Following his directorial breakout Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2001, John Cameron Mitchell followed it up a half-a-decade later with 2006’s subversive sex dramedy Shortbus. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary following its Cannes debut, the film has undergone a 4K restoration and a new trailer has arrived ahead of a theatrical run beginning at IFC Center on January 26 via Oscilloscope Laboratories.
Starring Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, Pj Deboy, Raphael Barker, Peter Stickles, Jay Brannan, and Justin Vivian Bond, the film follows the lives of several emotionally challenged characters as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex in and around a modern-day underground salon. A sex therapist who has never had an orgasm, a dominatrix who is unable to connect, a gay couple who are deciding whether to open up their relationship, and the people who weave in and out of their lives, all converge...
Starring Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, Pj Deboy, Raphael Barker, Peter Stickles, Jay Brannan, and Justin Vivian Bond, the film follows the lives of several emotionally challenged characters as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex in and around a modern-day underground salon. A sex therapist who has never had an orgasm, a dominatrix who is unable to connect, a gay couple who are deciding whether to open up their relationship, and the people who weave in and out of their lives, all converge...
- 1/10/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
For Pride Month Team Experience is looking at favorite scenes from Lgbt cinema. Here's guest contributor Steven Fenton...
John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus explores issues of identity, pride, and patriotism at the intersection of sex and otherness in response to the pervasive anxiety in New York post 9/11. The film’s unabashed, unsimulated sex scenes challenge the audience to look beyond the bodies, reframing sex as a universal language; a means of creating connection; and a path toward self-discovery.
One of the film’s best moments is a brilliantly staged threesome where Ceth (Jay Brannan), Jamie (Pj DeBoy), and James (Paul Dawson) are locked in a sexual pyramid.
[Nsfw after the jump...]...
John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus explores issues of identity, pride, and patriotism at the intersection of sex and otherness in response to the pervasive anxiety in New York post 9/11. The film’s unabashed, unsimulated sex scenes challenge the audience to look beyond the bodies, reframing sex as a universal language; a means of creating connection; and a path toward self-discovery.
One of the film’s best moments is a brilliantly staged threesome where Ceth (Jay Brannan), Jamie (Pj DeBoy), and James (Paul Dawson) are locked in a sexual pyramid.
[Nsfw after the jump...]...
- 6/18/2016
- by Steven Fenton
- FilmExperience
Back in 2007, we ran an article called Gay Sex Scenes that Made Movie History. A delightfully naughty exploration of firsts and foresk- ... er, foremosts in terms of gay male intimacy on the silver screen, it celebrated some of the films that blew the celluloid closet to bits, one modesty sock at a time.
Six years later, it's shocking just how far pop culture has come in terms of normalizing gay characters and stories, and how much bolder the gay film audience has grown in demanding films that speak truthfully to their sexual experience (though, it must be said, the films that answer the call are usually decidedly outside of the mainstream). So we've decided to bring you an update to our foundational piece that looks at what has happened since. Of course, since most of the ground breaking was done over the last four decades or so, our focus is...
Six years later, it's shocking just how far pop culture has come in terms of normalizing gay characters and stories, and how much bolder the gay film audience has grown in demanding films that speak truthfully to their sexual experience (though, it must be said, the films that answer the call are usually decidedly outside of the mainstream). So we've decided to bring you an update to our foundational piece that looks at what has happened since. Of course, since most of the ground breaking was done over the last four decades or so, our focus is...
- 1/10/2013
- by AfterElton.com Staff
- The Backlot
Brace yourselves. This list of the Top 100 Greatest Gay Movies is probably going to generate some howls of protest thanks to a rather major upset in the rankings. Frankly, one that surprised the hell out of us here at AfterElton.
But before we get to that, an introduction. A few weeks ago we asked AfterElton readers to submit up to ten of their favorite films by write-in vote. We conducted a similar poll several years ago, but a lot has happened culturally since then, and a number of worthy movies of gay interest have been released. We wanted to see how your list of favorites had changed.
