OMG Movie Club Second Feature

A sweet, touching, charming movie Big Eden was released in 2000 becoming a crowd and festival favorite.

A romantic drama, it is the story Henry, a successful but lonely New York artist, returns to Big Eden, the town of his childhood, to care for his grandfather. Henry finds he must come to terms with his relationship to Dean Stewart, his best friend from high school, and the object of his unrequited love. His feelings for Dean, which caused him to flee Big Eden almost twenty years ago, seem to have grown stronger over the years.


Henry's reappearance sparks a transformation in Pike, the shy Native American owner of the town's general store. Pike is as surprised as anyone when he finds himself falling in love with Henry. As this unspoken triangle unfolds under the scrutiny of Big Eden's community, nearly everyone in town develops a stake in its outcome. Big Eden is a uniquely American fable about home and family.

First time Writer/Director,Thomas Bezucha said “I…had these fantasies of moving out West, chucking it all in and going to teach art in some elementary school in Montana. I would express that fantasy and all my friends would freak out and say, ‘Are you crazy? You can't do that, you're gay, do you know what they do to gay people out there?’ I sort of got into this idea of - it was amazing how prejudiced people in an urban setting were about rural people, the preconception about the mindset out there - and I thought, ‘Well, what if that weren't the case?’”


What did you like about the movie? Could you identify with any of the characters? Were there characters who frustrated you? What parts touched you? What made it different from other GLBT movies you've seen?


The film has been criticized for its unrealistically sunny depiction of the way Big Eden embraces its gay citizens, and this is unfair -romantic comedies are supposed to take place in an improved
fantasy world. What do you think? Fair criticism?


Bonus points for those who can say who was the Oscar winner in the movie, and extra bonus points for movie they were in to win it.

For the those in the US - the full movie is available online - one place is Logo online.
Big Eden - Entire Movie

Stubborn has bee working on trying to get Big Eden up for those outside of the US, right now is taking ages to upload the whole movie to Youtube so for now you can get it through Rapid Share.

http://rapidshare.com/files/181755305/Big_Eden_2000.avi.001

http://rapidshare.com/files/181178220/Big_Eden_2000.avi.002

http://rapidshare.com/files/181152250/Big_Eden_2000.avi.003

http://rapidshare.com/files/181780665/Big_Eden_2000.avi.004

http://rapidshare.com/files/181781141/Big_Eden_2000.avi.005

http://rapidshare.com/files/181181643/Big_Eden_2000.avi.006

http://rapidshare.com/files/181196774/Big_Eden_2000.avi.007

You will need this to unzip them once you download it.

http://www.freebyte.net/download/hjsplit.zip

If you are having a trouble, leave a message on OMG and Stubborn said she would help you out.

Here are the You Tube links. Thanks Stubborn for all the hard work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfrrIi80W1w (Part 1)
Can't upload - because of a song used in a scene,
There is no dialog just a scene of driving into Big Eden (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVjDF7xeMWs (Part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tk41s9oaKU (Part 4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xczaUVp1f7o (Part 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa6LJvoT4ww (Part 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugnV1T08xAM (Part 7)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51VvwNI_H_g (Part 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OmhN9U-g4E (Part 9)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k71CxgaDHs (Part 10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiSIt79vkxs (Part 11)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdpsyYAOJG0 (Part 12)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbeOH4pGQ3w (Part 13)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fquqcQb3u-Y (Part 14)

The Austin Friday Post will remain open thru Sat. for all other discussion not related to Movie Club.

Member's Only

Have you ever noticed Austin and all the epaulets on OTH?

Is to placate his request for a Member's Only jacket until they find one that fits in the arms? Come on that's a custom job, maybe now that he's regular cast. A hold over from doing The Informers? A Show of support for the military?

I mean epaulets on a jacket ok.


A dress shirt, that can work.


But a polo shirt?

Alright ok, maybe it is to square off his shoulders, but if he show up next season with one glove... all bets are off. And God help us all if they channel the shoulder pads from Alexis Carrington.


Reminder: OMG's Movie Club starts tomorrow at 5pm EST thru Saturday. Our movie for this week is Big Eden.


