Reel Thoughts: 2010 Fall Movie Preview

From Facebook to gay poets, the new season of films is getting some buzz. The end of summer brings prestige pictures and big budget blockbusters to movie screens, with the beginning of the end of Harry Potter sure to draw the most attention.

Also coming this fall: Wall Street’s Gordon Gecko sprung from jail, a preteen vampire and Ryan Reynolds in a box, plus the return of Cher in Burlesque. Will it be the Showgirls of the new millennium?

It’s going to be an interesting season. Here are the films we’re excited to see.

September:
Going the Distance (now playing): As onscreen/off-screen couples go, for every Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, there’s also a Sean Penn and Madonna. We’ll see how Justin Long and Drew Barrymore fare in this story about a long-distance love affair.

The Tillman Story (now playing): Pat Tillman’s life was inspiring enough – the Arizona Cardinal football star gave up his athletic career after September 11 to join the military and fight overseas. That’s before the Bush Administration got its hands on his death-by-friendly-fire. This searing documentary exposes how Tillman’s death was abused, and the struggles his family endured finding and publicizing the truth.

Machete (now playing): Grindhouse, by Roberto Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, was an inspired homage to trashy B-movies of the ’70s, complete with fake movie trailers between the double feature. Machete, starring Danny Trejo, fleshes (and bloods) out one of the trailers, a Mexploitation flick about a man with a big grudge ... and a bigger blade.

I'm Still Here (September 10): No, it’s not Barbara Cook saluting Stephen Sondheim with a medley from Follies. This is Casey Affleck’s film following Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre quest to become a rap star while wearing a Grizzly Adams beard.

Devil (September 17): Maybe that guy with burrito breath isn’t the worst person you could get stuck with in an elevator. That would be the devil himself, who torments a group of lift takers. The scariest part? The script comes “from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan.”

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (September 24): Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas) is out of jail and pushing a new book, while Shia LeBeouf is the young moneymaker who has lessons to learn in the new economy.

You Again (September 24): Kristin Bell plays a former nerd appalled to find that her brother is marrying her high school nemesis (Odette Justman). Add to that the rivalry between Bell’s mom Jamie Lee Curtis and Justman’s aunt Sigourney Weaver, toss in Betty White and Kristin Chenoweth (as a perky wedding planner), and you’ve got a lot more potential than When in Rome.

Buried (September 24): Ryan Reynolds re-enacts the end of The Vanishing as an American contractor captured and buried alive by Iraqi insurgents. Claustrophobics, beware!

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop (September 24): Turnabout is fair play as Chinese director Yimou Zhang remakes an American film, the Coen Brothers’ Blood Simple, about a man whose plan to murder his cheating wife goes horribly awry.

Howl (September 24) is the most eagerly awaited GLBT film of the fall. James Franco (Milk) stars as gay Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, who was put on trial for obscenity due to the frankness of his poem, "Howl". Directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Celluloid Closet) explore the influential poet’s significance with scenes from the trial and Ginsburg’s life and relationships. The film also includes black and white scenes of the real Ginsberg performing "Howl" in a coffeehouse.

October:
Never Let Me Go (October 1): Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield (the next Spider-Man) play British boarding school kids raised for one very dark purpose.

Let Me In (October 1): It girl “Hit Girl” Chloe Grace Moretz plays the little vampire next door, a 12-year-old bloodsucker who befriends and protects a bullied little boy. This remake of Let the Right One In moves the action to 1983 New Mexico.

A Film Unfinished (October 1): An unflinching documentary about the infamous Nazi propaganda film that romanticized the Warsaw Ghetto, complete with lost footage.

The Social Network (October 1): Seven director David Fincher cast Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland) as Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire creator of Facebook. Forget your Farmville and find out how it all began.

Hereafter (October 22): Clint Eastwood treads in to Shyamalan territory with tales of people affected by disasters (the Indian Ocean tsunami, the London Underground bombing) and a psychic (Matt Damon) who can communicate with dead people.

November:
Morning Glory (November 12): Broadcast News 2010? Rachel McAdams plays the put-upon producer of a terrible morning show (hosted by Diane Keaton) who spices things up by adding Harrison Ford’s seasoned newsman to the mix.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (November 19): Harry’s Hogwarts saga draws to a close as he, Hermoine, Ron and the forces of good battle the evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, last seen releasing his Kraken in Clash of the Titans).

Burlesque (November 24): Christina Aguilera is a small town girl who heads to LA to become a burlesque star, tutored by a former showgirl played by Cher. Will she be “all pelvic thrust” like Nomi in Showgirls? Somewhere, Elizabeth Berkley is nodding knowingly.