We also wanted to expand our list to 100 from the top 50 we had done previously. We figured there were finally enough quality gay films to justify the expansion. And we wanted to break out gay documentaries onto their own list (You'll find the...
But before we get to that, an introduction. A few weeks ago we asked AfterElton readers to submit up to ten of their favorite films by write-in vote. We conducted a similar poll several years ago, but a lot has happened culturally since then, and a number of worthy movies of gay interest have been released. We wanted to see how your list of favorites had changed.
We also wanted to expand our list to 100 from the top 50 we had done previously. We figured there were finally enough quality gay films to justify the expansion. And we wanted to break out gay documentaries onto their own list (You'll find the...
- 9/11/2012
- by AfterElton.com Staff
- The Backlot
"Living it up when I'm going down ..."
Oh wait, wrong elevator. This elevator carries singer/songwriter/actor Jay Brannan in the gorgeous new video for his typically beautiful ballad "Rob Me Blind."
Jay tells Spinner about the concept for the video, which involves taking risks and lamenting missed opportunities:
"I'm way too shy to ever approach anyone on the street, on the subway, in an elevator or even at a bar. So it was fun to make a video involving chemistry-at-first-sight, where the characters didn't just end up going home to check the 'missed connections' listings on Craigslist."
Shy? Jay, we've seen Shortbus.
Video Tags: watch videovideoMore Tags: MusicTags: Jay BrannanIMDbTeaser Photo: ...
Oh wait, wrong elevator. This elevator carries singer/songwriter/actor Jay Brannan in the gorgeous new video for his typically beautiful ballad "Rob Me Blind."
Jay tells Spinner about the concept for the video, which involves taking risks and lamenting missed opportunities:
"I'm way too shy to ever approach anyone on the street, on the subway, in an elevator or even at a bar. So it was fun to make a video involving chemistry-at-first-sight, where the characters didn't just end up going home to check the 'missed connections' listings on Craigslist."
Shy? Jay, we've seen Shortbus.
Video Tags: watch videovideoMore Tags: MusicTags: Jay BrannanIMDbTeaser Photo: ...
- 6/26/2012
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Viggo Mortensen (Sigmund Freud), Michael Fassbender (Carl Jung), A Dangerous Method Monsieur Lazhar Tops Genie Awards Meilleur Film / Best Motion Picture A Dangerous Method – Martin Katz, Marco Mehlitz, Jeremy Thomas CAFÉ De Flore – Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin, Jean-Marc Vallée * Monsieur Lazhar – Luc Déry, Kim McCraw Starbuck – André Rouleau The Whistleblower – Christina Piovesan, Celine Rattray Meilleure RÉALISATION / Achievement In Direction David Cronenberg – A Dangerous Method Steven Silver – The Bang Bang Club Jean-marc VALLÉE – Café de Flore * Philippe Falardeau – Monsieur Lazhar Larysa Kondracki – The Whistleblower Meilleures Images / Achievement In Cinematography Miroslaw Baszak, C.S.C. – The Bang Bang Club Pierre Cottereau – Café de Flore Jon Joffin – Daydream Nation * Jean-FRANÇOIS Lord – Snow & Ashes Ronald Plante – Monsieur Lazhar Meilleur Montage / Achievement In Editing Jean-FRANÇOIS Bergeron – The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom Michael Czarnecki – In Darkness Patrick Demers – Jaloux * STÉPHANE Lafleur – Monsieur Lazhar Ronald Sanders, C.C.E. A.C.E. – A Dangerous Method...
- 3/9/2012
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Nick Adams at the 6th annual Broadway Sings for Toys
Birthday Shoutouts! Jonah Hill is 28, and Alan Parsons is 63. The Alan Parsons Project was a hugely underrated group in the 70's and 80's. Here's my top five: 5. "Games People Play," 4. "Time" 3. "Don't Answer Me," 2. Eye In The Sky," 1. "Prime Time," which also had a music video that scared the crap out of Wee Snicks.