Haven't gotten a chance to watch Big Eden. The entire movie is also available at Logo Online.
Big Eden

For those outside the U.S. - Stubborn is working on a way for all of you to be able to catch it online too. Check back tomorrow.

Cast Away

No doubt Jake and Maggie share a lot. While there is competition between them sometimes, they are each other biggest fans. They have one of the best brother sister bonds in Hollywood. They are both are there for each whenever the other needs it, ready to give a helping hand, an ear to bend, a brain to pick, a warm heart or tough love. They've also shared the screen, and you might even know that they have shared some of the same co-stars and even directors.

So who pops in your head first? Peter? Heath? But then who?

Well how about John Kraskinki - he was in Jarhead with Jake and Maggie is in the new release Away We Go with John. Which both by the way, were directed by Sam Mendes.

You think Sam is the only director they've both worked with, well besides their dad? How about Mike Newell. He directed Mona Lisa Smile with Maggie and of course Prince of Persia with Jake.

And while Maggie may not have worked directly with him in Stranger than Fiction. Dustin Hoffman has shared credits with both Gyllenhaals.

But lets look at some other co-stars that might not be so obvious. Danny Trejo. You remember him as Slim in Bubbleboy. But did you know that he co-stared in Sherry Baby with Maggie? This interviewer did when he asked Danny who he would rather kiss Jake or Maggie. (Check out around the 5 minute mark)



Maybe Danny remembered Heath saying "I got a better kiss from your brother!" after Maggie gave him a peck on the cheek as thanks for putting out her dress that caught on fire on the set of Dark Knight.

But since Father's Day is Sunday here in the U.S. , let's looks at Jake and Maggie and fathers. Well they've worked with their own dad, and Holmes Osborne played their dad. (Donnie Darko) But they've also had the same dad, well actor as their dad but in different films. Any guesses? It might surprise you.

Peter McRobbie. He played Jack's disapproving father John Twist in Brokeback Mountain. Later he took the part of Allison's father in World Trade Center. Two totally different dads but worked because you could see him as father to both.



Now there is a challenge of casting a dad (and a family - Mom and baby brother) for Jake in his new movie with Anne. " The ideal actor should be between 55 and 60 years old and it couldn’t hurt if he has gorgeous blue-green eyes with long lashes like Jake’s. But anyway, the character is a doctor who disapproves of his son’s career."

So who would you cast as the Jake's dad?
Another co-star of Maggies?
Or someone else?

And who would play his Mom?

But maybe the best casting fun would be
who would you cast as his little brother?

Ask and you shall receive! The Informers info:
Those who saw The Informer might say it was dark. Others would say it is offensive. But did you ever think it would incite threatening mail. Producer Marco Weber said he got some. (Who had time to see it and write?) But he said “ 'If you think it's dark and f***ed up, wait until you see what we cut out,' Weber said. The DVD and Blu-ray include a making-of featurette and a commentary." Check out the rest of the interview and review at Homemediamagazine.com.


Reminder: OMG's Movie Club this Friday night (5pm EST)-Saturday. The movie is Big Eden.

Un, Deux, Trois

Jake seems to be in two places at once yesterday and not on Twitter but on purpose!

Un

While Jake is in the fashion capital of the world, he appeared at the Oscars of Fashion. At the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards in New York,last night Tom Cruise, Jake and Jon Hamm via video paid tribute to GQ Creative Director Jim Moore, who accepted the Eleanor Lambert award. Some would say the threesome represented variations on the Mad Man but it looks more it was for their sense of GQ style.

Deux

The setting might not have been as GQ, but Jake was sporting a similar casual look, well this time avec chapeaux, while at the flea market with Peter & Maggie. Didn't look like he was shopping, but bet he picked up tea from Mariage Freres, one of the best tea purveyors in the world again. And a foodie in Paris, how can he not visit the open markets even for a look at the beautiful displays of farm fresh food. Maybe he picked up some copper pots or add something else to his kitchen collection. Then again he went shopping for someone(s) while there.

and Austin makes Trois
Mark you calendars! - The Informers is coming out on DVD in the US - August 25th. No word on if the those 90 missing minutes will be included.


