Friskbiskit

Guest Post: Daisy Harris

Today we have the fabulous Daisy Harris and her Gay Movie Review Blog Tour. Welcome Daisy!

Movie Reviews: Awesome Gay Foreign Films, Volume 2 

Hello, loyal followers! And thanks Jessica for having me on the blog today.

An introduction for those of you who don’t know me already—

I write books. Romance books about gay men. As such, I watch a lot of gay movies and gay-themed television shows. I figure that if you’re here, you might enjoy some of the same gay movies I have. And this being the holidays, you might be looking for something new to watch….

So—

Welcome back to my Gay Movie Review blog tour! The tour calendar is at the end of the post, so you can follow along to other stops. As with most blog tours, there’s a prize involved. A randomly selected commenter will win a DVD of my favorite gay movie I’ve watched this year, Weekend, and a free book from my backlist.

On with the blog…

#1: C.R.A.Z.Y. 

This gem of a movie is French Canadian. So right off the bat, you know it’s going to be sexy and have attitude for miles. Yes, it’s in French. (Canadian French! Deal with that!) So there are subtitles. But the fact that it stars the incredibly sexy Marc-André Grondin more than makes up for the effort of reading the dialogue.

At its heart, C.R.A.Z.Y is a family drama. It’s about a father’s love for his five sons, a son’s love for his father. And if you don’t mind, I’m going to stop with the periods between each of the letters... 

So, yeah, CRAZY is a family drama, and also a coming out story. The core conflict is between Zachary Beaulieu (played by Marc-André Grondin) and his father, Gervais Beaulieu (played by Michel Côté.) As a young, gay man, Zac struggles with his perfect older brother, his giant family, his disapproving father, his sexuality and his obsession with Ziggy Stardust. 

Oh, and this movie is set in the 70s. Did I mention that? No. I don’t believe I did. But, regardless. It’s set in the 1970s, so not only do we get to see Marc-André Grondin in make up, we also get to see him in bell bottoms.

Nothing but win here.

The ending is uplifting, an essential in my book for “awesome movie” status. But the whole thing is deep, heartfelt, and beautifully told. This is a must-see gay film. Highly, highly recommended!

It won 35 awards! So, honestly, it’s not just me that thinks this movie is great. 

Here’s the trailer. You be the judge…

 

  

#2: The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros is not just a good movie, or a great movie, but it’s an IMPORTANT movie. Every author who writes male-male romance, in my opinion, should watch this film.

Maxi Oliveros (played by Nathan Lopez) is a twelve-year-old feminine gay boy growing up in the slums of Manila. His family—composed of a father and two brothers—are petty criminals. And Maxi falls in puppy love with a handsome, very adult, cop.

 This story is outstanding in so many ways. It’s fresh, honest, real, uplifting. But more than that, it takes place in a culture where there is a lot more room for gender fluidity than there is in the US. Maxi’s father and brothers love him unconditionally, and spoil him with trinkets and barrettes. Maxi has a group of little-boy friends who are just as feminine as he is, and who are known and loved by everyone in the neighborhood.

In a world filled with people with real problems (as opposed to first world problems), being gay, and even feminine, is only part of Maxi’s landscape as he struggles to grow up.

The work he does for his family helps put food on the table. And by “food”, I mean mainly rice. His father is a criminal because it pays well. Back when he worked a “real” job, Maxi’s father lost his wife because he didn’t have money to pay for a doctor. Maxi’s father is fiercely protective of his family, and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they have the basics they need to survive.

The police officer Victor is a good man, too, and very aware of the evils both within the police force and outside it. He wants to help Maxi, but struggles not to use their relationship to bring Maxi’s father to justice.

In the end, this is a story about growing up. It’s happy, sad, and everything in between. Watch it. Right now.

It won a kajillion awards. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the trailer below, and see what I’m talking about. I bet you end up renting Blossoming tonight.

 

This ends today’s installment of the Daisy Harris Gay Movie Review Blog Tour. Come by my blog (www.thedaisyharris.com) on Thursday, where I’ll be discussing the Eating Out franchise, pre-Chris Salvatore!

Oh, and be sure to comment at the end. Have you seen these movies? Did you love? Hate? Have any other movies to recommend? Add your two cents.

