As you read this Reeling 2010, Chicago's LGBT film festival that is almost 30 years old, has been going on for nearly a week. But a host of delightful LGBT-themed cinematic experiences and after-parties still await as the fest goes into its second and final week.
Perhaps the festival's most hotly anticipated entry is the screening ( tonight at 9 p.m. at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema ) of the long-overdue I Love You Phillip Morris, the gay romantic black comedy starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor. The film is based on the jaw-dropping true story of Steven Russell ( Jim Carrey ) , who, after a life-threatening car accident, reveals to his wife that he's actually gay. To support his newly embraced, over-the-top lifestyle ( and a hunky lover played by 300 heartthrob Rodrigo Santoro ) Steven instigates a series of illicit schemes. Ending up in prison he meets the love of his life—the Phillip Morris ( Ewan McGregor ) of the title. The black comedy hijinks then multiply threefold.
This happens, if the trailer for the film—which is about the only thing U.S. film audiences have been able to see up to now—is to be believed. The movie's infamy comes from its inability to find a distributor after a sensational reception at Sundance nearly three years ago. The film's ultra-gay content ( which includes Carrey shown topping a compliant stud—seen in the red-band trailer ) was said to make distributors extremely nervous. Finally, the movie was picked up and released to good audiences and not-bad reviews in Europe. A small U.S. distributor eventually announced it had secured the rights but release dates came and went until the distributor was sued by its larger European counterpart for non-payment of upfront fees.
Now Roadside Attractions, yet another small American distributor of offbeat indies, has stepped in and the movie is finally going into general release Dec. 10. But Reeling, in a well deserved triumph for the fest, will have the first public screening of the movie in Chicago. Guests of the Phillip Morris screening can present their ticket stub at Berlin, 954 W. Berlin, following the screening for free admission and two complimentary Blue Moon beers.
Flight of the Cardinal—a thriller with gay characters, courtesy of writer/director Robert Gaston—is the fest's final Centerpiece selection and will be shown Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. Gaston will attend the screening. Each of the Centerpiece selections will be shown at the Landmark Century Centre Cinemas, 2828 N. Clark, the primary screening location for the festival.
The festival's closing-night feature is Undertow ( Contracorriente ) , a romantic drama from Peru that was the Audience Award favorite at this year's Sundance. Undertow screens at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio, Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. followed by an after-party with further details to be announced.
Complete festival information, tickets, theatres and locations by calling 773-293-1447 or at www.reelingfilmfestival.org . Highlights of Reeling's second-week schedule will run in next week's Windy City Times.
Here's a brief overview of some second-week Reeling films as reviewed by Richard Knight, Jr. ( RKJ ) , Andrew Davis ( AD ) and Steve Warren ( SW ) :
Wed., Nov. 10:
—Eyes Wide Open ( RKJ ) : We're everywhere folks and this dense, romantic drama filled with symbolism set in Jerusalem about a straight Orthodox Jewish butcher falling hard for an outcast hunk Ezri, who becomes his assistant, is proof. A story focusing on gay desire within this rigidly conservative world is apparently so taboo that we don't even see the lead actors kiss ( although they are shown simulating humping and we get a glimpse of full-frontal nudity ) . Most interestingly, director-writer Haim Tabakman's film seems to suggest that the artsy Ezi is too beautiful not to be tempting to men—hence his outcast status.
Thursday, Nov. 11:
—Flight of the Cardinal ( SW ) : Robert Gaston's thriller is well-acted and -directed, but the script goes off the rails near the end. David J. Bonner plays the conniving serpent in the Eden-like North Carolina lodge run by Ross Beschler. Once the innocent victim starts fighting back things get interesting, if slightly ridiculous. It's still watchable, and the filmmaker and his leads, including Claire Bowerman, should have even better movies ahead of them.
Friday, Nov. 12:
—Plan B ( SW ) : This Argentine film about two straight men falling in love is very slowly paced and the plot doesn't make much sense, but ultimately it doesn't matter why Bruno ( Manuel Vignau ) and Pablo ( Lucas Ferraro ) become friends, and not rushing things makes the evolution of their relationship believable. Spoiler alert: If they don't hook up it will be a feature-length tease like the American Humpday, which I didn't recommend. And I recommend Plan B.
Saturday, Nov. 13:
—Fit ( AD ) : In this British drama, Loris ( played by writer-director Rikki Beadle-Blair ) teaches a group of delinquents in his dance class. The ambitious movie tackles what seems like a thousand issues, and the classmates seem to be of every sexual orientation possible ( which is laudable ) —but, at 108 minutes, the movie could have been tightened a bit. Also, here's hoping subtitles are used during the screening, because the characters speak at a frenetic pace and use a lot of local slang.
—The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls ( RKJ ) : Who wouldn't fall hard for a movie that documents the extraordinary life of former farm girls turned country western-folk superstars Down Under who just happen to be twins—and lesbian, to boot? Though a tad on the long side, this chronicle of Jools and Lynn—a winning duo that call to mind the Roches and when in full voice, dueling k.d. langs—is effervescent and just about irresistible. It's the feel-good film of the fest and another reason why 2010 has been the year of the lesbian movie. See it and get happy.
—Holding Hands ( RKJ ) : Another documentary from Down Under, this one examines the galvanizing aftermath that occurred following an attack on a gay couple in Sydney ( Australia's gay capital ) for merely holding hands. The film also tracks the physical and emotional recovery of Craig and Shane, the couple involved in the hate crime.
—Undertow ( Contracorriente ) ( RKJ ) : This standout closing-night feature from Peru is a standout entry in this week's line-up. The film follows a hunky fisherman in a tiny village awaiting the birth of his first child with his anxious wife while carrying on a simultaneous affair with a male painter who sketches him in the nude. When the artist mysteriously drowns, the fisherman is literally haunted by him and is forced to confront his true feelings—just as the sketches are found by his gossipy, homophobic neighbors. A gay variation on Truly, Madly Deeply and any number of "on the down low" queer-themed indies, Undertow is a complicated, sexy relationship drama beautifully filmed and acted by its fetching cast.
