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Ben’s “Gay” Book Breakdown | Tal Bauer Scores a Win with “Gravity”
Tal Bauer is one of those authors whose works continue to surprise me. When he puts out a new book, I will stop whatever I’m doing to give it my undivided attention. That was easy when I first started reading his stories which also served as rather intense thrillers. He has also visited the world…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Three Thousand Years of Longing” – Vividly Romantic
I knew as soon as I watched the first trailer for this film that I wanted to see it. Starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, I knew these two powerhouse actors were not to be missed. Plus I just adore Idris Elba. But I also found the idea interesting. But would the filmmakers be able…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Breaking” – Emotional and Commanding Acting
When I first heard of Breaking, I was interested due to two reasons, John Boyega and Michael Kenneth Williams. For John Boyega’s performance, I was excited since I’d loved him in the “Star Wars” films and wanted to see him do something that was more dramatic. In the case of Michael Kenneth Williams, I knew he…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “Montréal Girls” is a Crowning Achievement for Patricia Chica
Films that deal with self-discovery are not new. From high art to pop culture, seeing protagonists achieve their potential and even self-actualize has been a part of mainstream cinema for decades. But never before have I seen it told so plainly and honestly that it would shake my very soul. I experienced that after watching…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Beast” – Thrilling Action
I have loved Idris Elba since Pacific Rim. I was thrilled to get the chance to review this film because it looked exciting and seemed to have a good story. Once I watched the film, I found it just as thrilling as I hoped, with great acting by Idris Elba, the young ladies playing his…
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Ben’s Breakdown | Superhero Surprises can be found in “Secret Headquarters”
Imagine being a kid with divorced parents. Even worse, your father is constantly absent and missing out on his visitation responsibilities. Then, while he’s away, you and your friends discover his secret lair. Your dad is the superhero The Guard. This movie is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who has given moviegoers a plethora of adventure…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Easter Sunday” – Family Mad Funny
When I watched the trailer for this one, I thought it would be funny. Jo Koy is not a comic I’m as familiar with, but I saw enough to make me hopeful that his blend of material from his stand-up show and family experiences would make for a funny combination. When I saw the comedy,…
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Ben’s Book Breakdown | Seth MacFarlane shines with “The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil.”
The setting is New York City, and it is not long after the end of World War I. A woman runs into a hotel, hands her baby to the front desk clerk, and orders that they take her baby and look after him. The clerk then gives the baby to a lovely German couple who…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Vengeance” – Profound and Surprising
When I watched the trailer and saw that B.J.Novak wrote the film, I really wanted to see the movie mostly because I expected a riotously funny film. In addition, I’d hoped to see an interesting side to Ashton Kutcher. While the film fulfills those expectations, what it does instead is wildly different, twisting perceptions while…
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Ben’s “Gay” Book Breakdown | Morgan Brice Strikes Paranormal Gold “Again”
Gail Z. Martin, aka Morgan Brice, continues to be one of those authors whose work excites me to distraction. Among the plethora of titles she has written, she is also responsible for her universe of the paranormal, which includes such series titles as (writing as Gail Z. Martin) “Deadly Curiosities,” “Spells, Salt, & Steel,” and…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Nope” – Wildly Entertaining, Intelligent
I have wanted to see this movie since the first trailers came out. Jordan Peele is acknowledged as an excellent storyteller, and the scenes I saw showed a fantastic blend of comedy and horror with actors I’ve seen in other productions and knew they would be great. After watching this film, I can say without…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Anything’s Possible” – Authentic Acting
With the film Anything’s Possible, I was excited because the film has Billy Porter in his debut as a director. Having enjoyed him in his own movies and shows, I was excited to see what he would bring, especially with a story featuring a trans character. Since I believe we need more authentic representation in…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “Thor: Love and Thunder” is more of an Uneven Blunder
For many years Marvel Studios ruled from the mountaintops when it came to comic book superhero movies. Starting with the very first Iron Man through Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios did what no one else could. The studio that gave us Iron Man, Captain America, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thor, could not be touched.…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” – Lovely and Romantic
