Years and years ago, back before the word BLOG became the standard in publishing, my High School pal Derek and I published something called a 'ZINE. Now, for those of you who don't remember such things, it was merely a scant five or so Xeroxed pages stapled together, then distributed, guerilla-style, in a variety of venues where it would garner attention and rankle those that we wanted to irritate (read: the gay community). Titled BUSTER! Derek and I, as co-writers and editors, had a smashing time writing it while drinking Bellinis (Vodka, Orange Juice, and Crushed Clonazapam), howling our asses off in my little apartment in West Hollywood. From the writing, to the printing, to the distribution process, to the invites to parties, oh, we had fun! All done on a word processor, in cut and paste style and financed by a lovely grant from PEN Center USA West, who had no idea what the hell I was going to do with that money. (It was for Fabulous Hell...shameless plug.) Here's a review:
CHEAP FLIX
Don't let Buster Commence!
Tuesday afternoon Buster saw CITIZEN RUTH. For whatever reason, Mirmax (under the Disney umbrella) has chosen to release on limited screens a dead-on satire of our times. NOt to be lofty, but Proust or Camus could not have more succinctly nailed a culture in upheaval.
Laura Dern and a cast of pros (Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, Burt Reynolds and a resplendent cameo by Tippi Hedren) have given us a relentless spoof of the false piety on both sides of the abortion issue. Example: Ruth Stoops (Dern), paint fume sniffing, pregnant degenerate white trash is taken in by the Baby Savers, whom she finds herself momentarily imprisoned with. Ruth is presented with a choice: Abort the fetus or face hard jail time for Child Endangerment. Have you ever driven by an abortion clinic under siege? Picture 90 minutes of theatrics. Swoosie Kirtz, an undercover spy for pro-choice (with wig and powder-blue polyester pants) kidnaps la Stoops and "fairly" presents the option of choice. However, none is without agenda. Both sides attempt to bribe Stoops with $15,000. Then the ante is upped! A welcome appearance by Diane Ladd as Ruth's mother acidly skewers today's media fixation with the sordid and lurid.
Laura Dern will probably not get so much as a passing nod from THE ACADEMY, but from Buster's perch, this is one of the years five best lead actress performances. Tour de force, as our French friends would say. Rated S for Savvy.
Fun, no?
On a more serious note. Mike Leigh's brilliant film, VERA DRAKE features Imelda Staunton as a lovely little English gal who goes around doing housework, favors for neighbors, sings to herself while darning. She's a jolly woman. Mother of two grown kids, and also anyone in need. Including girls who are in trouble. Never using the word Abortion, Vera just helps start the bleeding with the use of a syringe, cleaning solution and carbolic soap. She doesn't do it for money. She's simply living by her life's calling. Set in post-war England, this sad little tale about a woman with the best intentions will break your heart (providing you have one). Staunton gives an amazing performance, garnering an Oscar nod. The point here is, girls who are in trouble will go on getting out, choice or not.
LOVE WITH A PROPER STRANGER stars Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen as a duo who had a fling on a drunken night. Wood ends up preggers, and seeks out McQueen to help her find someone to help her fix it. Both are at their peak looks-wise, give very strong performances, but the scene where they show up in some abandoned building and meet up with a smarmy couple with frightening instruments to "help get the bleeding started" is enough of an example to anyone who wants to outlaw what is a womans right.
The right to choose.
And not die in some dank alley.
CHEAP FLIX
Don't let Buster Commence!
Tuesday afternoon Buster saw CITIZEN RUTH. For whatever reason, Mirmax (under the Disney umbrella) has chosen to release on limited screens a dead-on satire of our times. NOt to be lofty, but Proust or Camus could not have more succinctly nailed a culture in upheaval.
Laura Dern and a cast of pros (Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, Burt Reynolds and a resplendent cameo by Tippi Hedren) have given us a relentless spoof of the false piety on both sides of the abortion issue. Example: Ruth Stoops (Dern), paint fume sniffing, pregnant degenerate white trash is taken in by the Baby Savers, whom she finds herself momentarily imprisoned with. Ruth is presented with a choice: Abort the fetus or face hard jail time for Child Endangerment. Have you ever driven by an abortion clinic under siege? Picture 90 minutes of theatrics. Swoosie Kirtz, an undercover spy for pro-choice (with wig and powder-blue polyester pants) kidnaps la Stoops and "fairly" presents the option of choice. However, none is without agenda. Both sides attempt to bribe Stoops with $15,000. Then the ante is upped! A welcome appearance by Diane Ladd as Ruth's mother acidly skewers today's media fixation with the sordid and lurid.
Laura Dern will probably not get so much as a passing nod from THE ACADEMY, but from Buster's perch, this is one of the years five best lead actress performances. Tour de force, as our French friends would say. Rated S for Savvy.
Fun, no?
On a more serious note. Mike Leigh's brilliant film, VERA DRAKE features Imelda Staunton as a lovely little English gal who goes around doing housework, favors for neighbors, sings to herself while darning. She's a jolly woman. Mother of two grown kids, and also anyone in need. Including girls who are in trouble. Never using the word Abortion, Vera just helps start the bleeding with the use of a syringe, cleaning solution and carbolic soap. She doesn't do it for money. She's simply living by her life's calling. Set in post-war England, this sad little tale about a woman with the best intentions will break your heart (providing you have one). Staunton gives an amazing performance, garnering an Oscar nod. The point here is, girls who are in trouble will go on getting out, choice or not.
LOVE WITH A PROPER STRANGER stars Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen as a duo who had a fling on a drunken night. Wood ends up preggers, and seeks out McQueen to help her find someone to help her fix it. Both are at their peak looks-wise, give very strong performances, but the scene where they show up in some abandoned building and meet up with a smarmy couple with frightening instruments to "help get the bleeding started" is enough of an example to anyone who wants to outlaw what is a womans right.
The right to choose.
And not die in some dank alley.
1 comment:
I laughed. Then you made me cry.
Heartless bastard.
Post a Comment