Hollywood scorecard's with regard to LGBT movie fare has been poor to non-existent this past year further emphasizing the anomaly of 2005's Brokeback Mountain, Capote, et al. But with Reeling 2007, Chicago's International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, our cup of LGBT-themed movies is about to run over. On Nov. 8-18, Chicago will be gay movie central, with movies and short subjects from 28 countries in virtually every genre.
This is Reeling's 26th year, and a stellar event is planned. Celebrities from RuPaul to Bruce Vilanch will provide star wattage and the festival has added more pre- and post-screening parties. Shelter—the tale of Zach ( Trevor Wright ) , a poor young artist and surfer who unexpectedly finds himself in lust and in love with his wealthy best friend's older brother ( Brad Rowe of Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss ) , is the opening-night selection. Saddled with the responsibility of helping to raise the son of his party-girl sister, Zach tries to juggle the difficulty of coming out and making a life for himself as an artist and his newfound love. Not too heavy and not too light, this is perfect opening night fare. The 8 p.m. screening will be preceded by a 6 p.m. surfing-themed party ( with hors d'oeuvres and open bar ) , appropriate given Shelter's California beach locale. Both will be held at the Chicago History Museum.
The festival's first week Spotlight Presentation ( Nov. 9 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ) is A Four Letter Word, writer-director Casper Andreas' sequel to 2004's Slutty Summer. In this installment, sexy party boy Luke finds himself ( gasp! ) committing the gay mortal sin of falling in love. As the set-up would suggest, this falls right in line with other gay sex comedy romps like Another Gay Movie and Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds. If male eye candy is your thing, A Four Letter Word is your movie. An after party with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails follows the 7:30 p.m. screening.
Jamie Babbit, director of lesbian favorite But I'm a Cheerleader and last year's underappreciated The Quiet, returns with the black comedy Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Babbit's movie follows a young innocent as she's indoctrinated into an underground feminist group. This special event, on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., is at Film Row Cinema at Columbia College and will be followed by a 9 p.m. after party at Crimson Lounge, 333 N. Dearborn, that will include food, cocktails, live entertainment and giveaways from 'The L Word.' Stars of the Showtime series and the film may be on hand as well.
2 Minutes Later is Reeling's second Spotlight Presentation. The film, which is described as a cross between film noir and a buddy movie, equally balances gay and lesbian characters. The 9 p.m. screening at Film Row Cinema will be followed by an after party at River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois, that will also feature an art exhibit.
The festival's gala closing night will again begin with a 6 p.m. reception at the Chicago History Museum followed by the 7:30 p.m. screening of The Curiosity of Chance, a charming, off-beat, queer-themed homage to '80s teen comedie. The film stars the adorable Tad Hilgenbrink ( an Illinois native ) , a high school senior and transfer to a new school who is the immediate target of the typical bullying jock. Tad, abetted by a group of other outsiders, fights back with queer panache and ingenuity, all the time nursing a crush on his super-hottie next-door neighbor ( Eating Out 2: Sloppy Second's star Brett Chukerman, yet another Illinois native ) . The film percolates along nicely, helped enormously by a hot soundtrack of some atypical '80s tracks. An after party beginning at 9:30 p.m. at Andy's Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard, features entertainment by Mercedes Hall who—in a nice bit of serendipity—is the mother of '80s icon Anthony Michael Hall.
The fest has dozens of films and shorts worth checking out. Here are a few notable highlights:
—Butch Jamie ( screens Nov. 9 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ) is a cute lesbian variation on Tootsie in a winning debut from writer/director/star Michelle Ehlen.
—Blueprint ( screens Nov. 9 at Film Row Cinema ) is a sexy and romantic story of two African-American queers falling in love in one day, from queer filmmaker Kirk Shannon-Butts.
—Socket ( screens Nov. 11 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ) , a dark sci-fi thriller along the lines of David Cronenberg's Crash, is about a group of sexed-up folks addicted to, um, electricity. Local fave Alexandra Billings is featured.
—Naked Boys Singing! ( screens Nov. 13 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ) , the screen adaptation of the long-running musical-sketch comedy hit features all those hit songs and all those naked boys. Bruce Vilanch, who contributed special material for the film, makes a special appearance.
—The Gendercator ( screens Nov. 14 at Center on Halsted ) is a short gender-bending tale that uses Rip Van Winkle as its inspiration. A panel discussion follows this and its companion short, One in 2000.
—Starrbooty ( screens Nov. 14 at Lakeshore Theatre ) is the long-awaited full-length version of RuPaul's superagent parody ( Pam Grier meets Russ Meyer ) —the character that first brought Supermodel of the World little Ru Ru renown in the New York club scene. RuPaul is expected to attend the screening. An after party featuring karaoke will take place at Goose Island Brewery, 3535 N. Clark.
—Outing Riley ( screens Nov. 15 at Film Row Cinema ) is the Chicago-made sophomore effort from Project Greenlight's first winner, writer-director Pete Jones. He also stars in this comedy about an architect from a typical Irish Catholic family who finally gets up the courage to come out to his family, with surprising results.
—The Walker ( screens Nov. 15 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema ) stars Woody Harrelson as Carter Page III, the impeccably dressed, well-mannered and highly sought society escort of the wives of Washington powerbrokers ( played by Lauren Bacall, Lily Tomlin and Kristin Scott Thomas ) . In between evenings at the opera and the latest benefit, Harrelson—as the gay Carter —enjoys a weekly card game and juicy gossip with his favorite swans. But when Carter gets mixed up in a murder case, his reputation and friendships are suddenly on the line. This interesting curio from writer-director Paul Schrader is a sort of gay variation on his American Gigolo —minus the sex. It's slow-moving but a fascinating character study, nevertheless.
—Queerborn & Perversion: An Early History of Lesbian & Gay Chicago ( screens Nov. 16 at Chicago History Museum ) from documentary filmmaker Ron Pajak wasn't available for screening but promises a fascinating look at local queer history during the years 1924-1974.
Screenings for the festival will be held at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark; Landmark's Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark; Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, Third Floor; Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted; Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway; Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview; and at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark.
For complete festival information, tickets and times, call 773-293-1447 or see www.reelingfilmfestival.org .
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