When I heard both the description of this movie and that Leslie Manville was starring, I immediately wanted to see it. I have an odd love of dresses and haute couture, so the story appealed to me. I am so grateful I got to see this film. Leslie Manville was a delight. The performances were…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” – Profound and Moving Tribute
Most people have heard the song “Hallelujah,” especially given its worldwide popularity and haunting quality. But I hadn’t known the song’s origins and much about the creator, Leonard Cohen. So when I heard about this documentary, I was excited to watch it and learn more about Leonard Cohen. I found the documentary a profound and…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Don’t Make Me Go” – Unexpected and Emotional
I’ve been a fan of John Cho for years, since his days in the Harold and Kumar films. Having seen his work in many films and shows, I was very hopeful about the quality of the movie. Despite the subject, a dying man, this film goes to some unexpected places, is full of humor and…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “1776” (1972) | Old Classics?…Newly Reviewed
Editor: As part of the Two Gay Geeks’ July 4th celebration (Yes, today is July 5th , but since we released a new podcast episode yesterday we chose to release this article today.) we bring you once more our “Old Classics?…Newly Reviewed” look at our annual movie watching of 1776. Every July 4th Keith and I fire up…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Minions: The Rise of Gru” Hits All the Right Notes
I loved the “Despicable Me” films and the first “Minions” movie. While they are billed as children’s films, there is just something silly and fun about the franchise. Steve Carell has done a fantastic job portraying supervillain Gru, and I was looking forward to seeing this next film in the series. Like the previous movies,…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Mr. Malcolm’s List” – Delightfully Witty
I have a fondness for romances. While I love stories with every type of relationship and genre, a good romance leaves the viewer feeling hopeful and full of joy. When I watched the trailer for Mr. Malcolm’s List, I thought it looked fun, delightful, witty, and reminiscent of Bridgerton in all the best ways. Mr.…
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Ben’s “Gay” Book Breakdown | “Secret Service” is a Romantic and High Octane Thriller
Can a lead Secret Service agent in charge of protecting the President of the United States fall in love with the President and effectively protect him at the same time? Does this brief synopsis sound familiar? On the surface, it does sound quite similar to the first book in author Tal Bauer’s “Executive Office” series,…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Black Phone” Calls it in with Ominous and Masterful Restraint
From the very moment I saw the trailer, I wanted to see The Black Phone. Not only does it feature Ethan Hawke, a superb actor, but the premise was intriguing and scary even in the trailer. I hoped the film would blend the psychological and supernatural elements without going overboard with either and the spooky…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Brian and Charles” – Quirky and Fun
When I read the description and saw the trailer, this film looked like it would be interesting and fun. While I’m not as familiar with the cast, the concept of a man building a robot seemed to have infinite possibilities. When I screened the film, I found it had beautiful interactions, a wonderful robot creation…
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Ben’s Book Breakdown | Excellent Characters Keep “Star Trek: Ex Machina” Flying
James T. Kirk has again become Captain of the starship Enterprise, Dr. Leonard McCoy has been brought out of retirement, and Mr. Spock has learned the value of emotions. Even the computer entity known as V’Ger, satisfied that it has joined with The Creator, has scampered off to explore new places outside the Universe. So…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Jurassic World Dominion” – Entertaining But Repetitive
Ever since the original Jurassic movie in 1993, I’ve loved the films, even the reboot of Jurassic World. I was especially excited for Jurassic World Dominion with the inclusion of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, who are all excellent performers, and I was hopeful that their return to the characters from Jurassic Park…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Phantom of the Open” – Whimsical and Hopeful
I was drawn to this film not because I’m an aficionado of golf but because Mark Rylance’s performances always entertain me. I also loved the story once I read more about Maurice Flitcroft. The game of golf tends to be a game for the elite and those who have the money. Maurice Flitcroft and his…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story” – Soulful and Powerful
I really love music of all types, and while I’m by no means an expert, I love studying music as well. Despite that, I have never had the chance to go to a major music festival such as Jazz Fest, so I really looked forward to watching this film. After absorbing this movie, one fact…
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Ben’s Breakdown | Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022 Wrap-Up
Over the past year or so, we have started to see the convention circuit open back up after being unceremoniously shut down due to the Great Pause, “Damndemic,” or use whatever term floats your fancy that best describes this quarantine nightmare. So we became accustomed to living in isolation. Perhaps, we even became scared to…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Emergency” – Wild and Unexpectedly Insightful
