 |
The
Next Best Thing |
Madonna
does it with Rupert Everett ... and baby makes three
Abbie
(Madonna) and Robert (Rupert Everett) are best friends
with so much in common--a joyful, unconventional approach
to life; quick wit and intelligence; an endearing impulsiveness
... and miserable luck in love. They would make the
perfect couple, but one thing prevents them from looking
to each other for romance--Robert is gay. A day comes,
however, when too many cocktails and a twist of fate
takes them to a new level of intimacy ... and turns
them into parents. They decide to have the child and
live together as a family. As the press kit explains,
"Theirs may not be the perfect family--but it is the
next best thing."
Although
the plot may sound a bit frothy, The Next Best Thing
is directed by the British filmmaker John Schlesinger,
who is certainly no lightweight, having won an Oscar
for his first American film, the gritty masterwork,
Midnight Cowboy. He's also directed Sunday,
Bloody Sunday, The Day of the Locust, and Marathon
Man, plus numerous projects for British television
and stage.
"Both
characters are fairly selfish, self-absorbed people,
until a child comes into the picture," notes Everett.
"Having a child is a huge responsibility, and forces
you to focus on something outside of yourself... Both
Abbie and Robert are at this point in their lives where
they're facing a kind of dusk period--the dusk, really,
of their youth. They're facing the beginning of middle
age--she's thinking a lot about having a child, and
he is a loner who hasn't been in a relationship in quite
a while."
"I
think everyone's life changes when they have children,"
adds Madonna, who certainly changed herself when she
became a mother, leaving her Material Girl days for
her Om explorations. "I think we become much more compassionate,
forgiving, patient, and less selfish." Rupert and Madonna
have reputably been good friends for years, so the jump
to a vivacious onscreen intimacy wasn't hard.
As
an added treat, Robert's mother is played by Lynn Redgrave,
that game and gutsy black sheep of the Redgrave theatrical
aristocracy.
Now
playing citywide.
 |
Better
Than Chocolate |
UofH-Downtown
Alpha Lambda Hosts Lesbian-Themed Film
March
is Women's Month on the campus of the University of
Houston-Downtown, and Alpha Lambda, the university's
gay and lesbian student organization, is happy to participate
in the many activities occurring throughout the month.
This year they are promoting the organization and celebrating
lesbian life with a free showing of the Anne
Wheeler-directed film, Better Than Chocolate.
In
this delightful movie, Maggie has just dropped out of
school and met the woman of her dreams. She invites
her new love Kim to share a sub-rented loft with her.
At the same time, her slightly ditzy mother and curious
brother move out of their own house and in with Maggie,
whose family is unaware of her sexuality and is in for
a very surprising experience. The "Miss Ellen" episode
of Comedy Central's South Park will open for
the film.
Alpha
Lambda is a student organization that addresses social
and political issues as they relate both to the University
of Houston-Downtown gay and lesbian community and the
greater Houston community. Some of their activities
include working with Houston's Gay and Lesbian Political
Caucus, as well as community-related projects such as
AIDS education seminars, guest speakers, fund-raisers,
and support of Omega House.
Admission
is free for this one showing only, Friday, March
24, 7 p.m. @ UofH-Downtown, One Main Street, Room
A-436 (parking entrance is on Travis St. before I-45
North entrance). More info: alphalambda99@hotmail.com
or 713/221-8482.
 |
Academy
Awards
at River Oaks Theatre
|
See
the movies' biggest night of the year on the big screen
and help support Houston's Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
at the same time!
Annette
Bening, Janet McTeer, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep,
Hilary Swank, Russell Crowe, Richard Farnsworth, Sean
Penn, Kevin Spacey, Denzel Washington ... when they
win the Oscar for Best Actress and Actor, see two of
these nominees scream, cry, and/or make complete idiots
of themselves on the big screen. The Oscars will
be telecast live on ABC (KTRK, Channel 13) starting
at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 26; the doors to the River
Oaks Theatre will open for the viewing party at 6 p.m.
Quick-witted comic Nancy Ford will emcee the event again
this year.
Tickets
are $10/person, which is quite appropriate considering
that $10 was charged for the first Academy Awards ceremony
(May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel). You
can get in free if you dress in a tux or evening gown.
Advance tickets may be purchased at the River Oaks Theatre,
2009 W. Gray at Shepherd.
There
will be complimentary appetizers, and door prizes will
be given out throughout the night as winners of various
contests are chosen. You may enter the "Pick the Academy
Awards Winners" contest at either Houston Landmark theater
(Greenway or River Oaks) beforehand or that night before
the awards presentation begins. Attendees will be given
an entry form the night of the party which must be turned
in before the awards ceremony begins in order to be
eligible.
A
portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Houston's
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Sarah Gish, city manager
of Landmark Theatres, is one of the founders of the
festival and served as its publicity person for the
last two years. Additionally, a list of the films playing
in the 2000 Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will be released
April 1, 2000.
|