 

The Daisy Harris Gay Movie Review Blog Tour Schedule:

Tuesday, November 27 — Awesome Gay Foreign Films, Volume 1 (Cup o Porn)

Thursday, November 29 — Good But Depressing Gay Foreign Films (Alyssa Linn Palmer)

Tuesday, December 4 — Soccer-Themed Gay Movies (Cup o Porn)

Thursday, December 6 — Totally-a-M/M-Romance-Plotline Gay Films (Joyfully Jay)

Tuesday, December 11 — So Bad, They’re Good Gay Films (Cup o Porn)

Thursday, December 13 — Awesome Foreign Gay Films, Volume 2 (Jessica Freely)

Tuesday, December 18 — Eating Out franchise, pre Chris Salvatore (Daisy Harris)

Friday, December 21 — Awesome U.S. Gay Films (Saritza Hernandez, agent)

Tuesday, December 25 — Eating Out Franchise, post Chris Salvatore (Daisy Harris)

Thursday, December 27 — Gay Adoption Films (Fiction with Friction)

Saturday, December 29 — Gay Films for the Holidays (Tara Lain)

 

Bio:

Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex tends to get completely out of hand.

She writes about fantastical creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an episode of The Walking Dead.

Want to learn more about new releases, general news and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX

Or visit my website: www.thedaisyharris.com

Yelp of Distraction

So I'm cooking away on my daily work count -- up to 773 words! -- and suddenly, WHAM, I'm watching funny videos on YouTube.

What happened?

I blame this:

 

Sexy Nerd!

It's been a tough time lately and yesterday's fender bender didn't help, but in my hour of darkness comes this to remind me that life is worth living after all:

Possibly the most relevant link I've ever blogged. Big thanks to Marta for sending me this. You rock hon!

 

X-men First Class: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying about the Bomb and Love Charles/Erik

Hey, so, Steve and I saw X-men First Class this week and as you might expect, here comes the fangirl gush. :)

Now I totally get being pissed off that the movie is racist and sexist. Only Black guy dies first, hispanic character is a stripper and then goes to the dark side. And I thought the prop choice of female manniquins for Havoc's training sessions was unnecessary and misogynist.

But the beautiful and tragic relationship between Charles and Erik! I can't resist it. It's beautiful. And tragic. There must be some slash already, surely? Why of course there is! And this great vid too. ("The world fighted them." Hee.)

I loved how emotional and mutual  it was. And then the playfulness of the two of them on the red velvet bed, drinking and buying a woman together. So romantic. 
Physically McAvoy and Fassbinder are a wonderful contrast. Two beautiful men, one super masculine and the other just like I like 'em. But Charles' softness and kindness can get to places in Erik that he's held closed off from everyone, including himself, for years. That's why if I were writing Charles/Erik, I'd very definitely be writing Charles/Erik. Charles is the top in that relationship in my book. A very loving, nurturing top who helps Erik heal from the horrendous experiences he's survived.

Sigh.

 

Big Love Season 4 is Proof that God Loves Me and Wants Me to be Happy

Taking the Sting Out

I'm really partying it up lately. Monday I made Xmas buns: poppyseed and apricot.  Yum!

Yesterday my friend Brian had an extra ticket to the advance screening of The Green Hornet, but no ride. Fortunately, my car is out of the shop after a nasty run in with a ninja fire hydrant on the Dark of the Moon. Gendel Collision, all of you in the Metro Detroit area: top notch body work by awesome human beings.

Of course the week before Steve and I were sunning it up in Frosty Florida -- still nicer than it was here at home. But I was glad to get home. I can be so funny about travel sometimes. This was one where I didn't realize how much I missed my friends and my animals until I got home again. How sappy is that?

Anyway, back to the Green Hornet. I've been hearing a lot of skepticism about this movie and I know some dedicated fans might not appreciate the approach that was taken with it, but I had a great time. It's fast-paced, actiony fun, with the added bonus of an interesting dynamic between the two leads. It gets pretty out of hand in the climactic fight scene, but by then I was so stuffed full of yummy Reid/Kato subtext I didn't give a damn. I mean, at one point, they get drunk together in the back seat of one of Reid's dad's cars. That's right, they parked.

:D

And Jay Chou makes me think the wrong things in the right way.

