Bridegroom (and 5 other romantic gay movies to watch this Valentines Gay)

Local couple Nicholas and Tyler Johnson recently hosted a special screening of the film Bridegroom at the Sie FilmCenter on Colfax with a portion of the proceeds benefiting One Colorado. 

Bridegroom is the story of Shane Bitney Crone and Tom Bridegroom. When Tom died, Shane lost all legal claims to the life they had shared and was even banned from the funeral. It's a sad story but one that is also romantic, poignant and ultimately, powerful. 



And it's available on Netflix along with many other romantic gay movies you might like to watch or watch again including the following:

1. Brokeback Mountain: It's the gay Romeo & Juliet; the saddest gay love story ever told. 

2. Mulligans: Nathan is married to a woman but falls hard for his son's handsome friend Chase when the two come home for summer break. It's a lot better than it sounds.
 
3. Another Country: Life was complicated for beautiful boys who loved boys in the 1930s.

4. The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Greene: Based on the brilliant comic strip by Eric Orner, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Greene didn't wow me when it first came out in 1998 but has definitely grown on me in subsequent viewings.
 
5. Bankgok Love Story: "An unlikely, forbidden love blossoms between a police informant and the icy assassin sent to kill him in this steamy, gay-themed Thai crime drama," says Netflix. To which I have nothing to add. It's good stuff.

Bridegroom Screening Tonight to Benefit One Colorado

On May 7, 2011, a young man named Shane Bitney Crone tragically lost the love of his life, Tom, to an accident. 

Because they weren't married or prepared for the unexpected, Shane lost all legal claims to Tom after he died. Tom's family banned Shane from the funeral and he was unable to say goodbye. 

On May 7, 2012 Shane posted a video on YouTube, entitled "It Could Happen to You." He created it to honor his partner and show the world what can happen when two people are legally barred from having equal rights and equal protections under the law to marry. 

Shane's partner was named Tom Bridegroom. The video went viral, passing two million views within seven days.

Tonight, Nic and Tyler Johnson present a special screening of Bridegroom at Sie FilmCenter to benefit One Colorado. Click here for tickets.
  

Download Free Passes for Special Screening of The Heat Starring Sandra Bullock and Mellissa McCarthy!

Do you want to see a special screening of the new comedy, THE HEAT on Tuesday, 6/11, at 7pm in Denver? Just click the link http://bit.ly/114jCF3 to download your printable pass for two! As a reminder, screenings are first-come, first-serve and these passes do not guarantee you a seat, so arrive early! THE HEAT opens in theater June 28!

Out on DVD/Blu-ray: A Portrait of James Dean: Joshua Tree, 1951

Set primarily in the early 1950s and focusing on James Dean’s experiences as an up-and-coming actor in Los Angeles, Writer/Director Matthew Mishory’s debut feature film is a series of revealing and sometimes dreamlike vignettes that blend biographical and fictionalized elements to present pivotal moments in a remarkable life.

A Portrait of James Dean: Joshua Tree, 1951 debuts across all digital platforms beginning May 7th and on DVD June 4th from Wolfe Video. Shot in gorgeous 35mm black and white punctuated by bursts of color, A Portrait of James Dean: Joshua Tree, 1951 was dubbed “mesmerizing and sexy” by the San Francisco Chronicle and “dreamy” by London’s The Guardian. The film stars James Preston (TV’s “The Gates”) in the title role, with Dan Glenn (TV's "Pushing Daisies"), debutante Dalilah Rain, Edward Singletary, Jr. (Palo Alto), Robert Gant (TV’s "Queer as Folk") and Erin Daniels (“The L Word,” A Single Man) rounding out the cast in an intimate portrait of James Dean as he is on the cusp of achieving notoriety as both a great actor and an American icon.

Download Complimentary Pass to the Advance Denver Screening of 'Safe Haven'

Relativity presents Safe Haven, a story about a young woman’s struggle to love again. Based upon the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven stars the delicious Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough. 

It doesn't premiere in theaters until February 14 but you can see it before anybody else on Wednesday, February 13 at 7pm in Denver!  

Visit www.Gofobo.com/RSVP and enter the code MHGGQ02M to download your complimentary pass. Each pass admits one. Limit two passes per person while limited supplies last. Passes are on a first come, first serve basis and do not guarantee admission as screening is overbooked. Pro-Tip: ARRIVE EARLY.

