The Boys in the Choir: Polk’s Antiquated Rendition of the Rural Gay Narrative
The blatant underrepresentation of black gay characters in film, whatever letter they’re placed into on the inclusive Lgbt spectrum, is simply not reason enough to appreciate the elemental contrivances of Patrik-Ian Polk’s Blackbird, an independent film rife with cliché in its euphemistic depiction of the rural queer experience that does little to elevate the film’s archaic nature.
The title has been inadvertently thrown into a higher caliber pop culture zeitgeist thanks to its distinction as Mo’Nique’s first post-Oscar role since her 2009 win for Best Supporting Actress in Precious. The significant media coverage concerning potential fallout between herself and director Lee Daniels should enhance the film’s shelf-life beyond the trappings of a niche market. Produced by the actress and her agent/husband Sidney Hicks, the project feels very much like the...
The blatant underrepresentation of black gay characters in film, whatever letter they’re placed into on the inclusive Lgbt spectrum, is simply not reason enough to appreciate the elemental contrivances of Patrik-Ian Polk’s Blackbird, an independent film rife with cliché in its euphemistic depiction of the rural queer experience that does little to elevate the film’s archaic nature.
The title has been inadvertently thrown into a higher caliber pop culture zeitgeist thanks to its distinction as Mo’Nique’s first post-Oscar role since her 2009 win for Best Supporting Actress in Precious. The significant media coverage concerning potential fallout between herself and director Lee Daniels should enhance the film’s shelf-life beyond the trappings of a niche market. Produced by the actress and her agent/husband Sidney Hicks, the project feels very much like the...
- 4/24/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Sang Tan/AP/Press Association Images
Date: Wednesday, 8 January 2014; Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester; Kickoff: 19:45Gmt
Manchester City have only lost one of their last 15 meetings with West Ham as Manuel Pellegrini’s team entertain the East Londoners at the Etihad in the Capital One Cup semi-final.
Jack Collison scored a second half winner for the Hammers at Upton Park in March 2009, but that is the only victory they’ve recorded over City since back-to-back wins in 2006. Sam Allardyce remains short of striking options, so West Ham fans shall fondly remember Dean Ashton’s brace during an Fa Cup run to the final.
The Hammers are not much better off defensively either and come into this two-legged tie off the back of four defeats in their last five. Big Sam chose the Fa Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest to blood youngsters en masse – a move that resulted in a 5-0 thumping.
Date: Wednesday, 8 January 2014; Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester; Kickoff: 19:45Gmt
Manchester City have only lost one of their last 15 meetings with West Ham as Manuel Pellegrini’s team entertain the East Londoners at the Etihad in the Capital One Cup semi-final.
Jack Collison scored a second half winner for the Hammers at Upton Park in March 2009, but that is the only victory they’ve recorded over City since back-to-back wins in 2006. Sam Allardyce remains short of striking options, so West Ham fans shall fondly remember Dean Ashton’s brace during an Fa Cup run to the final.
The Hammers are not much better off defensively either and come into this two-legged tie off the back of four defeats in their last five. Big Sam chose the Fa Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest to blood youngsters en masse – a move that resulted in a 5-0 thumping.
- 1/8/2014
- by Jamie Clark
- Obsessed with Film
Media Image Ltd
Date: Sunday, 5 January; Venue: City Ground, Nottingham; Kickoff: 12:00 GMT
Championship promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest host Premier League strugglers West Ham United anxious to improve their record against the Londoners at the City Ground.
Billy Davies’s Reds will not get a better opportunity to put right two wins from the last ten home meetings with the Hammers than on Sunday lunchtime. Sam Allardyce has a defensive crisis on his hands – one made all the worse by Johnny Heitinga snubbing a move from Everton.
These sides last faced one another on the banks of the Trent early on in West Ham’s last promotion campaign of 2011-12. Big Sam and his team are League Cup semi-finalists, but if they are to progress in the other domestic competition then they will have to do it without several key names.