HBO has canceled Hung, Bored To Death, and How To Make It In America, and in a welcome but somewhat surprising move, has renewed Enlightened for a second season.In ratings news, the season finale of Terra Nova was up slightly, while Fear Factor tumbled 30% from last week. Below you can see gay friends Daniel and James do something really disgusting.
In a move that guarantees that whatever little interest I had in X Factor will be completely snuffed out, Steve Jones will apparently not be...
Birthday Shoutouts! Jonah Hill is 28, and Alan Parsons is 63. The Alan Parsons Project was a hugely underrated group in the 70's and 80's. Here's my top five: 5. "Games People Play," 4. "Time" 3. "Don't Answer Me," 2. Eye In The Sky," 1. "Prime Time," which also had a music video that scared the crap out of Wee Snicks.
HBO has canceled Hung, Bored To Death, and How To Make It In America, and in a welcome but somewhat surprising move, has renewed Enlightened for a second season.In ratings news, the season finale of Terra Nova was up slightly, while Fear Factor tumbled 30% from last week. Below you can see gay friends Daniel and James do something really disgusting.
In a move that guarantees that whatever little interest I had in X Factor will be completely snuffed out, Steve Jones will apparently not be...
- 12/20/2011
- by snicks
- The Backlot
When AfterElton asked me if I'd be interested in doing a story on full-frontal male nudity in the movies, I said, “Interested? I've been researching it since I was 12!” What prompted the idea is of course the film Shame, which stars Michael Fassbender as a man addicted to sex. When the film debuted at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year it set off a shockwave because of its sexual explicitness, including a much-discussed full-frontal reveal by Fassbender. Add to that the recent flurry of attention that stills of Jonathan Groff's nude scene in Twelve Thirty hitting the Internet generated, and it seems like these days cinema penises are a trending topic.
Everyone from film critics to Freudian analysts to gender theorists has written about male nudity in film. And sorting through the pronouncements on the male gaze and Lacanian mirrors and power inequities between the sexes in Hollywood...
Everyone from film critics to Freudian analysts to gender theorists has written about male nudity in film. And sorting through the pronouncements on the male gaze and Lacanian mirrors and power inequities between the sexes in Hollywood...
- 12/5/2011
- by fakename
- The Backlot
Pfangirl looks at all the upcoming fairy tale reinvisionings onscreen.
EW has first look photos at Tarsem Singh's Snow White movie with Armie Hammer, Julia Roberts and Lily Collins in looks that Project Runway would most certainly declare "too costumey"
Evil Queen Roberts and Prince Charming Hammer
Glee This is a poor quality video (but the best I could find) of Harry Shum Jr (♥) doing "Cool" from West Side Story. This past Tuesday's episode was the best in some time and Season 3 seems to be returning to less processed sounding music, and more small town big talent dreaminess which made the very first episodes so charming.
Thelma Adams prefers Michael Fassbender buttoned up (A Dangerous Method) to Michael Fassbender well hung (Shame). Fun piece. Um, not Fassy's, her blot post I mean!
⇚ Look, J Edgar has a real poster. I like it even though I also find it hideous...
EW has first look photos at Tarsem Singh's Snow White movie with Armie Hammer, Julia Roberts and Lily Collins in looks that Project Runway would most certainly declare "too costumey"
Evil Queen Roberts and Prince Charming Hammer
Glee This is a poor quality video (but the best I could find) of Harry Shum Jr (♥) doing "Cool" from West Side Story. This past Tuesday's episode was the best in some time and Season 3 seems to be returning to less processed sounding music, and more small town big talent dreaminess which made the very first episodes so charming.
Thelma Adams prefers Michael Fassbender buttoned up (A Dangerous Method) to Michael Fassbender well hung (Shame). Fun piece. Um, not Fassy's, her blot post I mean!
⇚ Look, J Edgar has a real poster. I like it even though I also find it hideous...