December:
Black Swan (December 1): Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis play rival ballet dancers in Darren Aronofsky’s All About Eve-esque thriller. Expect some sexy fireworks between the women as they fight to be the last Swan standing … on pointe.

Review by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Reel Thoughts Interview: Indecent Proposition

They say, “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.” Reed Cowan knows this well. As a gay Mormon, he’s experienced discrimination and abuse, and as a filmmaker, he’s received death threats for “mocking God”. Cowan originally planned to make his documentary about gay teen homelessness and suicide in Utah, but as the events of Proposition 8 and the Mormon Church’s covert involvement became known, he knew what the real subject would be.

8: The Mormon Proposition is a riveting and incendiary condemnation of the Mormon Church’s more barbaric practices and attitudes. Targets include the Church hierarchy, captured on recordings and in letters laying out a detailed battle plan to derail marriage equality, first in Hawaii and then in California, as well as strong arm techniques used to compel members to donate to the anti-gay legislation. The scenes of homeless youth and accounts of teen suicide are still included, but they come late in the film, more as a way to show the harsh and unforgiving church tenets that tear families apart. The hopeful story of newly married Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones is contrasted with the crazy musings of folks like Utah State Senator Chris Buttars, who likens gays to radical Muslims and accuses them of engaging in “pig sex”.

The film is narrated by screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for Milk, and his passionate delivery combines with personal accounts of Mormons like writer Carol Lynn Pearson to create the perfect wake-up call. If Fox News, the Mormon Church and other equally overreaching religious leaders can inflame the right wing to enact travesties like Prop 8 and the recent Arizona Immigration law, it seems only fair that 8: The Mormon Proposition returns the favor.

I wanted to hear from Cowan now that his film is reaching a broader audience after its buzz-worthy premiere at Sundance; it opens in theaters on June 18 followed by a DVD release on July 13. He challenged audiences to let the film spur them to action.

NC: Your film really stirs up a lot of anger in people that a church would focus so strongly on denying the rights of non-members (since the Mormon Church doesn't accept homosexuality in its followers). What did you hope to accomplish with the film? What can viewers do to fight back against this kind of campaign?
RC: I would hope the film would stir up more of what the bible calls “righteous indignation”. What I mean by that is that I think anger is an empty emotion unless it is not channeled in to something substantive and positive. We have to learn from the history that is Prop 8. And we have to be stirred up to action through a healthy dose of indignation. What can viewers do? Simple. Don’t spend your money where it will end up being used against the equality of all people and don’t elect people who hold bigoted views. Also, demand that the IRS hold accountable any religion or 501(c) (tax-exempt organization) who participates in politics such as the Mormon Church did.

NC: A fellow reviewer (who's Catholic) felt that you let the Roman Catholic Church off the hook for their work to pass Prop 8. Here in Arizona, the Bishop sent around a video to be shown during church services telling parishioners to vote for our version (Prop 102). What was your opinion of other churches that overstepped the separation of church and state?
RC: All churches who cross the boundaries between church and state are up for examination and criticism as long as our nation desires a democracy and not a theocracy. For years, Mormon leaders have intimated that they were invited to join a coalition and I believe hid behind Catholics and their leaders. I'm proud that our film vindicates good Catholics who have been pushed out in front by Mormons — and as a result took heat. The fact is, Mormons organized the coalition. And they let Catholics take the fall. I have heard from thinking Catholics who appreciate the record being set straight. True, Catholic leaders have fought against marriage equality. But they were not the leaders of the crusade.

NC: What is the Mormon Church's reaction to the film?
RC: Their leaders are on record saying they haven't seen the film, but that it lacks truth. I think that's strange. "We haven't seen it, but look elsewhere for truth." We held seats for Mormon leaders in every screening of the film. So far, none have taken us up on it. Additionally, we have asked Mormon leaders to articulate what is inaccurate about our film so that we can perhaps reflect more accuracy. So far ... Mormon leaders have not done that.

NC: What have you heard from GLBT Mormons and other viewers about the film?
RC: Tears of gratitude. Some of the most poignant reactions can be seen at the 8: The Mormon Proposition page on Facebook.

NC: What is your personal stake in the film and the events it depicts? How has your life changed since playing at the Sundance Film Festival (in Utah, no less)?
RC: It isn't about my personal stake. It's about the interests of my children who are being raised in a same sex relationship that is not protected by the laws of this land. My life has changed in many ways. Most of all, I feel like I've become a man because of this. Meaning, I always heard people talk about that time in life when you take notice of the fact that you have come of age, become a man. This fight has done that. It has set me apart from the religion of my birth, from my family ... and set me on a path of fighting for what I believe in: equality for all.

