Entertainment News for July 2009

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and this July 10 is a day of irreverence, as that is opening day of the new Sacha Baron Cohen film, Bruno. This time the internationally known chameleon and lampoonist plays an over-the-top stylist, named Bruno who takes the world by storm. Or more accurately, blows in a hurricane of shock to those he encounters. No stranger to mocking others, as in the case of his Borat film, you can count on a slew of new naive victims. Just last month during the MTV Movie awards, Cohen as Borat, was dressed in a white thong and angel wings, was flown on a wire over the audience and intentionally crashed into rap performer Eminem. Who subsequently left in a huff with his entourage. If the over-hyped untalented Em was so upset, he should see those who are ridiculed in the movie. In one scene, Bruno takes a jab at Madonna, when he and his lover Diesel, adopts an African child (yes, the Material Girl actually missed one) who they name O.J. show off to other celebrities and fashion icons. I can't help but wonder if this helps Cohen's chance to appear in a Guy Ritchie film. During production, Cohen and his crew embarrassed the Alabama National Guard when the military unit granted him permission to wear a uniform and train at a boot camp as they thought he was a German documentary filmmaker. Some sources have reported that the film will be called, simply, Bruno while others claim it will have a long title, like the Borat film, using the marquee expanding name 'Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt. Back in the Spring the MPAA gave the film an NC-17 rating though as that is considered a kiss of death to a film's success, even by today's standards, a recut version was expected to be submitted for a new rating. ***
Though you'll have to search art houses in your area on July 17, the independent film ‘Humpday’ brings an interesting same sex story. Though the word usually refers to the mid-week day of Wednesday this time it refers to an agreement made by two friends. Two life-long straight buddies, Andrew and Ben, who imbibe to excess at a party and losing their inhibitions, agree, before witnesses, to enter a porn internet site contest and be filmed while having sex with each other. But before you put the movie on your Netflix list just be forewarned that the two actors playing Andrew and Ben are less Abecrombie than they are “go” Fetch. ***
Eliza Dushku, star of Dollhouse, Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be producing a biographical film on the late controversial photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. Dushku has already confirmed the casting of her brother and producing partner, Nate Dushku , to play Mapplethorpe. *** Being Human a hit British series, starring out actor Russell Tovey, debuts on BBC America July 25th. Tovey plays a lycanthropic challenged individual (werewolf) with roommates that are a vampire and a ghost. So that makes me wonder, are vampires and ghosts any better about paying their rent? *** Hot on the coatails of his recent Tony Awards hosting gig, Neil Patrick Harris heads to the big screen with two film projects. In Beastly, a re-vamped version of the Beauty and the Best tale, Harris plays a blind teacher in this story about a New York girl who finds true love only after being cursed and turned into a hideous creature. Filming began last month with a cast that includes Mary-Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens. In the independent film, The Best and the Brightest, Harris and Bonnie Somerville (The O.C.) are New York city parents dealing with the competitive pre-school enrollment scene. ***
Some fans of America's Next Top Model only watch the show to witness their least favorites get their walking papers or to be told "you know what your problem is? Your face." Not that there is anything wrong with that. But if you are one who takes pleasure from watching egotistical stick figures get their come upence then the July 12 debut of Lifetime's dramatic comedy Drop Dead Diva is just up your alley. Brook Elliot stars as a superficial model who is reincarnated as a smart big boned attorney who finds her new life a bit hellish. The supporting cast includes Ben Feldman (Living with Fran,) Sean Maher (Firefly) and Margaret Cho with future guest appearances by Tim Gunn, Kathy Najimi, and Rosie O'Donnell ***
Not to seem ungrateful that one of the best show on television, Torchwood, returns to BBC America this month but adding to my frustration of the Brits habit of creating series with a 8 - 12 episode season, Torchwood will have only, FIVE EPISODES. As they use a different currency than American's I am forced to use the cliche phrase of their being penny wise and pound foolish. No other Science Fiction television series or movie as ever featured such an imense array of same sex attraction storylines and deserves better. *** With respect to Torchwood I give official notice of my favorite new cable series, showtime's Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco of the Sopranos. Here's a sampling of dialogue from the recent pilot episode. Nurse Jackie while being informed by a male nurse that the girlfriend of a deceased patient wants to talk to her...
Nurse Jackie: Why me/ Where's the social worker?
Male nurse: She's still made at us for the Christmas party
Nurse Jackie: Us? You're the one who tongued her husband after yuletide karaoke!
Male nurse: YOU dared me!