- 10/7/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
James Mitchell’s Shortbus was the mark of controversy in 2009, what with its real sex scenes, the potential firing of its star Sook Yin Lee by the CBC and its classification by some as ‘pornographic’. What the movie is, is an intimate and lively portrayal of a women lost amongst the interconnectedness of people in a city as well as the unique and faceted sexual identities of individuals and how each choose to reveal themselves as person and partner. The main plot is about Sophie– a woman who is a couple counselor/sex therapist who has never had a successful orgasm and attempts to find it through a weekly social and sexual salon called Shortbus.
This film is honest and sincere and that is exactly what is reflected back within the soundtrack amongst its eclectic mix of artists. Scott Matthew is utterly charming and earnest with his contribution ‘Upside Down...
This film is honest and sincere and that is exactly what is reflected back within the soundtrack amongst its eclectic mix of artists. Scott Matthew is utterly charming and earnest with his contribution ‘Upside Down...
- 12/17/2010
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Sierra Rose - you're getting so big!
Here at Twitterwatch, we don't really celebrate Father's Day. The common theory is that we evolved from a cockroach exposed to some toxic sludge in the Blungeon™. But lots of celebrities had something to say on Father's Day, and not all of it was the saccharine, "Thanks Dad!" stuff that makes your teeth hurt.
Our favorite gay dad, Scott Evans, thought about the fact that his signature character, Oliver Fish, would be celebrating his very first Father's Day (offscreen of course). He wondered if he'd get any well wishes from his onscreen hubby or the baby momma, which I think requires a Ouija board, not Twitter.
Brett Claywell didn't seem all that interested in Father's Day, but he may have been distracted. I know that when people insist on sticking me with needles, I'm lucky to remain conscious, much less shop for Hallmark cards.
Here at Twitterwatch, we don't really celebrate Father's Day. The common theory is that we evolved from a cockroach exposed to some toxic sludge in the Blungeon™. But lots of celebrities had something to say on Father's Day, and not all of it was the saccharine, "Thanks Dad!" stuff that makes your teeth hurt.
Our favorite gay dad, Scott Evans, thought about the fact that his signature character, Oliver Fish, would be celebrating his very first Father's Day (offscreen of course). He wondered if he'd get any well wishes from his onscreen hubby or the baby momma, which I think requires a Ouija board, not Twitter.
Brett Claywell didn't seem all that interested in Father's Day, but he may have been distracted. I know that when people insist on sticking me with needles, I'm lucky to remain conscious, much less shop for Hallmark cards.
- 6/24/2010
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
The winner of the 2010 AfterElton.com Hot 100 is …Ramin Setoodeh from Newsweek!
Just kidding. Truthfully, we can’t imagine anything less appealing than the attitudes expressed by this out gay journalist who recently argued, ridiculously, that gay actors can’t play straight roles.
So who did come out on top? If you’re the kind of person who opens your Christmas presents early, go here to find the start of the list.
The three of you left might be interested to know that the most noteworthy thing about this year’s list is that the top seven positions are occupied by out gay men, five of whom are actors; last year, only the top three were out gay men, and only four of the top ten were gay.
Of the entire list, 26 were out gay or bisexual men — up from 20 last year. And for those who really like statistics, our...
Just kidding. Truthfully, we can’t imagine anything less appealing than the attitudes expressed by this out gay journalist who recently argued, ridiculously, that gay actors can’t play straight roles.
So who did come out on top? If you’re the kind of person who opens your Christmas presents early, go here to find the start of the list.
The three of you left might be interested to know that the most noteworthy thing about this year’s list is that the top seven positions are occupied by out gay men, five of whom are actors; last year, only the top three were out gay men, and only four of the top ten were gay.
Of the entire list, 26 were out gay or bisexual men — up from 20 last year. And for those who really like statistics, our...
- 5/17/2010
- by AfterElton.com Staff
- The Backlot
Beauty like this doesn't come cheap.
Here at Twitterwatch, we had a look at some of our favorite stars outer beauty last week. What's interesting is that this week, they seem to be interested in their own beauty in one way or another. Which is fine – we don't want them to suddenly have blogger bodies.