NC: What will you tackle next? What is the next stage of the equality fight?
RC: Well, for now I'm doing all I can to make sure that 8: The Mormon Proposition is the best it can be for the audience who deserves it. As to the next stage in the equality fight, I predict some shifts. I predict some of the mainstream gay advocacy organizations will either change radically or be replaced by a youth-driven grass roots approach.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Reverend's Reviews: I Love Phillip Morris, Too

There is no shortage of penises in the delightful, gay-centric comedy I Love You Phillip Morris. While the movie doesn’t feature full-frontal male nudity, it does boast anatomically correct fruit arrangements, cloud formations and pencil drawings. It also spotlights big-name actors Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as real-life gay lovers. Sadly, the film, which was scheduled for theatrical release on April 30, has been delayed to July 30 due to overwrought marketing concerns over its controversial storyline.

One might incorrectly deduce from the movie’s title that it is a cinematic homage to the patron saint of cigarette smokers. Instead, it weaves the too-bizarre-to-be-believed but true tale of Steven Russell (played by Carrey), a formerly heterosexual, married, fundamentalist Christian policeman who became an openly gay, reformation-proof con man in the wake of a near-death experience. During the first of what would be several prison terms, Russell fell in love with a fellow inmate by the name of Phillip Morris (McGregor).

Russell becomes intent on freeing himself and Morris so they can live happily ever after together. He studies law while in prison and, following his own release, passes himself off as an attorney. Once Russell gets Morris out, the pair enjoys an extravagant lifestyle funded by money Russell is siphoning from the company at which he is employed — incredibly — as Chief Financial Officer.

This sets off a continuous pattern for Russell of getting caught and re-sentenced to prison only to escape through an ingeniously engineered plan in an effort to reunite with Morris. Realizing how boundless Russell’s deceit can be, Morris avoids him … until, that is, Russell employs the ultimate tactic to win his beloved back.

The tone of I Love You Phillip Morris is unexpectedly sunny given the prison setting and its lead character’s general lack of morals. It is also frequently hilarious, none more so than when Morris gushes, “That is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me!” to Russell shortly after learning his paramour arranged the brutal beating of another inmate who was grating on Morris’s nerves. There is also a very funny scene involving a neighboring prisoner whom Russell secures to “serenade” him and Morris during a romantic evening together, cellblock rules be damned.

Carrey and McGregor give wonderful, no-holds-barred performances. Interestingly, Carrey is at his most sincere here playing a thoroughly insincere person. They also get great support from Leslie Mann (Knocked Up) as Russell’s compassionate wife and Rodrigo Santoro (who played the buff, nearly naked Xerxes in 300) as his pre-incarceration partner who, sadly, died of AIDS.

McGregor, no stranger to gay/bisexual roles, has said of his work on I Love You Phillip Morris: “I like it because it’s a gay film, which is to say it’s a film about two men in love, and I think that’s an important element of it. I also got to French kiss Jim Carrey a lot, and I quite like that too.” McGregor has been quite outspoken — admirably so — in defense of the movie’s more graphic sexual content, some of which has been edited out of the final cut.

I Love You Phillip Morris marks the successful directorial debut of screenwriters Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who previously wrote Bad Santa and the 2005 remake of The Bad News Bears. While their latest, which is based on a book about Russell by Texas journalist Steven McVicker, includes the cynical, sometimes shocking bluntness that characterizes their earlier films, it is a pleasant surprise to discover how good-natured and genuinely romantic this movie is. That both Ficarra and Requa are heterosexual men makes their fearlessness at delving into a star-crossed gay relationship all the more impressive, although Requa did joke in a Los Angeles Times interview that “(Ficarra and I) spend so much time together that in many ways we have a very successful same-sex relationship.”

Some mainstream moviegoers may find the film’s plot, sex scenes and unapologetically gay sensibility off-putting. However, French audiences and Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand were so impressed by Carrey’s and McGregor’s chemistry in I Love You Phillip Morris that the actors were named knights in France’s prestigious National Order of Arts and Letters in February of this year. The film also met with an enthusiastic response from audiences at both the Sundance Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Alas, most will have to wait until July to actually see it!

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Reverend’s Preview: Forecast: A Hot Summer at the Movies

The month of May might be best known in local GLBT circles as the celebratory start to a summer full of Pride celebrations, but it is also the annual beginning of Hollywood’s biggest season. While many of the studios’ offerings will be loud, overblown spectacles geared to kids and teens out of school, there are more than a few more adult-oriented offerings with appeal to GLBT moviegoers.

