My movie genres

I have compiled a list, using the categories provided by Netflix (except Cult Movies, which doesn't get its own separate category from Netflix, but does from me), of my preferences regarding the various film genres and subgenres, listing those that I like. I list each genre followed by (after the :) the subgenres of that genre that I enjoy.

Action & adventure: Blaxploitation, Martial Arts (especially classic Kung Fu movies), Westerns (rarely)

Animation & Anime: For Grownups, Horror, Fantasy. I admit I struggle with this genre, knowing it's all the rage, now, but I'm very finicky when it comes to animated films.

Children & Family: not so much

Classics: I love old movies from the black & white era. Also Classic Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies (like Invasion of the Body Snatchers), and Film Noir.

Comedy: British Humor, Cult Comedy, Black Comedy or Horror-Comedy, Slapstick, Satire/Mockumentaries, Stand-Up

Cult - Probably my favorite genre in general, with a sidenote for Asian Cult, Cult Classics (like Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!) and Cult Horror

Documentaries: Historical, Biographical, Indie, PBS/Science & Nature (can't get enough of the nature docs), Political (sometimes)

Drama : Depends

Faith & Spirituality : Difficult

Gay & Lesbian : Maybe it's time for it to stop being its own separate genre?

Horror: tied with "cult" as my favorite genre, especially B Movie Horror, Creature Features/Monsters, Cult Horror, Foreign Horror, Horror Classics (House of Hammer, e.g.), Satanic Stories, Slashers, and Vampires/Zombies (although the new mainstream "teen horror" genrre, like "Twilight," leaves me cold...or maybe just old)

Indie - it's a mixed bag, but I do enjoy good experimental and art house films

Musicals - questioning

Romance - gotta be dark, quirky or queer

SciFi/Fantasy - love this genre in general, with special emphasis on Alien, Classic, SciFi Horror, and JAPANESE MONSTER MOVIES of the Godzilla variety

Special Interest - Art & Design, Dance, Food & Wine, Theater Arts, Mind & Body

Sports & Fitness - not so much. Ice-skating, when Johnny Weir is involved.

Television - hit and miss, but yes, I'm not a Teeveetotaler

Thriller - NO.

Ben wins Emmy / Happy Thanksgiving!

Congratulations to Ben Whishaw on winning the International Emmy two nights ago for best actor for his recurring role on British TV series Criminal Justice! (Julie Walters won best actress.) There's little doubt this guy has a bright future ahead of him. He missed the awards ceremony because he's currently appearing on stage in Mike Bartlett's play "Cock" at London's Royal Court. (Production photo above shows Ben with co-star Katherine Parkinson.)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, one and all. Don't eat too much, or you'll get super fat and no one will love you.

xo

glam aka Tony

I Love You Man! or: Evolutions in the Homosocial Continuum.

Check out this Craigslist ad. I love that we live in a time when straight guys can post ads on Craigslist seeking each other out strictly for friendship and "normal guy stuff." (And I liked the movie "I Love You Man," too. Where was Andy Samberg's character when I was in high school? Or more to the point: where was Andy Samberg when I was in high school?)

If I may momentarily delve into the jargon of feminist/queer theory academia, I would say that "I Love You Man," unlike a yucky little dud like "I Now Prounounce You Chuck and Larry," indicates that we as a society may be healing the schizophrenic break in what Eve Sedgwick refers to as the "homosocial continuum" that has been caused in the past by homophobia. (Note homoSOCIAL. Not "homosexual.") What that means in plain English: due to our puritanical heritage, we've had a double standard in this country where women being affectionate and intimate friends can lead into women being "more than friends" without any major backlash or outcry, while the same is not true of men. This doesn't mean that the homoerotic subtext of "I Love You Man" invalidates its heterosexual plotline. It just means that maybe we're reaching a point of maturity and acceptance where the POSSIBILITY of men being "more than friends" isn't something we have to automatically regard with revulsion or distaste.

I'm proud of us. We're growing up. FINALLY.

Christmas Fever!

I walked past Macy's on my way to work and DAMN it's amazing looking, all garlands and wreaths and magic, it called to me, whispered with a voice like powdered sugar, I want to sleep in their bedroom department and spend all day soaking in Christmas splendor! And never return to the real world again!

And after Xmas I'll just turn into a little ceramic figurine of myself and stay that way until the holidays roll around again next year, and so on forever...

Good Taste

I am starting a new, casual dining group to meet once or twice a month at a restaurant of the group's choice for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The objective is merely to meet some new people, eat some good food (which I can then recommend to customers at the hotel I work for), and have some stimulating conversation. I've started a Google Groups page for the club. If you're in the Bay Area and may want to join us, let me know! It's a public group, anyone can join.

My food tastes are diverse. I can enjoy everything from a dive-bar to an ultra ritzy place with sommeliers, lengthy wine lists and cloth napkins. I can honestly say I've never met a cuisine I didn't like at least a little.

Good Taste will have our first session at Le Central, San Francisco's first French bistro, founded in 1974. Former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown is known to be a big fan and to dine there regularly. Their roast chicken w/ pommes frites is supposed to be To Die For. Check them out here.

Courtney Love + Bill Clinton: Too good to be true

Check out this article from NY Mag's Culture Vulture, covering some Love-ly behavior at the 8th Annual Benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This woman's entire life is one sustained work of performance art. I love her so. And I would pay $$$ for a transcript of the conversation that took place during her breakfast with Hillary Clinton. (There's a photo of the two of them together published in Love's interesting scrapbook, "Dirty Blonde.")

Panic! At the Doctor's Office

Wonder of wonders, a BALANCED article (from HuffPost, again, now officially my preferred online hub for news and opinion) on the question of vaccines (albeit with a couple typing errors), by Bill Maher, that doesn't go to either one extreme or the other! How refreshing! Personally I find this guy far more palatable than, say, Alex Jones or other more extremist conspiracy theorists. Maher is a pretty sharp and reasonable guy, with a multifaceted perspective on various issues, and also a flair for controversy...which never hurts.

How about a vaccine for being a panicky American?