Reminder :

OMG Movie Club Second Feature:

Join us this Friday night and Saturday as well discuss the second movie of our Double Feature Movie Club. The movie is Big Eden. It's the story of Henry Hart, a successful gay artist from New York City who returns to his Montana hometown to care for his dying grandfather. While at home, Henry is forced to confront his unresolved feelings for high school friend Dean Stewart, while simultaneously beginning to fall in love with someone else. All the while the town helps Pike Dexter, the shy Native American owner of the town's general store find love too. There is no doom or gloom, twinks, or club scenes to Big Eden but a sweet quirky romantic love story.




My friend Mark. From moment I sat in his office for my job interview, we knew we would be friends. The Italian love child of Barney Fife and John Waters, he took me on a Queertastic ride of pop and gay culture. He was my very own Datalounge before Datalounge existed. Together we were like Michael K is today, complete with our own love of MahBoo Anderson Cooper. We shared a love of kitcsh, pop culture, art, gourmet food, Dusty, music, Moonstruck, and dirty jokes. And I still loved him even though he was a Steelers fan.

And what does it have to do with you? Well, there really wouldn't be an OMG without him. You see he was one of my influences that helps shape a lot that comes out in my posts. Jakey was on our list of boys to discuss, way back when he started out as an indie boy, and that EW cover for TDAT - still remember Mark saying - Honey have you seen this? And Mark was the first person I told when I read Ang was making Brokeback. All things connect.

Movie Club Discussion

The first of the double feature of this month's movie discussion is The Day After Tomorrow. TDAT is about worldwide catastrophe and disaster, including multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves, floods and the beginning of the next Ice Age due to the Greenhouse effect. Of course most at OMG would know this movie because it was how and where Jake and Austin met, filming the blockbuster for director Roland Emmerich.What did you like? What drove you crazy about it? What really the love story in the movie? Was is Sam and Laura? Or was it more like slash delight? What was the relationship between JD and Sam? What about the represenation of the government? What was the message that Emmerich was trying to show? Favorite parts? Favorite lines?








In addition to the basic disussion of TDAT, there is compartive discussion with the new Star Trek movie, by J. J. Abrams, who created a prequel to reinvent the Star Trek franchise while telling the beginning of the Star Trek saga.

What are the comparisons between the two movies? Are there similarities in the race to save humanity? The distructions of civilations and planets? What lessons are similar? What is the love story in Star Trek? Uhura & Spock? Or was it more like slash delight? Do you see similarities of Sam & J.D. with Kirk & Spock? What was the role of the government? What other similarities or differences did you see between the two movies? Did both have a similar message to them? What did you like or dislike about Star Trek? What was your favorite scene ? Favorite lines?

They've gone to plaid

What happens when you mix Austin Friday and The Day After Tomorrow/Star Trek Movie Club later today? Well you get this:







You think somebody was practicing their best Sear Toughskins suit poses ? (Wonder if that suit is Toughskins tough? ; ) )


Hey have a great Austin Friday and stop back by tonight at 5:00pm EST for the start of our Movie Club of The Day After Tomorrow and a comparative discussion of TDAT and the newly released Star Trek.

We will keep this post open during all day today and Saturday for all non Movie Club discussion.

Crop happens.

Sorry for the delay- hopefully all technical difficulties are resolved (at least for today).

It seems like Austin likes to have a little photo fun. (ahem) So we will have a little photo fun of our own with him.


It all comes down to the positive and negative. Look at what happens when crop happens.


Does it remind you of anything?


Does that mean you get candy when you suck on his neck? Would this explain trips to a medical office, it's going to see a dentist due too much candy?

Think we monkeyed with the picture that much - well here's the original. The pez effect - that's just Austin doing turtlenecks.




Reminder: OMG Movie Club - Summer Double Feature

This Friday night/Saturday (June 12-13th) - We will be discussing both the movie The Day After Tomorrow as well as a comparative discussion of the TDAT with the recent release Star Trek.

Next Friday night/Saturday (June 19-20th) - We will be discussing the LGTB movie Big Eden Here's hoping you join us for one or both discussions.


To Adam Lambert - Here's to the brightest future ahead. Make the path ahead of you proudly yours.