Based on advance word and my personal survey of several studio and independent films’ public relations reps, the following are films we should consider lining up for between now and the end of August. They are listed in order of their scheduled release dates, but please note these dates are subject to change.

Iron Man 2 (May 7): Robert Downey Jr.’s tongue-in-cheek performance powered the Marvel superhero’s first big-screen adventure to record grosses two years ago. Downey and Gwyneth Paltrow return and face off against Russian baddies played by the lovely Scarlett Johansson and a resurgent Mickey Rourke. While Rourke doesn’t fulfill every gay man’s ideal of physical beauty, the film’s trailer reveals The Wrestler Oscar-nominee sporting nothing more than tighty-whities in one scene.

OSS 117: Lost in Rio (May 7): I’m just going to quote from the press release to describe this one: “France’s top secret agent, a cross between James Bond and Austin Powers, teams up with a beautiful Mosad colonel whose mini skirt and kinky boots disguise dangerously forward-thinking views on women’s lib and world politics.” Mexican wrestlers, a man-eating alligator and risqué sexual humor also figure into the plot. What’s not to like?

Robin Hood (May 14): Although star Russell Crowe is on the record saying neither himself nor his male co-stars wear tights in this new take on the classic hero, Crowe is always worth watching and Cate Blanchett co-stars as Maid Marion. Maybe Crowe will at least have a skinny-dipping scene like Kevin Costner (or, rather, Costner’s butt double) did in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves!

Sex and the City 2 (May 27): In what may be the summer’s campiest movie, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her BFFs Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (out actress Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) return for a globetrotting adventure but don’t lack for high fashion or cocktails! Mario Cantone and Willie Garson are also back as the quartet’s gay pals, with no less than Penélope Cruz, Liza Minnelli and Miley Cyrus (?) making cameos.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (May 28): Jake Gyllenhaal of Brokeback Mountain fame sports long hair, a leather codpiece and buffed-up biceps in this video game-inspired fantasy from mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean). Again, I ask: What’s not to like?

Stonewall Uprising (June 18): A documentary that uses archival film footage to trace events and cultural attitudes that culminated in the infamous police raid on New York’s Stonewall Inn in June 1969. The patrons’ counter-attack marked the birth of the GLBT movement; billed as “the first non-fiction film to tell the story of the Stonewall riots by the participants.”

Toy Story 3 (June 18): Action figures Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Lightyear (again voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, respectively) resume their CG “bromance,” this time in 3-D. The series’ regulars are joined by Barbie’s boy toy Ken (Michael Keaton), as well as a new character with the unfortunate name “Mr. Pricklepants” (former James Bond, Timothy Dalton).

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (June 30): While teenaged girls are this successful book and film chronicle’s main fans, I know a few gay men smitten by its lovelorn vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and/or heroine Bella’s werewolf friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Dakota Fanning also returns as the mind-controlling Jane, and Bryce Dallas Howard (director Ron Howard’s daughter) assumes the role of Edward’s jilted former lover, the vicious Victoria.

Love Ranch (June 30): A fictional account of Nevada’s brothel industry, starring Oscar-winners Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Joe Pesci (GoodFellas) as the purveyors of one of the state’s first such legal establishments. Problems arise when a South American boxer played by hottie Sergio Peris-Mencheta comes between them. Expect plenty of skin, both female and male.

The Kids Are All Right (July 7): This dramedy focusing on two adult children raised by a lesbian couple (Oscar nominees Julianne Moore and Annette Bening) who decide to seek out their sperm-donor father (Mark Ruffalo) was well received at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by lesbian filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon).

Inception (July 16): From Christopher Nolan, the writer-director of Memento and the last two, super-successful Batman movies, comes a mind-bending science fiction saga about a corporate raider who steals the dreams of business tycoons, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film’s great supporting cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt (of the gay-themed Latter Days and Mysterious Skin) and Juno star/emerging lesbian favorite Ellen Page.

Dinner for Schmucks (July 23): Cuties Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, so funny together in The 40 Year Old Virgin, co-star as an unsuspecting dork (Carell) recruited by a callous executive (Rudd) as a pawn in a mean-spirited contest. Things don’t quite go as planned, and the two end up as friends rather than adversaries. From director Jay Roach of the Meet the Parents and Austin Powers film series.

Beastly (July 30): A contemporary spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, starring Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame as Beauty to Alex Pettyfer’s disfigured teenager looking for true love. Out actor and awards show host Neil Patrick Harris is also featured in the cast.