Scott Evans put himself on the auction block for charity this week, and I dare say there were many a soap fan emptying their piggy banks for a chance at a date with the hunky guy. Turns out that time with a creature as rare as a Fub is a prized commodity.
Cheyenne Jackson talks a good, lazy game, but somehow I don't think you get to look like him by lying in bed and watching Bravo while eating Bon Bons all day. Still, it's nice to think about Cheyenne cuddled up in bed all day.
Here at Twitterwatch, we had a look at some of our favorite stars outer beauty last week. What's interesting is that this week, they seem to be interested in their own beauty in one way or another. Which is fine – we don't want them to suddenly have blogger bodies.
Scott Evans put himself on the auction block for charity this week, and I dare say there were many a soap fan emptying their piggy banks for a chance at a date with the hunky guy. Turns out that time with a creature as rare as a Fub is a prized commodity.
Cheyenne Jackson talks a good, lazy game, but somehow I don't think you get to look like him by lying in bed and watching Bravo while eating Bon Bons all day. Still, it's nice to think about Cheyenne cuddled up in bed all day.
- 5/6/2010
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Aww! Someone noticed us!
Last week, we mentioned that Brett Claywell had done some name dropping in his tweet about his birthday party. Shortly after it went up, this appeared in my feed:
So, based on how you party in that picture at the top, the answer is yes! Yes we would like to know who "the homies" are. And if possible, please provide photos.
It seems like so much of Tinseltown has an unrequited crush these days. Probably a sign that spring is in the air. But crushes take many forms.
The adorkable Tom Lenk seems to be crushing on Chelsea Handler, which is confusing, because he plays for our team. It turns out he's just crushing on her book, which he's been sleeping with each night. He should try a man instead. I'm available.
Nate Berkus seems upset that he can't fly Jet Blue on his next trip.
Last week, we mentioned that Brett Claywell had done some name dropping in his tweet about his birthday party. Shortly after it went up, this appeared in my feed:
So, based on how you party in that picture at the top, the answer is yes! Yes we would like to know who "the homies" are. And if possible, please provide photos.
It seems like so much of Tinseltown has an unrequited crush these days. Probably a sign that spring is in the air. But crushes take many forms.
The adorkable Tom Lenk seems to be crushing on Chelsea Handler, which is confusing, because he plays for our team. It turns out he's just crushing on her book, which he's been sleeping with each night. He should try a man instead. I'm available.
Nate Berkus seems upset that he can't fly Jet Blue on his next trip.
- 4/22/2010
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Plus, it's a big day for birthdays, Kelly Cutrone is impatient, American Top Gear ready to roll, Alex O'Laughlin's ... talents, and Neil Patrick Harris' Beastly quips.
On the off chance that anyone at Cartoon Network reads anything I write, I want to go on record as opposing their upcoming programming choices. Not only are you putting live-action programming on something called “Cartoon Network” you also bust out this sentence, which is as close to blasphemy as you can get: “The network also announced that coming later in the year would be an all-new re-imagined version of the Warner Bros animated classic shorts, Looney Tunes.”
Also departing from the title of their network, History Channel is set to premiere their version of Top Gear with Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood.
Kelly Cutrone got sick of waiting for Bravo to decided on a second season for Kell On Earth,...
On the off chance that anyone at Cartoon Network reads anything I write, I want to go on record as opposing their upcoming programming choices. Not only are you putting live-action programming on something called “Cartoon Network” you also bust out this sentence, which is as close to blasphemy as you can get: “The network also announced that coming later in the year would be an all-new re-imagined version of the Warner Bros animated classic shorts, Looney Tunes.”
Also departing from the title of their network, History Channel is set to premiere their version of Top Gear with Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood.
Kelly Cutrone got sick of waiting for Bravo to decided on a second season for Kell On Earth,...