Kevin Nolan and Winston Reid were amongst the...
Date: Sunday, 5 January; Venue: City Ground, Nottingham; Kickoff: 12:00 GMT
Championship promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest host Premier League strugglers West Ham United anxious to improve their record against the Londoners at the City Ground.
Billy Davies’s Reds will not get a better opportunity to put right two wins from the last ten home meetings with the Hammers than on Sunday lunchtime. Sam Allardyce has a defensive crisis on his hands – one made all the worse by Johnny Heitinga snubbing a move from Everton.
These sides last faced one another on the banks of the Trent early on in West Ham’s last promotion campaign of 2011-12. Big Sam and his team are League Cup semi-finalists, but if they are to progress in the other domestic competition then they will have to do it without several key names.
Kevin Nolan and Winston Reid were amongst the...
- 1/3/2014
- by Jamie Clark
- Obsessed with Film
Media Image Ltd
Date: Saturday, 28 December; Venue: Upton Park, East London; Kickoff: 12:45 GMT
West Ham United host West Bromwich Albion protecting a record of a decade unbeaten in home meetings. Brian Deane scored three times – twice at the right end and then in his own net – in November 2003 as the Baggies edged a seven-goal thriller 4-3.
The Hammers last entertained Albion in March and ran out 3-1 winners, but they will still be without Andy Carroll – the difference between the sides that day. Sam Allardyce has further intensified the pressure on himself by describing Saturday’s lunchtime encounter with West Brom as “a must win” as West Ham have slipped into the Premier League’s bottom three.
Heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all given the Hammers hidings in recent outings with only an extended run in the Capital One Cup affordng fans crumbs of Christmas comfort.
Date: Saturday, 28 December; Venue: Upton Park, East London; Kickoff: 12:45 GMT
West Ham United host West Bromwich Albion protecting a record of a decade unbeaten in home meetings. Brian Deane scored three times – twice at the right end and then in his own net – in November 2003 as the Baggies edged a seven-goal thriller 4-3.
The Hammers last entertained Albion in March and ran out 3-1 winners, but they will still be without Andy Carroll – the difference between the sides that day. Sam Allardyce has further intensified the pressure on himself by describing Saturday’s lunchtime encounter with West Brom as “a must win” as West Ham have slipped into the Premier League’s bottom three.
Heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all given the Hammers hidings in recent outings with only an extended run in the Capital One Cup affordng fans crumbs of Christmas comfort.
- 12/27/2013
- by Jamie Clark
- Obsessed with Film
Tim Macavoy (left) and Ryan Hanes
From Tim Macavoy...
Welcome back to “Gay in the UK” (or if you’re a first time viewer, just “welcome”). We’re Tim and Ryan, your guides to what is gay, um, in the UK. The title says it all really, I need not have done that.
This episode is a film special (international translation: “movie”). Tim takes you to the 24th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, but there is a decidedly global theme, with reviews of Plan B (Argentina), Stonewall Uprising (USA), interviews from the director and twin actors of Give Me Your Hand (France). Plus Ryan tells us how to get our hands on Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba), and an idiot's guide to finding gay cinema!
Note from Ryan: It’s not an idiot’s guide Tim, it’s for people who don’t spend every minute of their lives schmoozing...
From Tim Macavoy...
Welcome back to “Gay in the UK” (or if you’re a first time viewer, just “welcome”). We’re Tim and Ryan, your guides to what is gay, um, in the UK. The title says it all really, I need not have done that.
This episode is a film special (international translation: “movie”). Tim takes you to the 24th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, but there is a decidedly global theme, with reviews of Plan B (Argentina), Stonewall Uprising (USA), interviews from the director and twin actors of Give Me Your Hand (France). Plus Ryan tells us how to get our hands on Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba), and an idiot's guide to finding gay cinema!
Note from Ryan: It’s not an idiot’s guide Tim, it’s for people who don’t spend every minute of their lives schmoozing...
- 6/1/2010
- by dennis
- The Backlot
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