Democratic National Committee Chair to Resign

Debbie Wasserman Schultz will quit her post as party leader after leaked emails showed a bias against Bernie Sanders among DNC staffers.

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/7/24/democratic-national-committee-chair-resign

Raúl Castillo Hopes Richie Will Inspire LGBT Creators of Color

“Now that we’ve seen Looking, what’s going to come after that?” asks Castillo. 

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2016/7/24/raul-castillo-hopes-richie-will-inspire-lgbt-creators-color

Absolutely Fabulous, Star Trek Beyond, and Captain Fantastic: Weekend Movie Review

One of several tight spots for Eddy & Patsy in “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”

Do you remember that bit in the AbFab series when Edina is turning 40 and her ex husband’s new wife Bo (the hilarious Mo Gaffney), already in her 40s, is feeling really “sorted out” about birthdays…

I mean, golly, I wish I could tell her it’s no big deal. I had a ball on my 40th birthday. I felt really strong, really sorted-out about it. I realized what a lucky, wonderful person I was. And whether in your 30s or your 40s, you’re still the same gorgeous person. Enjoy life!

…only to hyperventilate at the mention of her own impending 50s? I kept thinking about that bit during the new AbFab movie. Well, that one and Bo’s other most-quoted line amongst my friends “I love old things,” which must always be said whilst casually placing your hands on your friend’s shoulders.

If you missed ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS THE MOVIE  this weekend (you’d better have a doctor’s note) you’ll be happy to know that Bo and the rest of the sideshow circus of the classic Britcom are back for cameos in the new adventure. But the joke is still the same.

When AbFab started a… uh… quarter century ago [*hyperventilating*] so much of the comedy sprung from the fact that Edina and Patsy, played by the genius Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, were too old for their antics. Their worlds (fashion and PR) tended to idolize teenagers in designer wear. Twenty-four years later, they’re even older and so’s the joke, but it’s still damn funny.

Comedies are among the hardest movies to review — which is why I haven’t really done so — because it comes down to how much you laugh. The new film is more of a mini new season than a supersized “Movie” as the title promises but who wouldn’t want another season? It’s a joy: the celebrity cameos, especially Joan Collins, Dame Edna, and Jean-Paul Gaultier’s are silly fun; Joanna Lumley still has the power to generate guffaws with a simple grimace or smile; the Pats/Edina chemistry remains absurdly perfect in its hermetically sealed bubble. And, finally, the ongoing “they killed Kate Moss” plot device, which kicks the movie into its main gear, has a perfect throwaway punchline on the beach.

Since everyone reading Towleroad will have Absolutely Fabulous tendencies let’s extend the net for this weekend’s adventure. Here’s this weekend box office estimates with links to previous reviews

TOP WIDE RELEASE

Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, and John Cho are back in “Star Trek Beyond”

1. STAR TREK BEYOND $59.6
2. THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS $29.3
3. GHOSTBUSTERS $21.6
4. LIGHTS OUT $21.6
5. ICE AGE COLLISION COURSE $21
6. FINDING DORY $7.2
7. THE LEGEND OF TARZAN $6.4
8. MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES $4.4
9. HILLARY’S AMERICA  $3.7
10. THE INFILTRATOR $3.2

TOP LIMITED RELEASE

1. KABALI (Bollywood) $2.1
2. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS THE MOVIE $1.8
3. CAFE SOCIETY (Woody Allen) $875K
4. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE $584K
5. CAPTAIN FANTASTIC $572K

Sulu doesn’t have as much to do in STAR TREK BEYOND as we’d hoped after that overhyped but welcome “coming out”; you see his husband and daughter a few times in the background of scenes which is nicely inclusive though.  It’s even sadder that Chekhov has almost nothing to do as this was our last chance to see Anton Yelchin (RIP) in his Starfleet uniform. Beyond moves briskly with no dull spots, is surprisingly funny and well designed visually. Idris Elba makes for a terrifying villain. It’s worth a watch if you like Star Trek as its one of the stronger entries in that exhaustive franchise.  More the underlying hopefulness of this franchise’s message remains a tonic for sci-fi’s otherwise dystopic tendencies.

Speaking of utopias and dystopias…

Viggo Mortensen leads his family through the wilderness in “Captain Fantastic”

Please see CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, which just added dozens of new theaters in limited release, starring the always delicious-to-look-upon Viggo Mortensen. In a movie culture increasingly homogenized by superheroes, animated family comedies, sequels and brand extensions, it’s a rare treat to find a movie made for adults with thought-provoking substance. At least it’s unusual outside of Oscar season.

In Captain Fantastic Viggo stars as the intellectual atheist father of a large family. He’s home-schooled his children in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, cut off from society. The kids are multilingual, smart, and strong but do they have skills for the real world? When his wife dies (beginning of the movie, not a spoiler) he is forced to reenter civilization to attend to the funeral. The film is a moving mix of coming of age story (George Mackay, best known as the young photographer in the great LGBT comedy Pride, plays Viggo’s eldest son), and provocative sociopolitical family drama. Their relatives (played by Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Ann Dowd, and Frank Langella) don’t understand and can barely tolerate the family’s exit from society.

As you can guess the movie is hard to describe and therefore hard to market but it’s terrific. Its achievements are many from Viggo’s complex performance (including a chill but confrontational full frontal scene “It’s just a penis; Every man has one.”) to its nuanced politics and fascinating debates about education. Captain Fantastic is not easy to shake but it’s most definitely worth a watch.

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz Resigns as Democratic Party Chair

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will step down as Democratic Party Chair immediately following this week’s Democratic Convention in the wake of a WikiLeaks release on Friday which showed that certain top Democratic National Committee officials looked for ways to potentially damage Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

Said Schultz in a statement:

“I’ve been proud to serve as the first woman nominated by a sitting president as chair of the Democratic National Committee. I couldn’t be more excited that Democrats are nominating our first woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great president.”

EARLIER: Debbie Wasserman Schultz ‘Quarantined’, Won’t Speak at DNC Convention

Wasserman Schultz said she would gavel the convention in and out, and address the delegates, but that will be all.

Her full statement:

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is out: pic.twitter.com/a77IcTRoHx

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 24, 2016

Democratic Party Communications Director Luis Miranda confirmed that Donna Brazile would serve as Interim Chair through the election.

DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as Interim Chair through the election #DNCinPHL

— Luis Miranda (@LuisMiranda) July 24, 2016

President Obama released the following statement:

For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back.  This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful.  Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country.  Her critical role in supporting our economic recovery, our fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair.  Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth.  And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend.

Hillary Clinton released a statement as well:

Hillary Clinton statement on Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepping down as chair pic.twitter.com/qnSD2UffI2

— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) July 24, 2016

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