- 4/21/2010
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
So in case you haven’t heard yet, there was this little thing called the Golden Globes that was held over this past weekend, and boy did those A-list gays come out in droves! But of course every award show starts with a case of the butterflies and nervous anticipation for those nominated. Or if you’re Chris Colfer, a prom analogy:
Thankfully Neil Patrick Harris (who may just know a thing or two about awards shows) brought a touch of gay sensibility to the evening:
And Christian Siriano brought the glam to the evening:
And in case you missed the dress…
And then there was the ever-thoughtful commentary of Mr. Jay Manuel:
But leave it to Jesse Tyler Ferguson to sum it all up:
And I guess the velvet tux might not have been for the Globes, but you would think that Alec Mapa, the creator of No Fats,...
Thankfully Neil Patrick Harris (who may just know a thing or two about awards shows) brought a touch of gay sensibility to the evening:
And Christian Siriano brought the glam to the evening:
And in case you missed the dress…
And then there was the ever-thoughtful commentary of Mr. Jay Manuel:
But leave it to Jesse Tyler Ferguson to sum it all up:
And I guess the velvet tux might not have been for the Globes, but you would think that Alec Mapa, the creator of No Fats,...
- 1/20/2010
- by chrisclanks
- The Backlot
We’re back with another edition of TwitterWatch, our weekly update of tweeted fun!
John Amaechi kicks things off for us this week, and let me just say it’s nice to see we’re not the only one’s addicted to Matt Alber’s “End of the World” video:
Moving a little closer to home, it looks like Jai Rodriguez had some fun during a recent production of Rent:
And speaking of the theatre, how many of you will just die when Michael Urie and company actually hit the stage with this?
Meanwhile, Chris Colfer and the rest of the Glee kids are already prepping for spring’s new episodes, and it looks like Kurt is going to be just as fabulous as ever:
As we’re so close to Christmas, many of our stars are out and about traveling and even Neil Patrick Harris gets stuck at the...
John Amaechi kicks things off for us this week, and let me just say it’s nice to see we’re not the only one’s addicted to Matt Alber’s “End of the World” video:
Moving a little closer to home, it looks like Jai Rodriguez had some fun during a recent production of Rent:
And speaking of the theatre, how many of you will just die when Michael Urie and company actually hit the stage with this?
Meanwhile, Chris Colfer and the rest of the Glee kids are already prepping for spring’s new episodes, and it looks like Kurt is going to be just as fabulous as ever:
As we’re so close to Christmas, many of our stars are out and about traveling and even Neil Patrick Harris gets stuck at the...
- 12/22/2009
- by chrisclanks
- The Backlot
Welcome back to TwitterWatch, our collection of celebrity tweets!
First things first, it’s World AIDS Day, and Twitter is turning red to raise awareness. JoinRed has all the info:
In other important news, Madison Hildebrand had a big announcement on this week’s Million Dollar Listing:
And of course the good folks over at the NOH8 campaign were right there behind him:
But not all of the tweets this week were so serious. Alec Mapa continues to send out lol-worthy tweets:
Chris Colfer also had me lol’ing, (followed by feverishly googling the lyrics to make sure I wasn’t laughing at myself!):
And Jay Brannan sent out a very “duh” tweet:
Speaking of Jays, Jay Manuel (perhaps better known as Mr. Jay from America’s Next Top Model) updated us on the newest season of Antm:
And my new favorite comedian, Billy Eichner, had an...
First things first, it’s World AIDS Day, and Twitter is turning red to raise awareness. JoinRed has all the info:
In other important news, Madison Hildebrand had a big announcement on this week’s Million Dollar Listing:
And of course the good folks over at the NOH8 campaign were right there behind him:
But not all of the tweets this week were so serious. Alec Mapa continues to send out lol-worthy tweets:
Chris Colfer also had me lol’ing, (followed by feverishly googling the lyrics to make sure I wasn’t laughing at myself!):
And Jay Brannan sent out a very “duh” tweet:
Speaking of Jays, Jay Manuel (perhaps better known as Mr. Jay from America’s Next Top Model) updated us on the newest season of Antm:
And my new favorite comedian, Billy Eichner, had an...