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (July 30): Bette Midler gives voice to the villainous feline of the subtitle, who is bent on world domination. This sequel to 2001’s Cats & Dogs (which featured the voice of the recently out Sean Hayes) is likely kids’ stuff, but GLBT pet owners may find it somewhat true-to-life.

The Girl Who Played With Fire (July): The second of Stieg Larsson’s international bestsellers involving bisexual computer-hacker Lisbeth Salander (strong and sexy Noomi Rapace) comes to the big screen quickly on the heels of the hit The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. This time around, Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist go after the highly-placed leaders of a sex-trafficking ring.

The Extra Man (July): Described as “charming” and “howlingly funny,” this film centers on a young, aspiring writer (Paul Dano of Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood) who moves to New York City, where he befriends a failed playwright-turned-escort played by Kevin Kline. Think of it as The Great Gatsby crossed with Midnight Cowboy.

Also watch for several GLBT-themed movies that don’t have definite release dates yet: Spring Fever, Hideaway/Le Refuge and Out Late. And if these offerings aren’t enough for you, there will be GLBT movies galore screened as part of both the 9th Annual Dance Camera West and Los Angeles Film Festivals in June and, of course, the 28th annual Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, a.k.a. Outfest.

Preview by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Reverend’s Preview: Anaheim Comic Con

There will be more characters than usual roaming around the Disneyland Resort area this week, as the Anaheim Convention Center hosts the inaugural Anaheim Comic Con April 16-18. No doubt, a sizable number of GLBT comic book and pop culture fans will be among them.

One might think the massive Comic Con International held each summer in San Diego would have the southern California market cornered when it comes to superheroes, graphic novels, role-playing games and fantasy movies, as well as related toys and other memorabilia. Not so, according to the Anaheim event’s producer, Wizard Entertainment; as publisher of the pop culture magazine Wizard, the company knows well how keen interest is in more Comic Cons both locally and nationally. Wizard Entertainment presents several other such gatherings across the country each year.

Anaheim’s first Comic Con will be smaller than the San Diego event, but I welcome this as someone who has covered Comic Con International for several years now. Limited convention center space, parking and hotel rooms have made San Diego’s con increasingly difficult to attend. A formal proposal has been submitted to move Comic Con International to Anaheim in the future for at least one year, since the Anaheim Convention Center is a larger facility.

At press time, at least 150 celebrities and pop culture icons were confirmed to appear during the Anaheim Comic Con’s three days. They include Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner; Marvel Comics’ superhero creator, Stan Lee; Oscar-nominated actors Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica and Independence Day) and Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight); The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner; and Ilya Salkind, producer of Superman: The Movie and its first two sequels.

Other celebrities of more specifically GLBT appeal set to attend are the fabulous Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether, both of whom played Catwoman on the campy Batman TV series in the 1960’s (the late Eartha Kitt also served as the show’s feline femme fatale); Star Trek actress and GLBT supporter Nichelle Nichols; The Bionic Woman herself, Lindsay Wagner; Kathy Najimy of Sister Act and Hocus Pocus fame; sexy actor Kaj-Erik Eriksen (The 4400); pop music diva Taylor Dayne; and Linda Blair of The Exorcist, Roller Boogie and Chained Heat fame.

More than 400 exhibitor, celebrity and creator booths will be set up, giving attendees ample opportunity to peruse collectibles and pursue autographs. As at Comic Con International and other such conventions, guests are not only allowed but strongly encouraged to dress in costume as their favorite comic book, film, TV, game or other characters. There will be a costume contest on Saturday, April 17. Please note: There will be children present, so costumes must be kept “PG-13” with no nudity or anything too revealing. I anticipate there will be more than a few costumes inspired by Tim Burton’s current box office hit, Alice in Wonderland.

A feature unique to the Anaheim Comic Con will be a Horror Pavilion. Billed as “a celebration of all things gory and grisly,” the pavilion will feature writers, artists, actors and musicians who have contributed to the horror genre in comics, movies and TV. There are plenty of GLBT horror fans who will want to check the Horror Pavilion out … but don’t do so alone!

For complete information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit the official Anaheim Comic Con website.

Preview by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Toon Talk: The Toys Are Back!

Just in time for their upcoming third big screen adventure, Buzz and Woody and all the gang from Andy's room are making their Blu-ray debuts this week with new Special Editions of the computer animated classics Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

As expected, the toys look mighty mint in high definition.  But that's not all, as there are some fresh surprises in these shiny new toy boxes, not the least of which is some exclusive previews of Toy Story 3, due in theaters June 18.  Director Lee Unkrich takes you behind the scenes of this long awaited "threequel", and introduces you to several new toys on the block, including Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and Barbie beau Ken (Michael Keaton).