Am I A Bad Gay? Miserable About 'Les Miserables'

Todd Craig

My husband wants me to take him to go see Les Miserables.   

Sure, the movie has earned great reviews and has garnered Oscar buzz.  Yes, I know that it’s the first blockbuster Hollywood musical since The Sound of Music.  And I’m well aware that my Twitter feed has been clogged with twitterpated gay friends all chirping about how fabulous it is.

Am I a Bad Gay for not wanting to see it?

Am I a Bad Gay for thinking that Les Miserables might be the most appropriately titled movie ever?

True Story #1:  My Uncle Jim, the family wit in a family full of sharp ones, after being dragged by my Aunt Becky to see the Meryl Streep classic Out of Africa, declared that he was “… glad to get out of Africa.”

Anyway, here’s my deal.  I’m a nerdy gay. I grew up on a healthy dose of Spiderman comic books and Star Trek reruns.  I considered last summer’s Avengers movie to be high entertainment.  Yes, I know that makes me a bit dorky, and yes, I know that The Big Bang Theory hits a little close to home sometimes.  As a nerdy gay, I’m the one wearing a collared shirt at the gay bar filled with boys wearing low-cut, V-necks. 

True Story #2:  One of the last times I was at a gay bar, I got separated from my husband who was there with his hag.  I was approached by a gay guy, who sauntered up and asked what a straight boy like me was doing in a gay bar.  I replied, somewhat amused and somewhat coy, that perhaps there was a chance that I was indeed gay.  His response?  “Oh honey, not possible in that shirt.”

All of which, on top of my distaste of movie musicals, might lend you to believe that I’m some sort of Bad Gay.

I guess that I just don’t see much appeal when it comes to these song-and-dance reviews.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good drama.  I also love music.  But, like a picky six-year old eater, I just don’t like it when my peas get all mixed up with my carrots.  When you mix them all up, the meal’s just not palatable any more.

I’m beginning to wonder if my gay gene is missing the love-of-musicals DNA molecule.  While the rest of the gay world sees Hugh Jackman, Broadway star, I see Wolverine, mutant bad-ass who isn’t doing anything stabby.  Yawn.  

My husband and I have greatly varying tastes when it comes to movies.   In the past, I’ve indulged his every gay desire with such painfully unwatchable movies as Sex and the City 2.   

Side Note:  Why does the usually charming Sarah Jessica Parker make such shitty movies?  My husband loves her, imagines himself to be Carrie Bradshaw at least six times a day, gets all ramped up for her latest flick, and then is constantly left disappointed and slightly defensive of his movie star friend.  If Les Miserables has anything going for it, it might be that SJP isn’t in it. 

Side Note #2:  Another appropriately titled movie:  Failure to Launch.  Seriously, don’t put the word failure as the first word of the title of a Sarah Jessica Parker movie.  The same goes for words like doomed, awful, and bleh.

Seriously, if I end up going - and we all know that I will in the name of being the world’s best husband - I will have definitely have to fake my gay orgasm after watching Wolverine sing for two and half hours.  I’ll try not to look at my watch.  I’ll "ooo" and "ahh".  I’ll pretend it was awesome.  I’ll say nice things afterwards.

However, I won’t really mean any of it.

Of course, maybe I’ll be surprised.  Maybe, just maybe, my long-buried gay chanteuse of a conscience will stand up in a feather boa and deliver a soul-shaking, heart-wrenching lyric that will put me and those around me in a song-and-dance finale that brings down the house while my newly-liberated gay self soars to unheard of heights.

But that probably won’t happen while wearing this shirt.

Gay icon Alan Turing subject of new movie 'Codebreaker'

Alan Turing, the British inventor of a computing machine that helped break coded messages during Word War II, is the subject of a new film from executive producer Patrick Sammon. Turing was prosecuted for his homosexuality, receiving a sentence of chemical castration. He committed suicide in 1954. 

"I promise you'll leave the movie theater with a lot to think about. You'll think about the senseless tragedy. You'll probably be angry, too, and you should be. Society's intolerance cut short the life of this genius," Sammon writes.

How to Survive a Plague, a chapter in gay history, comes to Denver today!