When I first watched the trailer, I expected a college buddy comedy. However, as much as the billing of this movie is as a comedy, it is something far different and better; it is a satire, delving into race and politics as well as the nature of friendship. Not only are the performances brilliant and…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “Downton Abbey: A New Era” is a Romantic and Posh Look at the Past
Several years have passed at Downton Abbey since their visit from the King of England. The downstairs staff is happily working away while Lady Mary has taken over the day-to-day operations managing Downton Abbey. Tom has been a widower since the passing of his wife and Lord Grantham’s daughter Sybil after giving birth to their…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Montana Story” – Powerful, Emotional, and Raw
When I first learned about this film, I was interested in it for the family dynamics and drama. It sounded like one of those films where while it isn’t sensational or full of huge effects, it does have an emotional story and fantastic plot. I’ve also seen Phoenix born Haley Lu Richardson in other films…
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Andrea’s Angle | “Firestarter” – Solid Performances, Stale Story
I was excited to see this new version of Firestarter. I love the book, and I liked the 1984 version as well, which followed the book fairly faithfully with Drew Barrymore as Charlie. The trailer looked intriguing, but unfortunately, the film didn’t deliver as I had hoped. While I found this version competent, with solid…
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DaVette “Sees” Movies | Stranger Things Have Happened
Marvel Studios Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is yet another post-Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe offering that takes a crack at breaking free of the restraints of the formula that was so profitable for the studio without alienating the fans. With director Sam Raimi at the helm, the film does feel “Marvel-y,” but on…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “The Offer” 3 Episode Thoughts
For cinephiles, one of the most beloved films to come out in the last 50 years is The Godfather. It tells a grand story in a very intimate way. Many people would go so far as to say it is the best movie ever made. After having seen it, I can understand why. Now, just…
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Ben’s “Gay” Book Breakdown | “No Surrender” is filled with multi-layered paranormal goodness!
When I first discovered the book Restless Nights as part of the “Badlands” series, nothing could have prepared me for the world I was about to enter. In fact, my journey was no less fantastic than that of homicide detective Vic D’Amato, who was forced to leave his former beat with the Pittsburgh Police after a…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Duke” – Quirky and Entertaining
When I read the description of The Duke, it immediately drew me in for two reasons. First, the cast is incredible, and I knew the acting would be without flaw. Second, the plot sounded incredibly entertaining, especially because it was a fictionalized account of a real story. My biggest hope was that it would live…
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Ben’s Breakdown | “The Batman” is a Mixed Bag of Bats in the Belfry
What do you do when you want to make a movie about a superhero that has already been done countless times? Simple. You make the movie but change everything about that superhero. This is the case with The Batman, written by Peter Craig and Matt Reeves, who also directed this movie. It is a bold idea,…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” – Over the Top Cheesy Fun
Even without having watched the trailer, I was completely intrigued by the premise of this film. When you add in Nick Cage starring as himself, it was inevitable that I wanted to see the movie. I hoped that the story would be fun and that the idea would be as funny as it seemed. After…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Bad Guys” – Hilarious Heist Film
I love animated films. I was excited to see this movie from the very moment I saw the trailer. It looked like fun, something even adults would love. I thought this would be fun to watch with a fantastic cast and an interesting premise, and bad guys trying to go good. Unfortunately, the movie did…
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Andrea’s Angle | “The Northman” – Epic Viking Drama
I’ve waited for The Northman for months, ever since I saw a poster for the film at the theater. I was riveted, especially by the incredible cast, Alexander Skarsgård, Claes Bang, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, and Willem Defoe. Then the first trailer came out, and it looked intriguing a true Norse saga. I hoped it…
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Ben’s “Gay” Book Breakdown | “You & Me” Delivers Healing Through Love and Chosen Families
Luke Hale is a widower with a single teenage son named Emmet. Luke’s life is a shambles. He was a punk wannabe artist in his youth, but he lacked any focus or direction. He met a girl named Riley, and after getting her pregnant, they married and had Emmet. Eventually, they grew apart, and later…
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Andrea’s Angle | “All the Old Knives” – Sizzling Intrigue
When I heard about this film, I was excited over two aspects: The cast, including Chris Pine, Thandiwe Newton, and Laurence Fishburne, all of who are excellent performers and who I have enjoyed on screen. I also was intrigued by the plot which sounded compelling and as though it would make an intriguing mystery. Fortunately,…