Other new bonus features include footage from Buzz Lightyear's actual mission to the real International Space Station and his debut as a balloon at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, several "Studio Stories" shorts (animated anecdotes of life at Pixar) and a very special tribute to the late Disney and Pixar story artist Joe Ranft.

Click the following for my original Toon Talk reviews of Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

MD Polls: Next Stop, Wonderland

When it comes to picking your "must see" movie of 2010, Movie Dearest readers proved their mad about the hatter:

Tim Burton's sure-to-be-trippy take on the Lewis Carroll classic Alice in Wonderland (starring his muse, Johnny Depp, as the hatter in question) came out on top in the latest MD Poll. In doing so, it soundly defeated another blockbuster-to-be based on a popular British book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1, which placed second.  The catch-all "other" rounded out the top 3.

See the comments section below for the complete stats, and stay tuned for our epic Oscar polls, to be posted later today.

MD Poll: For What Movie Do You Yen in 2010?

It's a new year (and a new decade), with plenty of new and exciting films just around the bend. But which one is your absolute must see for 2010?

Is it the latest adventures of Harry Potter, Buzz and Woody, Iron Man, Carrie Bradshaw or the Twilight gang? How about new versions of such old favorites as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans or Robin Hood? Or do you just want to see more of Jake looking like this?

Make your choice and place your vote in the MD Poll located in the right hand sidebar. The ultimate "must see" movie of '10 will be revealed Saturday February 6.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the next MD Poll.

Take Me Back to Manhattan

The friendship, the fun, the fashion, the ... camels?

Click here to watch the first trailer for Sex and the City 2, in theaters May 28.

Poster Post: Carrie Nation

"Hello, lover ..."

The first teaser poster for the eagerly awaited Sex and the City 2, opening nationwide May 28, 2010.

Poster Post: Next Stop, Wonderland

Tim Burton's latest flight of fancy Alice in Wonderland, starring his muse Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Alan Rickman as The Caterpillar ...


Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Michael Sheen as The White Rabbit ...


Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, Stephen Fry as The Cheshire Cat and Matt Lucas as both Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

The very important (opening) date for this 3-D Disney fantasia is March 5, 2010.

MD News Desk: Kishy Face

Keep up to date with all the latest from the entertainment world with the MD News Desk:

Kish:
- This week saw the "Big Gay Wedding" storyline come to a head on One Life to Live, culminating in this climactic kiss between Scott Evans' Oliver Fish and Brett Claywell's Kyle Lewis. Watch it all here.
- You can catch up on all the soapy goodness of the complete Kish storyline at the Official Movie Dearest YouTube channel (courtesy of YouTuber final81).

Awards Watch:
- The Big News this week was that Oscar has not one host, but two: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
- Academy Award nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (The Right Stuff, The Natural) to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.
- Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart is a late-breaking Best Actor contender.
- Meanwhile, Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side could be a surprise in the Best Actress race, which is also seeing some last minute entrants.


The Latest on TV:
- Move over, Ellen: The Wanda Sykes Show premieres tonight on Fox. In preparation for her talk show debut, Wanda has been all over the place this past week, including chats with TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly.
- And speaking of Ellen: Miss DeGeneres and her Mrs., Portia de Rossi, will have a sit down with the Big O on Monday's edition of Oprah.

Coming Soon:
- Sex and the City Watch: Stars spotted filming in Morocco.
- More childhood memories to be plundered by Hollywood: feature film adaptations of the Risk board game, the Berenstain Bears books, the Marmaduke comic strip and Yogi Bear are all in the works.
- Is the world ready for Three Men and a Bride?
- Beyond the Apocalypse: Roland Emmerich's 2012 may get a TV spin-off.
- More than 50 years after To Hell and Back, movie star/war hero Audie Murphy to get another biopic.

Cinematic Crushes:
- First Look: James Franco on General Hospital. And after that, he'll head on over to 30 Rock.
- In more Soap Hunk News: Cameron Mathison's Dr. Dan brightens up Brighten Bay.
- Heroes' Adrian Pasdar to fly the coop. And apparently, this is how he found out about it.
- Casting About: Gerard Butler in Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut Coriolanus, George Clooney in Alexander Payne's family dramedy The Descendants, Bradley Cooper in the suspense thriller Dark Fields, Patrick Dempsey in an untitled bank-heist comedy, Johnny Depp joins Angelina Jolie in The Tourist and Dwayne Johnson in the action drama Faster.
- Wouldn't you like to be the cloth on that loin: Into the Wild's Dave Salmoni does Tarzan on Tyra.
- Cover Story: Robert Pattinson does Vanity Fair.