IFC Films presents HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, the story of two coalitions—ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group)—whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE opens at the Denver Film Center Colfax on October 12!

Check out the MileHighGayGuy interview with director David France here.

How To Survive A Plague opens in Denver this Friday!

IFC Films presents HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, the story of two coalitions—ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group)—whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE opens at the Denver Film Center Colfax on October 12!

Win tickets to advance Denver screening of How To Survive A Plague

Want to be one of the lucky few to see an advance Denver screening of HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE on Wednesday, October 3 at 7pm?

You can enter to win an admit-two pass by texting the word EQUALITY and your ZIP CODE to 43549.

(Entry deadline: 10/1 at midnight; Example Text: EQUALITY 80246). Winners will be notified on Tuesday, October 2.  There is no charge to text 43KIX. Message and data rates from your wireless carrier may apply. Remember, movie companies overbook previews, so arrive early because seating is not guaranteed.

IFC Films presents HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, the story of two coalitions—ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group)—whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition. HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE opens at the Denver Film Center Colfax on October 12!

Win free passes to a special screening of The Perks of Being A Wallflower

Based on the best-selling novel by  Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a funny and touching coming-of-age story that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up and the unforgettable friends that help us through life. 

Fans of MileHighGayGuy have the opportunity to see a special advance screening of the film on Tuesday, September 25 at the Landmark Greenwood Village theater! Text MILEHIGHGAYGUY and your ZIP CODE to 43549 for your chance to win! Deadline is Monday, September 24 by 4pm!

Based on the best-selling novel by  Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a funny and touching coming-of-age story that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up and the unforgettable friends that help us through life. The film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and the newly out Ezra Miller (pictured left) and opens in Denver on September 28.

Win Free Passes to Advance Screening of The Perks of Being A Wallflower

Based on the best-selling novel by  Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a funny and touching coming-of-age story that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up and the unforgettable friends that help us through life. 

The film stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller and opens in Denver on September 28! Fans of MileHighGayGuy have the opportunity to see a special advance screening of the film on Tuesday, September 25 at the Landmark Greenwood Village theater! Text MILEHIGHGAYGUY and your ZIP CODE to 43549 for your chance to win! Deadline is Monday, September 24 by 4pm!

Download passes to Rock of Ages screening tonight at Denver Pavillions

Under the direction of Adam Shankman (“Hairspray”), New Line Cinema’s feature film adaptation of the smash hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages” comes to the big screen.

“Rock of Ages” tells the story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.  Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Twisted Sister and more.

The movie musical stars Julianne Hough (“Burlesque”), with actor/singer Diego Boneta in his feature film debut, Russell Brand (“Arthur,” “Get Him to the Greek”), Oscar^® nominee Paul Giamatti (“Cinderella Man”), Academy Award^® winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Chicago”), Malin Akerman (“The Proposal”) and R&B queen Mary J. Blige, with Oscar^® nominee Alec Baldwin (“The Cooler,” TV’s “30 Rock”), and Oscar^® nominee Tom Cruise (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Magnolia,” “Jerry Maguire”) as Stacee Jaxx.

'Rock of Ages' opens in theaters and IMAX on June 15 and like the song says… it’s “Nothin’ But A Good Time!” There will be a special advance screening of 'Rock of Ages' tonight at the Denver Pavilions at 7pm and  MileHighGayGuy readers can click here to download free passes.

It's coming! Magic Mike

Just a reminder to mark your calendars and pre-purchase your smelling salts (for when you swoon at the mostly naked bodies of Channing Tatum and the rest)!

Warner Bros. Pictures will release MAGIC MIKE in theaters nationwide on June 29th, 2012.

Saltwater: The Justin Utley Interview

By Drew Wilson

Written by - and co-starring former Denver resident Ronnie Kerr -  Saltwater follows a group of gay friends and lovers as they tackle the twists and turns life throws at them. 

In addition to Kerr, the film stars former professional rugby player and model Ian Roberts as well as singer/songwriter Justin Utley.

Utley, familiar to Denver from his concert and Denver PrideFest appearances, appears in the film and I caught up with him to talk about the film, his musical career, and the hottest actors in Hollywood.

Drew: Hey Justin, great chatting with you again! So tell me about Saltwater.