Know Your Neighborhood

OTH Season Six is ovah (that would be over for outside of Boston) but Season Seven will be in production in July and Austin no longer just a extended guest star but a season regular, so it's time for him to get know a little more about his neighborhood, ok well OMG to, Austin's lived in Wilmington before when he was on Surface.

And while famous people might come to work in Wilmington, Wilmington has one of their own who became one of the most famous people in the world.

Sneakers. Clothes. Underwear spokesman. Minor league baseball player. McDonalds Pitchman. Gold medalist. Worked with Bugs Bunny. One of the biggest reasons Nike is still in business. Everyone wants to be like ... Mike. Even Beckham when his came to play in the US, wanted to be 23.

Michael Jordan.

Born in Brooklyn NY but raised in Wilmington NC Michael Jordan is the greatest player in the history of basketball. Even this Celtic fan admits it, but would Jake? Who might say his heart has to say Magic or Kareem of the Lakers, but you know his head is saying Jordan. Even Magic is looking at him in amazement.

Sure he's from Wilmington, but that doesn't mean he has an OTH connection. But his Airness. He is part-owner and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats. (Nathan's team)

You wonder if Austin could score some tickets. You know he could say he played basketball. Hey it got him the part on Glory Road. ; )



Now the results of our movie club poll:

TDAT came in first. And Hopeful TB's suggestion (awesome one) it would be interesting to compare it to Star Trek, as well as have discussion about the movie in general.

Movie Club will be Friday night (5:00pm EST) - Saturday - June 12-13th.

And because summer means extra special treats - a second movie club on June 19-20th for a LGBT movie. The number one pick for the LGBT movie was Big Eden.

Hope they you can join OMG for one or both of June's movie clubs.

And don't forget JFC Discussion Episode 5: His Visit - Day 4, this Friday night and Saturday.

And on this day, whatever our feelings or politics,
we stop and recognize those who have served and sacrificed.
Thank you.

Happy Memorial Day!

Just Add Water

It's the start to Memorial Day Weekend here in the U.S. and the unofficial start to summer. So how can this Austin Friday not be about something that totally summer and totally the tall Texan.

Austin's got serious game when it comes to waterskiing, more than anyone else in Hollywood. And the studios are all about doing remakes, saves money, guaranteed audience.

So would happen if his management group sat around to brainstorm how to find a movie to remake and pitch it.

1953 - Easy To Love
You know find some hot swimmer who wants to break into movies, hey what about Olympian Amanda Beards in the Esther Williams part, Austin as Van Johnson. Romcom on skis. We could get it cheap and totally redo. Mark that. Get someone to work on a spec.

1967 - Clambake
Elvis - millionaire's son who trades identities with an water-skiing instructor to learn about life and love. Austin loves to do the hair switcharoo. And it has motorcycles. And he could get a chance to sing on film. You know musicals are big. Mark that one and get a spec.

1978 - Jaws 2
No way. Part too small and a waterskiing party going missing where does that go for him for a part. Pass.

1983 - Jaws 3-D
Hey more screen time that Jaws 2. Ocean themed amusement park under attack from a great white shark. Stinkaroo and it was in 3-D and it couldn't even sell. Bad ju-ju don't go there. Pass.

1987 - Delta Fever
"Against a background of competitive waterskiing, a young man is prodded by his family, friends and girlfriend into adult responsibility." You know this one could work. 20 years since it came out, the biggest star in it was Leif Garrett and Uncle Jesse from Duke's of Hazard. Hard to find on VHS. We could rework it and this has legs. Get going I want to see something in my email by the end of the day on this one.

1988 - The Great Outdoors
Who wants to remake this one? Fat guy on waterskis is too funny. Leave it alone. Suck My Wake. Classic.

1989 - License To Kill (James Bond)
Could redo scene were Bond waterskis behind the plane throws out the pilot and takes over. Austin does look good in a tux. But have to do a low budget straight to DVD ripoff. Still mark it a maybe.

1989 - Weekend at Bernie's
Dead guy with a smirk waterskiing. Got admit it sold big. Could we rework that he's not dead but in a coma? A comedy and Austin, something different. Work on it and get back to me.

