Valerian in the shadow of The Fifth Element

by Dancin' Dan

Luc Besson's comic adaptation Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a mess. But so was his magnum opus The Fifth Element, and that Bruce Willis-starrer went on to become something of a modern-day sci-fi classic. Only time will tell if Valerian will go on to a similarly charmed afterlife, but for my money it suffers under the weight of expectations.

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Double Feature: "Atomic Blonde" and "Girl's Trip"

This article was originally published in Nathaniel's column at Towleroad. It is reprinted here in a slightly extended edition.

It’s a special ‘Sister’s Are Doin’ It For Themselves’ double review with two female-driven hits.

Have you caught Girls Trip yet? I was one week late to the party after its hit opening weekend. When we looked around the theater this weekend my best friend was all “it’s 80% women of color and 20% gay men!” Truth! And perfect as target audiences go for an urban female comedy called Girls Trip. The crowd was boisterous, laughing their asses off throughout but also visibly feeling the '90s hiphop soundtrack and audibly praising the “message” moments in the movie.

The night before I saw Atomic Blonde and though I didn’t see anyone dancing in their seats, I was dancing on the inside with its killer 1980s new wave soundtrack...

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Tom Hardy's Furrowed Brow Acting

by Murtada

I have a curious relationship with Tom Hardy. I like him as an actor but almost never get excited about the movies that he’s in. And that doesn't look like it will change. On the heels of his signing to play Spider Man baddie Venom in a stand-alone film, Hardy will produce and star in My War Gone By, I Miss It So. The film is a  personal account of the Bosnian War, based on the 1999 book of the same name by Anthony Loyd, an English journalist and war correspondent. Gavin O’Connor who has previously directed Hardy in Warrior (2011) is attached to direct. Another war film and another macho aggressive character for Hardy to play.

Hardy is currently on screen in Dunkirk,  of course...

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Adorable Short Alert: "In a Heartbeat"

Cartoon hearts can break, too. I can't get over this new animated short in which a young boy's heart betrays him at school. And the feeling is apparently mutual on the internet. By the time it took me to post this between watcing it four times last night and waking up this morning to say a few words, it has been everywhere racking up millions of views and inspiring fan art already as well as official parody posters.

See the full four minute short after the jump and a few more comments after the jump. It's well worth your time...

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Soundtracking: "The First Wives Club"

Chris Feil's series on music in the movies dips into some actressexuality this week!

Do you and your friend group have a song, one that defines and unites you instantaneously? Or is that just something that happens in the movies? I’ve certainly never had that, but my two best gays from college do namesake ourselves by a set of cinematic galpals that do: The First Wives Club. (I’m the Bette.)

This film has the good sense to capitalize on the musical charms of its legendary actresses Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton. This threesome foursome *technically* (RIP Cynthia) has their origins defined by their place in musical history, with Diane Keaton’s opening narration evoking Woodstock and The Beatles. But its the beginning twinkle of Hal David / Burt Bacharach fantasy over the opening credits that more musically defines the feminine fantasy thrust upon their generation - idyllic beauty, subservience to men, etc. By the time Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox have them breaking down literal walls in the third act, these sisters are doin’ “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” for themselves.

But obviously the film’s most enduring and notorious musical impact comes from Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me”.

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