Justin: It’s about a circle of friends and their journey through life’s ups and downs like the loss of a close friend. I would have to say that it has an authentic feel to it. There’s a lot of reality in there that I think a lot of people in the gay community can relate to. It really hit home for me and is definitely a movie that I recommend check out.

You're known for your music. How'd you get involved with the movie? Have you been bitten by the acting bug? Did Ronnie Kerr bite you?

Well, I’ve been friends with Ronnie Kerr for a number of years and he used some of my music on a previous film of his.

We were talking about maybe using some of my music for his new movie, Saltwater,  and he was like, “Yeah, I wish you could be in LA because there’s a part for you if you could make it.” I was like, “Book me a ticket."

So I went out there for the weekend and did my scenes and it was pretty cool. It was a really good experience. I don’t think acting is at the top of my list of things to pursue but I wouldn’t completely rule it out.

Last time we spoke was last year. You were a performer at Denver PrideFest.

Yeah, it was great. That was a very busy time. I thought I’d only be playing one gig but I think I ended up playing ... I think they booked me like five times that weekend. I was a pretty tired old man!

And Pride season is here again. What's your schedule like?

I’m currently booking dates for different Prides. I already played PhoenixPride. They have it in April because it’s like 120 degrees in June but when I got out there it was already 103. I hadn’t been there since my Mormon missions. An interesting circle of events, that. Ironically enough there were a few people I had baptized that were in the audience. Scandal! It’s going to be a very busy summer. I’m also working on an It Gets Better/anti-bullying kind of song. I really feel passionate about that and it'll probably be coming out as a single before Christmas.

Ian Robers - 9.9

Joe Manganiello - 9.9

Very cool. Now let me ask you about your co-star Ian Roberts. Former professional athlete. Former model. How hot was this guy?

I would have to say on a scale of 1 to 10 he would be a 9.5.

And the reason for that is because my boyfriend is a 10. So I can’t … well, OK, let’s say he’s a 9.9. He’s right up there with Alcide from True Blood!

Ah, a Joe Manganiello fan, huh?

Yeah. I saw him at my gym a few weeks ago. As a New Yorker I had to be cool on the outside, but I was screaming on the inside.

You know he's gonna be in the Magic Mike stripper movie, right?

What?!?

Possible full frontal, I hear.

Oh my God!

I’ll send you the info.
Please do!

So in addition to Joe Manganiello, who would you say are some of the other hottest actors in Hollywood? Like, what would be your Top 5?
Well, Joe Manganiello of course. And then I would say number two, um, of course Ron Kerr. Tell him I expect a check in the mail for that one. Then I'd have to say Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.

Who do you like better - Jake or Heath?

I’d have to say Heath.

Excuse me for just a moment while I make this all about me; I interviewed Ang Lee when Brokeback Mountain first came out and he told me I reminded him of Heath Ledger. I was totally screaming on the inside too.

Aw! That’s awesome.

So who else after Joe, Ron, Jake and Heath?
Oh, Zachary Quinto! I saw him recently in Angels in America here in New York just prior to his official coming out. That was a very cool experience. And he’s a great actor. 

Great list! Now to wrap things up, what message do you have for readers of MileHighGayGuy?

In general, I'd say that my number one message is that you’re going to be seeing more of me. Number two, keep standing proud! I’m so happy to hear about the strides that the gay community is making in Colorado. Please keep being involved and keeping up the good work. It’s the only way change is going to happen.

Ariztical Entertainment will distribute “Saltwater” in late 2012 after a multi-country film festival run. Find out more about Justin Utley at his website www.justinutley.com or on Facebook.

Saltwater, a film about gay men of all ages

Writer/Actor Ronnie Kerr

Ariztical Entertainment recently announced that production has begun in California on its feature film “Saltwater.” Written by and co-starring former Denver resident Ronnie Kerr, the film reunites Kerr with Co-Producer and Director Charlie Vaughn on a project that follows endearing characters as they wade through finding happiness, finding peace and ultimately finding love.

“The characters in gay cinema are typically very young men or all older men,” said Co-Producer and Director Charlie Vaughn. “This film shows the intergenerational friendships between gay men of all ages. A diverse audience will be able to identify with “Saltwater” and perhaps viewers will connect with characters that symbolize their own lives and experiences.”