1992 - Meatballs 4
Sorry no can do. Corey Feldman Waterskis. No one can match that. No one can ever match the majesty of the Coreys and Waterskis. Damn I can't even say that with a straight face, and I bs for a living. Pass.

1992 - The Goofy World of Sports
Hmmm. Ears, Waterskiis, Disney. Hey. Don't tell Austin I said that. Pass.

1994 - My Father The Hero
He could play the guy Ben put him on skis. They could age the daughter a bit but would it mess with the story too much? How young can Austin play nowadays? They used some waterskiing champion Hazelwood(?) for stunts. Hey Austin could save them some cash and do his own and be the advisor for the old guy dad. Who could do Depardieu's part? Holy crap did you see that Kathryn Heigel was the daughter!

2005 - Cheaper By The Dozen 2
Too new but he could get a guest spot on the Bonnie Hunt show. Reminder: call CW and work something for OTH Austin and date for an interview on her show.





JFC Discussion - Votes are in and it's next weekend May 29-30.
So get the DVD's, look online, borrow from the library or from friends and join us for discussion about Episode 5: His Visit Day 4.

Remember a great resource for JFC - is Calamity Dan's JFC site.

OMG Movie Club
It was a tie between the June 12th-13th, and the 19th-20th, so using the old adage the sooner the better, OMG Movie Club will be June 12th -13th.

But still need to know what you want to discuss. One more time to vote. From the polls that people wanted a LGBT themed movie but we also got a few other suggestions for movie titles. The poll is open till Sunday morning EST, and you can vote once per day.



Happy Austin Friday.
Happy Memorial Day weekend.
Here's to the start to unofficial start of summer.
Any big plans for yours?

Mid Week Movie Break

There is nothing like slipping into a cool theater on a warm summer day and checking out the newest movies of the summer , but the same could be said for movie club too. It has been a while since we have a movie club and it's time to take a little break during the lazy days of summer and get back to a little fun.

The first question is when?



And then what to watch ?





Give us your suggestions, titles and comments. We want to know what you want to watch and discuss. Polls are open from now until 6:00 EST - Friday May 22nd and you can vote once per day. ( And TDAT? Didn't think I was going somewhere with TDAT yesterday : ) )

What do you want to watch?
What haven't you seen?
I need to check my movie journal.
He's kidding right?
Nope

And is it's been so long John but you're not forgotten. We haven't forgotten about John from Cincinnati discussion, we have just been stretching it out to savor the ten episodes we have.




The next episode for discussion Episode 5 : His Visit Day 4


Porn stars (Tina) appear from the East (The Valley) seeking the son; Everybody (or just Tina) run 'cause Cissy has a gun (in a shoebox); Cass tries to work but between the good (Butchie) the bad (Cissy) or ugly ; and our boy John spends the day with Hare Krishnas and hugging it out with masked Mexican wrestlers.

OMG Movie Club

Can you even imagine the pitch? It's a story about a 19 yr old who is obsessed with who falls in love with a 79 yr woman? It's comedy with fake suicides. It's a political statement. It's a love story. It's Harold and Maude.

Harold and Maude is the cult classic film directed by Hal Ashby in 1971. Filled with slapstick, dark humour, and existentialist drama it revolves around Harold (played by Bud Cort), who's obsessed with death, and begins pulls away from the life that his detached mother prescribes for him, as he finds septuagenarian Maude (played by Ruth Gordon).

One of Ashby's themes was to contrast the doomed outlook of alienated youth of the Vietnam era with the hard-won optimism of the Greatest Generation. Nihilism vs Purpose. What makes Harold & Maude classic, is that the same can be said about today, the theme is relevant today as it was then.