Videodrone:
- Trailer Park: Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Brothers, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in Sherlock Holmes and Bruce LaBruce's L.A. Zombie (NSFW) starring François Sagat.
- A video salute to gay characters in prime time soaps.
- Several Lloyd Doblers take to the streets of NYC to promote the 20th anniversary DVDof Say Anything ...


From Screen to Stage:
- First Look: The Addams Family starring gay faves Nathan Lane (Gomez), Bebe Neuwirth (Morticia), Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester) and Jackie Hoffman (Grandmama).
- Both The Shawkshank Redemption and Prick Up Your Ears to close early in the West End.
- Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Hair and Shrek (plus Alan Cumming and Jane Krakowski) to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Speaking of Billy Elliot: the hit musical gets another award and two new Billys.
- Photo Calls: The new cast of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and The Lion King celebrates 5,000 performances.
- Buffy alum Anthony Head headlines the London revival of Six Degrees of Separation.
- Off the Shelf: Get all the backstage dish on your favorite musical parody revue in Forbidden Broadway: Behind the Mylar Curtain.
- Meet Broadway's Spider-Man.

Movie Music:
- Movie Music Videos: Adam Lambert's "Time for Miracles" from 2012 and Jake Monaco and Jen Hansen's "Gloria" from Make the Yuletide Gay (on DVDthis Tuesday).

Out in Film:
- Pedro Almodóvar and his muse Penélope Cruz on their latest collaboration, Broken Embraces.
- Finian's Rainbow star Terri White's inspiring story, from homelessness to Broadway to marriage.
- Neil Patrick Harris Watch: He'll lend his voice to the CBS Christmas special Yes, Virginia, and will be honored by the Trevor Project.
- Fiona Shaw to reprise her performance of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land in London.
- Logo's Legacy Campaign salutes Mad Men's Bryan Batt.
- Rosie O'Donnell can now add "radio host" to her long résumé with the debut of Rosie Radio on Sirius XM.
- Michael Feinstein to return to Broadway with his new show All About Me next spring.
- Jane Lynch really really wants to sing on Glee.

Women We Love:
- Casting About: Jennifer Beals in the Hallmark Channel's The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, Annette Bening in Andy Garcia's Hemingway & Fuentes, Sally Hawkins in the coming-of-age comedy Dirty Girl, Helen Mirren in the espionage thriller Red, Elizabeth Mitchell in the indie ensemble drama Answers to Nothing, Sigourney Weaver in the comedy Cedar Rapids and Zhang Ziyi in the English-language drama Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler dishes on her Ugly Betty stint.
- President Obama has selected the 25 members of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfre Woodard and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, as well as talent agent Bryan Lourd and playwright George C. Wolfe.


GLBT Entertainment:
- A Single Man gets a poster, but is it "too straight"? Meanwhile, director Tom Ford is ready for his close up.
- The controversial play Jesus, Queen of Heaven — in which Christ is depicted as a transsexual woman — met with protests in Scotland; playwright and star Jo Clifford responds.
- More new queer theater: Made in Heaven (billed as "the best gay/straight Siamese twin comedy of 2009"), Loaded and My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding.
- Natalie Portman talks about her sex scenes with Mila Kunis in Black Swan.
- Author Annie Proulx to donate an early draft of her classic short story Brokeback Mountain to the New York Public Library.
- Foodie Frank Bruni's memoir Born Round heading to television.
- Grey's Anatomy's Jessica Capshaw on the future of Arizona Robbins and her relationship with Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez).
- More lesbian storylines coming to TV on Legend of the Seeker and Law & Order.
- Gwyneth Paltrow joins Nicole Kidman in The Danish Girl, an adaptation of the David Ebershoff novel that tells the story of the first post-operative transsexual.


Potent Quotables:
- "This is the first time I’ve done an interview with an ice pack down my pants." — Invictus star Matt Damon, suffering from a pulled groin muscle while filming the romantic thriller The Adjustment Bureau, to The New York Times.

MD News Desk: F is for Furry

Keep up to date with all the latest from the entertainment world with the MD News Desk:

Cinematic Crushes:
- Fuzzy-wuzzy Jake Gyllenhaal to visit Sesame Street. Other celebs stopping by this season include Christina Applegate, Matthew Fox, Hugh Jackman, Eva Longoria-Parker, Paul Rudd and Jake's sis Maggie.
- If Taylor Lautner won't take off his shirt in future movies, there's another Twilight hunk willing to fill the void: fellow New Moon werewolf Alex Meraz.
- Can James Franco save daytime TV?
- Dancing with the Stars hunk Maksim Chmerkovskiy will re-join Broadway's Burn the Floor along with another DWTS pro, the perky Kym Johnson.
- Matt Damon beefs it up as a South African rugby player in the trailer for Clint Eastwood's Invictus.