Ian Roberts

Former Australian professional rugby player, actor and model Ian Roberts stars as Josh. At the height of his Rugby League career in 1995, Roberts came out as a gay man in “The Advocate” magazine. “Saltwater” is Roberts’ first time playing the role of a gay man. 

Kerr and Roberts are joined by a prestigious cast that includes singer-songwriter Justin Utley (last seen in Denver performing at Denver PrideFest 2011), Bruce Hart as Rich, Will Bethencourt as Mike, Jonathan Camp as Shawn, Russell Dennis Lewis as Collin, Brent Henry as John and John Stokkeland as Tom.

Justin Utley

“Saltwater” will illustrate an ocean of emotions as its captivating characters deal with the suicide of a close friend, try to find love as gay men when timing never seems to be right and how saltwater is everywhere; in tears, sweat and the sea. Filming is expected to occur at various locations in North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and San Diego.

“Saltwater” is a story that I really connect with,” added Vaughn. “The characters in this story remind me of people within my own circle of friends and the events, without giving anything away, really mirror my own experiences. I’m certain audiences will find resemblances of their own lives in the film as well.”

“I chose “Saltwater” as the first film in which I play a gay character because its content is something that’s very personal to me,” said Roberts. “It spoke to me in a way that no other script has done before.”

Ariztical Entertainment will distribute “Saltwater” in late 2012 after a multi-country film festival run.

Win tickets to SHAME, starring Michael Fassbender, this Friday at the Mayan Theatre

Opening in select cities - including Denver at the Mayan Theatre - this Friday, December 16 and starring Michael Fassbender's enormous penis (NSFW), SHAME is the story of a Brandon, a handsome and successful New Yorker who spends his days and nights navigating the reckless terrain of sexual obsession, on an inevitable path towards self-destruction.

Surrounded by a constant assault of beauty, glamour, and desire, he finds himself at a crossroads when his wayward sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) – comes to crash at his sleek Manhattan apartment.  As Brandon struggles to deal with his life of excess, his constant quest for numbness is an escape from both his present and his past.  SHAME provides a cinematically stunning snapshot of information-age disillusionment, and the struggle for human connection.

Director Steve McQueen’s distinctive, NC-17 vision of New York comes to life through an artistic crew that includes director of photography Sean Bobbit (HUNGER), editor Joe Walker (LIFE IN A DAY, HUNGER), production designer Judy Becker (WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, THE FIGHTER), costume designer David Robinson  (I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS) and composer Harry Escott (A MIGHTY HEART).

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of five passes for two and a copy of the movie soundtrack!

Hot sexy Michael Fassbender goodness below.

Michelle Williams on Marilyn

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

Logo TV sat down with Michelle Williams to talk about playing the iconic blonde bombshell in her new film My Week With Marilyn, which debuted in select theaters last Thursday!

Check it out below and check out the rave review of My Week With Marilyn by MileHighGayGuy's own Philip Doyle by clicking here.

New Gay Movie Alert: 'Beginners' Starring Ewan McGregor

Last night, Focus Features held a special screening of 'Beginners' at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York. In attendance were stars Ewan McGregor, Mélanie Laurent and Christopher Plummer, as well as writer/director Mike Mills. Other guests included Julianna Margulies, Samantha Mathis, Justin Vivian Bond, Caroline Reid (Pam Ann) and Miranda July (pictured below).

Beginners, which opens in select cities on June 3rd, is based on writer/director Mike Mills' real-life relationship with his father, who came out as a gay man late in life.

Cinema Pride Collection available tomorrow

On Tuesday, June 8th, Twentieth Century Fox and MGM Home Entertainment celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Gay Pride with The Cinema Pride Collection. The DVD set, sold exclusively on Amazon.com, features 10 movies including: 'The Children’s Hour,' (never saw it) 'La Cage Aux Folles,' (fun!) 'My Beautiful Laundrette,' (very good!) 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Extra Frills Edition,' (love it!) 'The Birdcage,' (also fun) 'Bent,' (super-intense!) 'The Object of My Affection,' (good) 'Boys Don’t Cry,' (sooo good!) 'Kissing Jessica Stein' (saw it on Logo the other night and it put me to sleep) and 'Imagine Me & You' (blurgh!).