed the Greg Behrendt Show, I had high hopes for an insightful film version of the franchise. Added to this, a great cast that included Drew Barrymore (love!), Bradley Cooper (hawt!), and Scarlett Johansson (enjoy!) who I felt had the potentional of making it a wickedly funny film about the ins and outs of modern-day relationships. However, the reality was neither insighful nor funny. This film propogated every annoying and offensive stereotype known to womankind. From the desperate single white female (Ginnifer Goodwin) to the frigid cheated-on wife (Connelly), it never expanded beyond these one-dimensional characterizations. By movies end, one is left wondering where the character development went...

[ Editor's note ] In what can only be described as a film of charming proportions, Slumdog Millionaire delivers a powerful message of hope against mounting adversity. It's a film that pits a young Indian boy against I encourage you to steal a couple of hours for yourself and see Slumdog Millionaire .

[ Editor's note ] Few film experiences have spoken so much to who I wish I was. Fewer still have dared me to find the courage and conviction in myself (albeit through a megaphone) like in Gus Van Sant's Milk . Set in the 1970s, this film traces the roots of the Gay Civil Rights movement from Anita Bryant to the activists of San Francisco's Castro Street. It's a film that pits the political establishment against a grassroots organization fighting for equality. At the center of it all, Sean Penn brings to life California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. Recounting the last eight years of his life, Penn weaves an extraordinary tale of love and loss, of hope and change-- of a dream still fighting to be realized. Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that Milk goes beyond a period piece, beyond a biopic even. While it exquisitely captures the life and times of a great man, it also holds up a mirror to our lives. Its basic themes of gay ri...