Just Like Jesse James

After nearly a year delay, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford will finally hit theaters next month. Starring Brad Pitt (pictured) and Casey Affleck, respectively, as the title characters, the western drama appears to be taking a similar path as another film on the subject, Samuel Fuller's 1949 I Shot Jesse James.

While watching the trailer for the new film, notice Affleck's Ford displays a disturbing fascination with the notorious outlaw. Pitt's James even asks Ford if he wants to "be like me, or you wanna be me?", which gets further homoerotically charged by the fact that he is sitting in a bathtub when he says it (shades of The Talented Mr. Ripley).

In Fuller's film, the director hints that Ford's eventual murder of James stemmed from the "twisted love/hate relationship" between the two. I Shot Jesse James also includes a scene with James (Reed Hadley) in a bathtub with Ford (John Ireland) looking on.

We will just have to wait and see how blatant this gay subtext will be in the latest retelling of the legend of Jesse James, which will hit theaters September 21.

Click here to purchase I Shot Jesse Jameson DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com, Movies.AOL.com and MovieMorlocks.com.

Out of the Celluloid Closet: Jurassic Park III

Every once in awhile I'll be watching a Hollywood movie and catch a little look between two characters and I think, "Wait a minute, could they be ...?"

Throughout the rest of the movie, I will make a mental note of all the bits and pieces that support my little theory. Nine times out of ten something turns up to squash my imaginary subtext (these are Hollywood movies we're talking about), but in those rare instances when it goes unchallenged, it actually makes the movie more enjoyable to me in the end.

Such was the case with Jurassic Park III, which was universally dismissed by critics and audiences upon its release. I liked this threequel for its popcorniness, but what made me take a closer look was the relationship between Sam Neill's Dr. Grant and his hunky assistant Billy, played by Alessandro Nivola.

There was nothing overt between them, yet there was still a subtle vibe going on that they were doing more then digging up dinosaur bones together (insert vulgar "bone" joke here).

In related dino-news: Could the plot of the rumored (threatened?) Jurassic Park IV actually revolve around ... missile-toting raptors ???

Click here to buy Jurassic Park IIIon DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com and ObsessedWithFilm.com.

"Race" Relations

If you were like me when I was a kid, you totally wanted to be Jonny Quest: living a life of adventure with your best pal Hadji, pet dog Bandit and your two gay dads.

OK, I didn't pick up on that gay subtext between Dr. Benton Quest and "government agent"/constant companion "Race" Bannon back then, but by the time "Race" was voted the "number one TV mom" by the Cartoon Network a few years ago, it was all pretty clear to everyone what was going on.

All you have to do is watch the opening credits to detect the sexual chemistry between the two - watch for what appears to be a furtive kiss from "Race" thrown in Dr. Quest's direction at about the 1:23 mark. Besides the jammin' theme music, I also dig the casual vibe the whole gang is groovin' on while riding along in that jet plane, as if they were merely driving to Sunday brunch in the family station wagon.

It is doubtful that the upcoming live action movie version of Jonny Quest will include any overt references to the secret love between BQ and "R"B, it being Warner's hope for the next family-friendly Harry Potter-type franchise. Knowing Hollywood, they'll probably give "Race" a girlfriend or even - gasp! - make him a woman! Perish the thought.

Which brings us to the next session of "Armchair Casting": Lord of the Rings' Sean Bean is sufficiently daddy-ish for Dr. Quest, and can't you totally see Oz's Christopher Meloni rockin' a white crew cut as "Race"? Hadji will likely be an unknown (well-versed in martial arts, I'm sure) as will Bandit. As for Jonny himself, how would Zac Efron look as a blonde?

In other retro-toon news:

• In the wake of Transformers comes Voltron.
• Speed Racer gets Christina Ricci as a girlfriend.
• And - could it be? Jason Statham as G.I. Joe? We are so there.

Click here to purchase Jonny Quest - The Complete First Seasonon DVD from Amazon.com.

Links via Imdb.com, YouTube.com, Variety.com, AfterEllen.com and Cinematical.com.

Out of the Celluloid Closet: Test Pilot

Although Spencer Tracy played second fiddle to Clark Gable in other films (San Francisco, Boom Town), it was in Test Pilot that their relationship takes on an added dimension if one knows to look for it. (Think of it as the original Top Gun in more ways then one.)

Gable is a hotshot pilot and Tracy his trusty best friend/co-pilot who is always there to clean up his messes - both in the air and on the ground. One could say that Tracy plays the western stock "old coot" character to Gable's impulsive adventurer; totally devoted to his hero, the "coot" doesn't like it when a woman (in this case, Myrna Loy) enters the picture. No female attachments means no interference when it comes time for all that male bonding out on the range ... or up in a plane.

At one point, Gable gruffly barks "I love ya!" to Tracy in that macho way guys do (they are even in a locker room when he does it). Tracy's reply is an understated "I love you too" brimming with unstated meaning.

Test Pilot is not currently on DVD, but the film does occasionally turn up on Turner Classic Movies. Keep an eye on my weekly "Latest on TV" column for future airings.

Links via Imdb.com and TCM.com.

Out of the Celluloid Closet: Gilda

In Gilda, every man wants the title character, which is understandable since Rita Hayworth plays the part, inarguably her most famous role.

What is interesting is that once the two male leads (Glenn Ford and George Macready) get her, they don't want her any more. And what exactly is up with their "partnership" at the casino?

Perhaps a hint of what is really going on can be gleaned from Ford's comment after Macready rescues him from a robbery - with a switchblade cane, no less (you can't get more phallic then that). After giving him the once over, he states "You must lead a gay life." Indeed.

Click here to purchase Gildaon DVD from Amazon.com.
Link via Imdb.com.

Blame Julie Andrews

If you ever wondered why you are gay, the guys over at FAGAT Guide have the answer for you in a hilarious continuing feature on the effects that certain movies, TV shows and other pop culture artifacts may have had on our formative childhood psyches.

Some (The Neverending Story) may not be as obvious as others (Masters of the Universe, duh), but by the end of each entry, they nail what it is exactly about, say, the shower scenes in School Ties that may have done the deed. Oh, wait, that's not the best example ...

Any way, I'd have to say that it was Julie Andrews who made me do it, although probably more because of Mary Poppins then The Sound of Music. Sure, Maria got the Captain, but Mary could fly.

Links via FAGAT.blogspot.com and YouTube.com.

Out of the Celluloid Closet: An Introduction

Inspired by Vito Russo's legendary book on homosexuality in the movies (and the 1995 documentary that was inspired by it), I take a look at classic and contemporary films, deconstructing them to reveal their hidden (or not so hidden) queer content.

Link via Imdb.com.