aLOUD: Renee Neufville @ Joe's Pub tonight

Movie Magic

Hitchcock: Notorious
One of many great pieces. This one seems a pointedly composed visually, like a set of moving silver-dipped photos - though many other Hitchcock films work better storywise. I love him, in part, because of his masterful audience manipulation; believe this is one of his most important contributions to moviemaking, eh, baby Spielberg?
Krzysztof Kieslowski: Blue (Three Colors Trilogy)
A fav til I die; elemental economy yielding everything
John Sayles: Brother From Another Planet
Watched this one very young and was blown away by the metaphors, the silence(s), creative vision; John Sayles continues to astound & inspire!
Ridley Scott: Blade Runner (The Director's Cut)
Not too familiar with this cut directly. Enjoyed this far more than Star Wars, of which George Lucas may be my favorite piece... Anyhoo, this blew me away, and continues to, each time I screen it. Futuristic, dark, cerebral, moody & character-focused :-)
David Mamet: House of Games
Mamet brings Hitchcock to the street & I love it! Plays with the language in a way I'd not heard from Hollywood/ moviemaking before that still catches my ear particularly.
Paul Verhoeven: Total Recall
A smart, fun blockbuster Hooray! [Hmph, I didn't note clearly PV was the ringleader here, good to know]
Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing
Cinematic mural of characters dancing race & gender one hot New York summer day. Work it, my brother!
Peter Greenaway: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover
Distinctly remember working on my (film) grant one hot Berkeley summer day, then sneaking off to see this racy movie only to be blown away by Smelling film (whoa!) and that kitchen, oh that kitchen...
Pedro Almodóvar: Talk to Her (Hable con Ella)
Perhaps my favorite film of his (yet). Though he's definitely one of my World Idols ;-) Colorific, poignant, far fetched yet accessible, familiar dramedies that move us with curious visuals, story shifts, and everyday people.
Steven Soderbergh: Traffic
Steve is one of those that keeps me excited and not so jaded about the possibilities of American, even Hollywood, filmmaking - bravo and thanks to him!!
Deathtrap
Talkin' twists! I believe we have four primary ones before the credits roll

Top 10 Queer Reads

Michael Jensen: Frontiers
Typically avoid historical fictions, or did. This jumped into my hands at library. May still be my favorite of all with its gorgeous allure, taste of the supernatural, and frank gay depiction - even if a few yesterdays ago. Bravo MJ!
Michael Nava: DEATH OF FRIENDS
I cried from feeling the ache of identifying with a recovering alcoholic. (is this why I’ve been hit on by so many around this time? :-)) Nava continues to develop the humanity here, than the mysteries. Kudos and thanks!
Paul Russell: SEA OF TRANQUILITY
Sometimes I find art that wastes its title. Has no idea how to live up to it – this one was the opposite and left me swimming for days on end!!! [out of print]
E. Lynn Harris: Invisible Life
Sheer power rocked me for years (3!). So pleased by his debut, skipped the 2nd fearing a sophomoric slump, yet found the 3rd just as wonderful, if not groundbreaking. Cheers to a long career!
Jim Grimsley: Dream Boy
Haunting. Beautiful. Nicely ambiguous, at points. Decidedly southern. Hooray!
Krandall Krauss: The President’s Son
Thank god, I thought we only wrote high-end literature and stories. This hugged my soul and said Dynasty, Dallas, et. al. BEWARE – a tribute will come. * This tipped me to realize more gay pop fictions, etc. etc. will be needed, and bought. Kensington Press exemplifies this. We'll see on the film side as players emerge.
Larry Duplechan: Eight Days A Week
Lilting. Great mid-tier, or rather middle of the road author. I’d gladly BEG him for more books! * Like a gay “High Fidelity” …with the white lover and band.
Christopher Bram: Surprising Myself
Captures so easily emerging out, and friendship shifts, challenges, etc.
R.D. Zimmerman: Closet
Start of a serial. Set in Minneapolis! My god! Felt the winter and bite of exiting the closet again in a parallel world I know too well, yet have never lived. Bravo, r.d.
Alex Sanchez: Rainbow Boys
New entry so may not be sequenced how I want...