Ticked-Off Trannies!

There has never been a film I so wanted to book for the film festival without even seeing a single scene than TICKED-OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES. But who wouldn't with a title like that? I remember that cold March day when I checked out the Tribeca Film Festival website following the announcement of its lineup. I immediately fell in love ... and the film got me at "Ticked!" After watching the trailer, I was even more convinced that this film is a must-select for our October lineup.

That was more than a month ago.

Just days after the Tribeca announcement, a Facebook page was already launched condemning the selection of TOTWK for Robert De Niro's pet film festival project. All the hateful messages and protests followed soon after. Suddenly, the previously unknown indie cult-ish film is thrust under the heat of the media spotlight. Is it exploitative? Unrepresentative of transgendered women and their true struggles? Offensive? I honestly could not say since I have not seen the film yet. And at the time, I was also wondering whether the loudest screamers had seen the film themselves. After all, it hasn't been shown anywhere. I, of course, am willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt.


But since its premiere at Tribeca, the critics have not changed their negative position on the violent and exploitative nature of the film ... and they seem to be gaining in number. Q Cinema, the Fort Worth LGBT Film Festival, is now getting its share of flak after announcing that it will be screening TOTWK as well. I can't wait what the big spring and summer LGBT film festivals (NYC, LA, SF) are going to do with the film. I'm still very intrigued. Too intrigued, even. I cannot wait to see it myself. But the bigger question is: Will the film ever come to Rochester?

Stay tuned.

~MG

25 Must-See Indie Films

Check out this article from IndieWIRE for their choices of the 25 films you must absolutely watch this summer. There are a few of these titles that are screening in a couple weeks at the new 360|365 Film Festival right here in Rochester. Which films are you most excited about?

DEATH AT A FUNERAL 2010

So the (apparently shot-for-shot) remake of the 2007 Frank Oz comedy, Death at a Funeral, is getting decent reviews. Maybe it will be okay. It might make the original British film more accessible to US audiences considering the remake stars Chris Rock and some other brilliant comedians. I still cannot associate Neil LaBute with an almost slapstick comedy like this film is. But very much looking forward to James Marsden's performance.

~MG

Who's Afraid of PHILLIP MORRIS?

I'm not sure how many of you know or are aware of the "new" Jim Carrey-Ewan McGregor starrer, I LOVE YOU, PHILLIP MORRIS. Well, all I can say is if I could book it for the film festival right now, it will definitely be a Closing Night movie in October! I say "new" because it has yet to be released here in the U.S. but it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. I was fortunate enough to see it in Berlin a couple of weeks later. It went MIA for more than a year amidst rumors of fear that the film is too gay. Well, it is a story of a con man (Carrey) who falls hard for another prisoner (McGregor) he met while incarcerated -- there's no amount of editing that could de-gay the movie. Sorry. In the last few weeks, it has gotten theatrical release in parts of Europe and Asia which got me very excited. I enjoyed the film so much that I would not mind seeing it again. But while it was scheduled to hit the US theaters on April 30, the release date has since been withdrawn and delayed indefinitely. Well, boo hoo! I hope the US distributor gets its act together. Or at least give the film to the queer film festivals!

UPDATE: It's being reported that the film's release date has been rescheduled for July 30th. We'll have to wait and see if this one sticks.

Here's the trailer:

~MG

THE RUNAWAYS Opens at the Little

Don't have movie plans for the weekend yet? THE RUNAWAYS, featuring Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, opens at the Little Theatre tonight. It has limited screenings this week so make sure to check for show times to save you the disappointment of making a trip to the theater for nothing. The film is a coming-of-age story about the teen rockers in the groundbreaking all-girl rock band from the 70s. So is there enough chemistry between Stewart and Fanning to explode a cherry bomb? Oh do tell ...

Support local LGBT arts!

ImageOut loves movies, but we also love our local theater groups with missions that reflect our own!

The Programming Committee will be hard at work screening potential films tonight (we've been at it for months already), but everyone else should check this event out!



From: Bread and Water Theater

Rainbow Theater Festival Kickoff Party!

Join the casts of Lambda Project: The Art of Pride, Ladies and Gentlemen and Nijinsky's Last Dance for a night of entertainment and fun.

Come out and watch selections from the three wonderful productions offered as part of this year's festival as well as meet and mingle with our exceptional performers and artists. There will also be several original performances that you will only be able to see at the kickoff!!!

A special thank you to 140 Alex Bar & Grill (formally Nasty D's and formally formally RJ's) for their gracious donation of their second floor for the kickoff.

1/2 OFF APPETIZERS AND BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WELL/CALL AND DOMESTIC DRAFT BEERS AND GREAT ENTERTAINMENT!!!

LOCATION: 140 Alex Bar & Grill @ 140 Alexander St., Rochester, NY.

PERFORMANCE: April 1st at 8pm.