Oh, and the car is fucking awesome too. 

So now tomorrow, tomorrow I'm going to hang with my friends Christopher, Carol, and Paulette at our local Caribou Coffee. There's going to be live music there from 10 am to noon.  I have souvenirs from FL and Xmas buns to share and I'm totally psyched.

 

Gilbert and Sullivan meets NaNoWriMo

Coming Soon: Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys

The Sundance Channel is airing a series about friendships between women and gay men. Beginning in December, the series will follow the lives of four couples, each comprised of a woman and a gay man who are close friends. According to the website, Girls who Like Boys who Like Boys "explores a special kind of relationship: a woman and her gay best friend. A bond that goes deeper than friendship, it’s a fresh perspective on love, companionship, and the meaning of 'happily ever after.'"

Sounds cool. Will have to check it out. No further release information beyond sometime in December. Stay tuned.

Movie Nite

Just got back from seeing You Again with Paulette. I give it a B. The multi-generational rivalries gave the story some nice texture, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver were great. Betty White was way under utiliized. No big surprises story-wise. Worth a rental but not really worth seeing in the theater.

But it was still nice to go to the movies, and we had popcorn and Sno-caps.  :)

Rubbing Elbows with the Stars

I met Michael Imperioli (Christopher on The Sopranos and now starring in Detroit 1-8-7) today. He was sitting in the Bean and Leaf. I was reading my ms. and I looked up and I'm like, "Wow, that guy looks just like Michael Imperioli."  And then I rememberd that he's in a show set in Detroit and they're starting to film on location now.

I sidled over (of course) and very quietly, cuz I didn't want the poor man to get mobbed, told him I'd enjoyed his work, and he said thank you, and I asked if he was shooting on location and he said yes, and then I said I wouldn't say anything to anyone, and I left.

According to the fabulous Monica, who works at the B&L, he lives somewhere nearby. Probably in one of the condos.

Tee hee!

Breaking Cute

Here's an adorable clip of the two principal actors of Breaking Bad in an interview together. There's even a little slash moment:

 

Wondering Which Shows to Netflix?

My pal Carol Pinchefsky provides a very handy reference in 20 Gay Characters We Love from Sci-Fi Movies and TV. Check it out. A fun nostalgia trip plus I found a few things I hadn't seen yet.

Book Trailer for Destiny's Bastard by Hank Edwards

Hank Edwards has an m/m historical entitled Destiny's Bastard coming out from Loose Id on August 24. (I'm not quite modest enough not to mention that I turned Hank on to LI a couple of years ago. Hee.)

Hank says, "It's the story of a knight in medieval England who is in love with the prince of his kingdom. When a violent stranger tears them apart, the knight embarks on a journey that will test his courage and beliefs. Seeking revenge, he enters a cave that contains a portal to the future and finds himself in the year 2006 where he meets a man who seems very familiar..."

Sounds cool, huh?

Here's a trailer for it:

The Fear

I was really feeling the fear today. You know that fear that makes you're insides feel all heavy and whispers to you that you're doomed. Yep, that one. 'Cuz the to-do list is frigging overwhelming and next week's residency is putting a big squeeze on.

But all you can really do is just carry on and muscle through. Besides, I have a feeling that the fear motivates me more effectively than anything else. I'm feeling a bit better now because I finished a first pass of the Hero line edits in one day.  Yay for me!

There's still tons to do but I thought I'd pause for a moment to enjoy this clip of Nick Cage on Jimmy Kimmel, and a preview for Nick's new flick, The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Now, I happen to be a Nick Cage fan, which hasn't been easy these days. He's made some real stinkers lately, and in the interview, he's just as wooden as he's been in most of his recent roles, but to be fair, they were filming him at 3 am.  The movie on the other hand, looks like a blast.  Nick says it's hilarious and scary, a combination he adores, as do I. Maybe that's why I like him so much in

Furry Vengeance

Fandom fetish or kid's movie?

Well okay, going by the trailer this is a family-friendly film about a soulless business man who learns the value of green space the hard way. Still, check out the look on Fraser's face. And I'm sorry, but that bear? Put those elements together with the title and it's hard not to think that someone at Summit Entertainment has some fandom knowledge and a sick sense humor.