off the beaten track '80s horror: a guest post by karen g.

For me, there was nothing better than going to the video store on a Friday night after another uneventful week at school. In our video store we had a very special section called: “Blue Band Movies”. These were usually 25 cents per rental and had a selection of some of the most obscure, campy and fun horror and sci-fi movies I’ve ever had the pleasure of stumbling across. This section was what I used to call “rejected cinema” and sadly today, some of these titles are virtually impossible to find. I felt like such a rebel for watching them when my schoolmates were watching more “refined” movies like E.T. and The Goonies. Even though I may never have the opportunity to watch some of these again, the incredibly artistic video covers will be burnt into my memory forever.

- Karen G.


Deadly Friend (1986)

The Stuff (1985)

The Initiation (1984)

Pin (1988)

Humanoids From the Deep (1980)

Edge of the Axe (1988)

Don’t Answer The Phone (1980)

Blue Monkey (1987)

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Silent Madness (1984)

Alone in the Dark (1982)

The Prowler (1981)

Fright House (1988)

Pieces (1982)

Dead and Buried (1981)

Killer Party (1986)

Curtains (1983)

oscar dress faves 2012

Michelle Williams in coral Louis Vuitton peplum dress.  I also love her jewelry.

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji.

I really like that Natalie Portman did a vintage dress (1954 Dior).  Though is there something cheesy about the jewelry and hair?

Another dress I liked in a shade of red: Livia Giuggiol in Valentino.

my dream oscar picks

Sometimes they are pretty lame, but I guess I'm a sucker for the Oscars every year. Here are some of my favorite films and performances of the year I would have nominated.  Some were overlooked and hopefully some will get some recognition tonight.




BEST PICTURE

A Separation


I'm really glad this tense and powerfully understated and acted film has gotten so much acclaim.  There is so much moral ambiguity in its collision of two contemporary families in Iran.

others on my ballot (if 10 nominees):

The Artist
Beginners
The Descendants
Drive
Margaret
Midnight in Paris
Shame
Weekend
Young Adult



BEST DIRECTOR

Nicolas Winding Refrn, Drive


He seems a bit smug in interviews (I guess all good directors are) but I admire the cool control he had over Drive.  He rejected common action film tropes of today's noisy blockbusters and delivered an entertaining and aesthetically beautiful neo-noir.

others on my ballot:

Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Steve McQueen, Shame
Alexander Payne, The Descendants




BEST ACTOR

Michael Fasssbender, Shame

Though I think all of the leading men nominated this year were quite good, it's sad Fassbender was overlooked for his mesmerizing performance as a sex addict.

the rest of my ballot:

George Clooney, The Descendants
Tom Cullen, Weekend
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Ryan Gosling, Drive



BEST ACTRESS

Charlize Theron, Young Adult

Mavis may have been too unlikable for the Academy's tastes but I thought Theron's performance was both uniquely detailed and fearless.


the rest of my ballot:

Viola Davis, The Help
Yoon Jeong-hee, Poetry
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Anna Paquin, Margaret


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

I pretty much cried throughout Beginners because of Plummer's sensitive and dignified turn as a newly-out gay man in his final years.  Here's hoping he wins a deserving Oscar tonight.

the rest of my ballot:

Albert Brooks, Drive
John Hawkes, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life



BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

J. Smith-Cameron, Margaret

Unfortunately the release of Margaret was botched, so no one really got the chance to see it but I loved J. Smith-Cameron as the neurotic theater actress and single mother of a restless and callous teenager.

also on my ballot:

Sareh Bayat, A Separation
Jeannie Berlin, Margaret
Mary Page-Keller, Beginners
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

where the boys are: shipley & halmos

Love!

shoutouts!

Favorite underrated cinematic love stories from Rupert Pupkin Speaks.

Another great movie list from Cinema Du Meep: New York Romances.

A monthly mix tape from Frontier Psychiatrist.

Beautiful post of Alexander McQueen's show on Style Bubble.

Divining Divas, a collection of poetry by gay males writing about women who inspire them, is now available from Lethe Press.  A poem of mine is in there on Elizabeth Taylor.

where the boys are: kenzo

I loved this collection!