Ashby also made strong statements about the war in Vietnam throughout the film.
From the poignant conversation between Harold and Maude about the daisies, and the daisy turns into a military cemetery, to Uncle Victor and his discussion with Harold about going into the military. He also speaks loudly about the horrors of war in one of the most subtle ways in film. Just the glimpse of Maude's tattoo or her wrist is all that is needed. He did not need to exploit it to make his point. If H&M were made today, sadly there would be some huge dramatic scene about Harold seeing it with a emotional tour de force of Maude, that would be not for the movie, but more for the Academy.
Harold & Maude was one of the first indie films. To quote the AV Club. "The film is the birth of modern indie quirk, full of elements and attitudes that have now become cliché: Heroes who are more whimsical conceits than real-life, flesh-and-blood creations; an offbeat and slightly twee pop soundtrack (here by Cat Stevens); authority figures painted as stiff, clueless, and completely devoid of humanity; and some vague leftist political references thrown in for good measure." And you can see its influences on some of the indie directors today, such as Wes Anderson.
There is something dark and funny, when Harold tells Maude why he fakes his death, watching the police come and tell Harold's mother that he was dead. Watching from where he had been hiding after setting a fire at school, Harold watched as his mother fell over in grief. It's him telling Maude, “I decided then I enjoyed being dead.” that you can't help but grin about.

But at the heart it is an unconventional love story, finding the reason for why you are here, and living everyday fully. But now its your turn. What is it about Harold & Maude? What was funny? What's your favorite suicide attempt of Harols? Anything strike you and make you want rewind and watch again?

A Little Hairy

Hey hi Jake it's Jen.

I saw the new pictures from PoP. So hot honey!! You know John's all over the internet with his blog and stuff and he sent them to me. So wow babe, you look good. I mean really good. .... Hey do you think you could give me the name of your guy for the parkour thing? .... mix it up you know..... Anyway you look awesome. ..... And I can't believe that you love me that much. Oh Jakey. Can't believe you did The Rachel for the movie. Too cute sweetie. Call me, or txt me and we can grab a little lunch with the boys. Love Ya!




Oh this is just embarassing. How do I even tell her I was going for Lara Croft.



Now for a little OMG business .

Whether it comes in like a lamb or lion, March is here and week already into it and we need to make some plans. And switch it up a little.

This time the JFC discussion before movie club, so we can give people more time to track down the movie.

How about getting back into our JFC discussion on Friday night March 20th into Saturday 21st. Can you believe we haven't had a JFC discussion since November? Where did the time go? We would be discussing Episode 4: His Visit: Day 3.


Wow talking about a week feeling like a year.

OMG Movie Club
So that would make March Movie Club for Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28th And what kind of movie? Should we do a musical, to celebrate the new project? Do we look at something from a director Jake's worked with? Do we do look at a movie of favorite director of Austin's? Do we look at a Southern Gothic story brought to the big screen? Or do we stick with our regular format for this month's club?

Any ideas, suggestions, bring 'em on!!!!




And looking ahead -- OMG wants to take a Virtual Vacation, and with all of you.

We live all over the world, and many of have vacation or holidayed both close and far from home. So start thinking about where you like to take the OMG'ers on little holiday with you. Is it your favorite beach? Is it in the mountains? Somewhere warm and wonderful? Or somewhere a little colder? Could it be your favorite place to visit? Or do you want to share where you live and invite us to discover the beauty in your own backyard. More to come.

OMG Movie Club

This month's movie is The Dying Gaul. The story of a powerful and seductive Hollywood mogul convinces an impoverished West Hollywood writer, whose lover has recently died of AIDS, to sell his autobiographical screenplay for big bucks. The writer, Robert, knows he'll have to make major changes in the script (like changing the sex of the dying lover). During the rewrite, the producer, Jeffrey, takes Robert under his wing, introducing him to his wife Elaine, herself a closet screenwriter. Jeffrey seduces Robert for sex and Elaine seduces Robert online out of curiosity about his sex life in grief. After Robert acknowledges that he is seeing a married man she realizes it is her husband, she then pulls him into a web using the knowledge of Robert background and their shared therapist to become someone that toys with Robert into thing it could be be dead lover. The entangled triangle of relationships threatens more than the completion of a film script.

What did you think of the story? Of Jeffery and Elaine? What did you think of Robert? Is he The Dying Gaul or was it his lover Martin? What about Roberts vulnerability? Elaine's reaction to finding out that Jeffrey was involved with Robert? Was there a universal theme or lesson? Was it reflective of Hollywood or society in general? What symbolism did you find in the film? Did it remind you of other films or works of art? What did you think of the performances?