Monday, July 30, 2012

Reuniting with 'Jeffrey'

I was a curious, elementary school boy when I first chanced upon this gem on TV. Since then, I've longed to see it again but only got to do so once more many years back. Good thing I remembered the title, and since I've been on a YouTube viewing spree lately, voila!


Until  re-watching it recently, all I could honestly remember about 'Jeffrey' aside from the title, is the gym scene where Jeffrey is being confronted by another guy's crotch while he's on the bench press. That was surely enough to make me want to see it again. That image has embedded in my little, almost innocent mind since.


It turns out the film is actually more socially relevant --and less sexually explicit--than I thought. It's wonderful nonetheless. I can totally relate to the paranoia that HIV has caused and its implications on someone's dating life (read: it sucks).

Set in New York City, the treatment is very reminiscent of Sex and the City--season 1, that is. It's not teeming with scenes that make blood rush to the nether regions but it certainly offers important inputs for the mind and the heart which a lot of folks in the gay community should consider. Also, Patrick Stewart is in it and he is fantasticles.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Movies Other Than Batman

For some reason, I've been watching more movies than usual recently. It's may be because I've run out of Kathy Griffin videos to entertain myself with, Video City still exists in my neighborhood, and I've recently discovered a part of YouTube with full-length movies that are hard to find.

I don't know about you but I lose my patience very easily which is why I consider it an accomplishment whenever I finish an entire movie in one sitting. It's like a mild ADHD that has resulted in me favoring short films and TV series over full-length features, and essays and anecdotes over novels.

There's really nothing like staying in during a stormy afternoon, in bed cloaked in a thick comforter and curiously following the plot of a movie you've never really heard about before.

Here's a few titles I enjoyed and you might also want to check out.


Emir - It's a tale of an Ilocana forced to try her luck in the Middle East as a nanny to a crowned prince. She experiences what every OFW does and more as war breaks out confusing her priorities.

Had I known this was a musical, I don't think I would have given it the time of day but I'm glad I did and patiently waited even through less than stellar song numbers. It's a touching story and I can't believe I haven't heard about this Filipino movie before.


Hot Boy Noi Loan - This gay-themed, Vietnamese flick is a strange love story revolving around three characters in a messy entanglement. Unlike most films with a similar theme, this one is far from being a snuff fest (sorry?) and actually has an interesting story to tell.


3 Idiots - Another subtitled movie, this one, which I have heard about before, took me more patience; the movie is almost 3 hours long! As with many Indian movies, this one features a few song and dance numbers, one of which is still stuck in my head. It's a story of three friends going through life in engineering school and beyond. It's funny but it also made me tear up.

Ah, to be able to soak up some culture and escape for a little bit. I think we can all use more of such movies.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Monday, July 23, 2012

Magic Meh

When I walked into that theater in Glorietta, which is one of the very few that still shows Magic Mike, I didn't expect to see a dick dangling in front of my face. Perhaps I was hoping for it but I wasn't holding my breath (pun not intended). Still, I was anticipating some shock value what with such a provocative theme. I don't know if I'm just jaded but it barely got me hot and bothered.


The plot was interesting enough but the execution fell flat. It's like a sex romp with no climax which is such a big irony given the kind of hype it has made. In the sex appeal department, the movie offers a smorgasbord of  panty creamers in the form of Alex Pettyfer and Joe Manganiello (my top two picks) among others. Still though, I expected more than just dry humping and perky ass cheeks. Is there something wrong with me?

In the beginning of the movie, when Channing Tatum first appeared on the screen, at least two girls in the theater gasped loud enough for other people to hear. This is before his buns made their appearance. It has led me to a hunch that the movie, perhaps, is not really for me and instead, for girls who appreciate some naughty, good time; the type who secretly fantasizes about having a man's fleshy appendage dangling in front of her face and not admit it.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Monday, July 16, 2012

Turn Up The Radio

Madonna's latest music video off MDNA is out. In 'Turn Up the Radio', Madge takes the party on the road somewhere in Europe and picks up several strangers to join her. Typically, hunky men are in the mix plus a couple of transgenders. 


Her wardrobe, consisting of only one outfit (insert gay gasp here), is straight out of 'Girl Gone Wild' therefore a letdown since it's nothing new. She looks good though (30s good). The song, on the other hand, is a catchy and uplifting dance track that's begging to be remixed.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The End of My Life As I Know It

At 25, I feel like my life is over. I'm over. I wish I could say it's just a rut that I'll get out of soon but I just can't bring myself to think that. From a different angle, what I'm going through may be trivial and shallow compared to the difficulties others are subjected to but we're all made differently and I don't think I'm well-equipped for this type of torture.

I badly need my mom. Seriously. My insecurities are at a peak and I tend to be the worst to myself so I need her to assure me everything's going to be alright. Then again, I don't like my folks worrying.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Alessandra De Rossi the Musician

Well, this is surprising. Critically acclaimed Alessandra de Rossi now sings! It's not the kind that tries so hard but good music nonetheless--at least for me it is. It's ambient so the emphasis is more on the instrumentals and it's basically a free pass for unlimited auto-tune. Clever.


I've always liked her because not only is she a good actress, she also dresses effortlessly cool, plus she's a riot. Now, this. Thank goodness she took the more experimental route.

Aside from the underwater parts where she's obviously struggling, this video looks very well-made.

literarybulimia@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

An Open Letter to Anderson Cooper

It's the dawn of a new era. It may not come as a surprise but confirming what everyone has been thinking still makes a lot of difference. It brings pride to a community that is very slowly, and hopefully surely, coming out of a dark age littered with prejudice and discrimination.

With that, I would like to say a few words to Mr. Cooper.

Dear Anderson (We're totally on a first-name basis, yes.),

The truth is, all this time, we've been actually soul mates in my head. But you coming out like this, confirming that you are indeed gay, "always has been, always will be" is such a huge leap for the community. Not all of us are as brave as you are but each of us will have our own time. When it feels right, it will happen.

I want you to know how I appreciate you representing the gay community with so much dignity and sophistication. I don't know if this has always been your plan but I do feel like to be able to be taken seriously, especially in journalism, as a gay person, you have to achieve an incredible level of success first. It rarely goes the other way around. You must have also felt that tremendous pressure; that you have to prove yourself first before affirming your sexuality in front of the world for fear of never getting to have a chance to prove anything at all. Such is my case.

Your mother must be so proud of you. My parents are lovely but I don't know how they will take it once I do my own confirmation. It makes me think I, too, must have CNN under my belt just to be able to justify the way I am. Isn't that sad?

When you were young, did you also feel that you're different? Or that you didn't belong, even? Did you also have that struggle within yourself like you're in a battle and you're fighting it on your own? Did you also have those countless questions but had no one to ask because you're afraid you might get ostracized? Did you have to find yourself in other people too?

In any case, it's people like you that inspire the rest of us to be a lot better than the misconceptions of this society. You, who has rightfully earned an important platform that could influence public perception, do not only remind us of what we could be but also show the rest what we are capable of. You're right. It is extremely important to be counted and you acknowledging your sexuality hopefully makes it better for the rest of us to do the same thing; to claim what we deserve with pride, without second guessing ourselves and without having the need to defend our cause.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you not only for being gorgeous and smart but also for your courage because in one way or another, when you get out there being Mr. CNN in your bespoke Ralph Lauren suits and all, a part of us thrives with you.

Here's a to a time when coming out is unnecessary and being us, whoever we may be, is the norm.

Sincerely, 

This Blogger

literarybulimia@gmail.com