- 12/1/2009
- by chrisclanks
- The Backlot
If you're like me you first came across Jay Brannan in the movie Shortbus. In that film he performed an acoustic solo (of his own song) and, uh, he also performed a threeway. Both were memorable.
Since Shortbus and another supporting role in the film Holding Trevor, Brannan has been focusing primarily on his flourishing musical career. His latest album In Living Cover, was released on July 7th and he'll be touring across the country all this month in support of it. If you want to see him live, chances are he's coming to a venue near you!
Photo credit: Dee Dozier
After the break, Brannan's tour schedule, more pics, and a live stream MP3 link for the entire album In Living Color! This one is definitely worth checking out.
Brannan's Tour Dates
Wed, July 8 New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Thur, July 9 Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head Tavern
Fri,...
Since Shortbus and another supporting role in the film Holding Trevor, Brannan has been focusing primarily on his flourishing musical career. His latest album In Living Cover, was released on July 7th and he'll be touring across the country all this month in support of it. If you want to see him live, chances are he's coming to a venue near you!
Photo credit: Dee Dozier
After the break, Brannan's tour schedule, more pics, and a live stream MP3 link for the entire album In Living Color! This one is definitely worth checking out.
Brannan's Tour Dates
Wed, July 8 New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
Thur, July 9 Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head Tavern
Fri,...
- 7/10/2009
- by dennis
- The Backlot
CANNES -- John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus is a pansexual comedy that tries to get at character through graphic sexual behavior. So here's the question the movie raises: Is sex really a spectator sport? Pornography, of course, is designed to stimulate sexual excitement in viewers, which they may choose to relieve or not, but the sexual acts are disconnected from emotions. In this film, however, Mitchell -- who created his script by work-shopping scenes and characters with his open-minded and brave cast -- wants to, as he puts it, "use the language of sex as a metaphor for other aspects of the characters' lives."
Well, you probably could try the same thing with how people eat or drive cars. But can one really achieve dramatic enlightenment by watching characters engage in a single activity for an entire movie? Will we really understand their lives as a consequence?
There will be those, of course, who will see this movie as profoundly sophisticated and artful. Just as predictably, the film will raise the hackles of our current conservative critics who howl over any breach of orthodoxy, which may make Shortbus a hot boxoffice ticket for a brief period. Yet the film lacks the depth and discipline of Mitchell's first film venture, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which makes Shortbus a real disappointment.
The title refers to a New York multisex underground salon, named after the school bus used for children with disabilities or emotional problems. It is to this salon that the movie's characters repair to watch or engage in public group sex.
The subplots are cleverly linked by digital artist John Bair, through whose 3-D animated cityscape the movie can glide at a moment's notice.
These include Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist unable to achieve an orgasm with her loving husband Rob (Raphael Barker); Severin (Lindsay Beamish), a dominatrix who lives in an industrial storage unit and has never had a lasting relationship; James (Paul Dawson) and his devoted Jamie (PJ DeBoy), a gay couple who enter the crisis zone when James suggests opening up their sexual relationship to other partners.
They find what they're looking for in Ceth (Jay Brannan), a model-singer who falls for them as a couple. Meanwhile, James has a stalker, albeit a caring and gentle one, in Caleb (Peter Stickles), whose apartment across the street from James affords him a perfect vantage point to photograph his sexual couplings.
Unfortunately, the characters lack dimension when removed from the arena of sex. All problems, goals and desires are sexual in nature. Jobs, ambitions and families are banished to the very margins of the movie, if seen at all.
Mitchell does partially succeed in his sex-as-metaphor objective. Moments of genuine humor emerge from the geometry of the couplings. For instance, when was the last time you saw or heard anyone perform The Star-Spangled Banner on the rear portion of the human anatomy?
You do gain some insights into these people through the inventive positions and marital aids they so eagerly employ. But you gain more in the ceaseless group-therapy speak that continues before, during and after much of their sexual activities, a tacit admission that merely watching sex isn't going to tell us that much about peoples' lives.