The Princess and the Frog:
- While Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen land in Disneyland ...
- Ne-Yo releases his end credit pop ballad from the movie, "Never Knew I Needed".

Awards Watch:
- Hugh Jackman doesn't want to be Oscar host two years in a row, but wouldn't mind being named the first back-to-back "Sexiest Man Alive".
- Three of this year's big Oscar bait movies — A Single Man, Nine and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire — are directed by out gay men — Tom Ford, Rob Marshall and Lee Daniels, respectively.
- GLAAD announces the winners of their first awards for GLBT-inclusive advertising.
- Could Tennessee Williams win his first Academy Award ... 27 years after his death?


Coming Soon:
- First Look: the new A-Team.
- Sequel Watch: Men in Black 3 gets a screenwriter, Charlize Theron joins Mad Max: Fury Road, and Robert Zemeckis has some good news about the long-in-the-works Roger Rabbit follow-up.
- Adam Sandler to play both Jack and Jill.
- Milk It While You Can: Twilight to return to theaters for one day only.
- Anthony Hopkins will be Odin, King of Asgard and daddy to Thor.
- Top Guns: Tony Scott to direct a biopic of Chippendales creator Steve Banerjee.

Tune in to TCM:
- The Oscar winning composer of "On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe", "Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses" is spotlighted in the new documentary Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me, premiering Wednesday.
- Thursday kicks off a month long 80th birthday tribute to screen legend Grace Kelly. Every movie she ever appeared in will be screened throughout November.

From Screen to Stage:
- Cate Blanchett is Blanche DuBois in Kennedy Center's A Streetcar Named Desire.
- Recently filmed with its original cast, Shrek the Musical will be released on DVD.
- A Christmas Story, The Musical! aims for Broadway.
- Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin, will play Helen Keller in the upcoming Broadway revival of The Miracle Worker.
- Xanadu to hit the road in a new US tour.
- The new stage version of Robin and the 7 Hoods will have its world premiere at San Diego's Old Globe next summer.

GLBT Entertainment:
- Funny lady Liz Feldman is developing a female buddy comedy with a lesbian lead for NBC.
- That's Gay: sassy Bryan Safi on the whole "ex-gay" thing.
- Casting Notices: Yes, you too could be one of Bravo's Real Gay Housewives of San Francisco, while MTV's True Life wants you if you're an out athlete.
- 90210 unzips their lesbian storyline.
- The Advocate chats with Christine Woods on the recent coming out of her FlashForward character.

Women We Love:
- Cover Story: Chelsea Handler does Playboy.
- Casting About: Amy Adams in the dramedy Town House, Becki Newton (and her hunky hubby Chris Diamantopoulos) in Encores' Girl Crazy, Kelly Lynch on 90210 and Reese Witherspoon in the drama Rule #1.
- Angela Lansbury to be celebrated by the Drama League.
- Sharon Gless on being a lesbian in Hannah Free.
- Kathy Griffin has Balls of Steel in her new stand-up special, debuting tomorrow night on Bravo.

Glee:
- Album Notes: While the cast will promote Volume 1(out tomorrow) with in-store appearances in NYC and LA, Volume 2gets a release date: December 8. The track list includes such upcoming musical treats as "True Colors", "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" and "Don't Rain on My Parade".
- More Music News: star Matthew Morrison announces a solo disc.
- Glee gets its first award!
- Watch This: The cast, led by Amber Riley (Mercedes), sings the National Anthem at the World Series.


Out in Film:
- Cheyenne Jackson Watch: First look at him in 30 Rock, and he catches up with The Advocate.
- Director Anthony Fabian finds parallels to the gay experience in his new film Skin.
- David Marshall Grant gets a promotion at Brothers & Sisters.
- Watch These: Chaz Bono on Entertainment Tonight; a video preview of Arias With a Twist starring Joey Arias and Basil Twist.
- Housewives honcho Marc Cherry signs a Desperate deal.
- Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright to pen a George Gershwin biopic, produced by music man Michael Feinstein.
- AKA director Duncan Roy joins Dr. Drew's Sex Rehab.
- Author Bret Easton Ellis adapts The Follower for HBO.
- Legendary director James Whale to be celebrated at NYC's Film Forum next month.