This is a cheerful and even a tad sentimental film, whose actors, despite in some cases a lack of experience, deliver believable performances in and out of their clothes. But to answer the question, no, sex doesn't really make a good spectator sport.
SHORTBUS
Fortissimo presents in association with Q Television a Process production
Credits: Writer-director: John Cameron Mitchell; Producers: Howard Gertler, Tim Perell, John Cameron Mitchell; Executive producers: Michael J. Werner, Wouter Barendrecht; Director of photography: Frank G. DeMarco; Production designer: Jody Asnes; Music: Yo La Tengo; Costumes: Kurt and Bart; Editor: Brian A. Kates. Cast: Sofia: Sook-Yin Lee; James: Paul Dawson; Severin: Lindsay Beamish; Jamie: PJ DeBoy; Rob: Raphael Barker; Ceth: Jay Brannan; Caleb: Peter Stickles.
No MPAA rating, running time 102 minutes.
Well, you probably could try the same thing with how people eat or drive cars. But can one really achieve dramatic enlightenment by watching characters engage in a single activity for an entire movie? Will we really understand their lives as a consequence?
There will be those, of course, who will see this movie as profoundly sophisticated and artful. Just as predictably, the film will raise the hackles of our current conservative critics who howl over any breach of orthodoxy, which may make Shortbus a hot boxoffice ticket for a brief period. Yet the film lacks the depth and discipline of Mitchell's first film venture, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which makes Shortbus a real disappointment.
The title refers to a New York multisex underground salon, named after the school bus used for children with disabilities or emotional problems. It is to this salon that the movie's characters repair to watch or engage in public group sex.
The subplots are cleverly linked by digital artist John Bair, through whose 3-D animated cityscape the movie can glide at a moment's notice.
These include Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist unable to achieve an orgasm with her loving husband Rob (Raphael Barker); Severin (Lindsay Beamish), a dominatrix who lives in an industrial storage unit and has never had a lasting relationship; James (Paul Dawson) and his devoted Jamie (PJ DeBoy), a gay couple who enter the crisis zone when James suggests opening up their sexual relationship to other partners.
They find what they're looking for in Ceth (Jay Brannan), a model-singer who falls for them as a couple. Meanwhile, James has a stalker, albeit a caring and gentle one, in Caleb (Peter Stickles), whose apartment across the street from James affords him a perfect vantage point to photograph his sexual couplings.
Unfortunately, the characters lack dimension when removed from the arena of sex. All problems, goals and desires are sexual in nature. Jobs, ambitions and families are banished to the very margins of the movie, if seen at all.
Mitchell does partially succeed in his sex-as-metaphor objective. Moments of genuine humor emerge from the geometry of the couplings. For instance, when was the last time you saw or heard anyone perform The Star-Spangled Banner on the rear portion of the human anatomy?
You do gain some insights into these people through the inventive positions and marital aids they so eagerly employ. But you gain more in the ceaseless group-therapy speak that continues before, during and after much of their sexual activities, a tacit admission that merely watching sex isn't going to tell us that much about peoples' lives.
This is a cheerful and even a tad sentimental film, whose actors, despite in some cases a lack of experience, deliver believable performances in and out of their clothes. But to answer the question, no, sex doesn't really make a good spectator sport.
SHORTBUS
Fortissimo presents in association with Q Television a Process production
Credits: Writer-director: John Cameron Mitchell; Producers: Howard Gertler, Tim Perell, John Cameron Mitchell; Executive producers: Michael J. Werner, Wouter Barendrecht; Director of photography: Frank G. DeMarco; Production designer: Jody Asnes; Music: Yo La Tengo; Costumes: Kurt and Bart; Editor: Brian A. Kates. Cast: Sofia: Sook-Yin Lee; James: Paul Dawson; Severin: Lindsay Beamish; Jamie: PJ DeBoy; Rob: Raphael Barker; Ceth: Jay Brannan; Caleb: Peter Stickles.
No MPAA rating, running time 102 minutes.
- 5/22/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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