Drugs, Anita and Legos

Having watched Milk several times now, I can't help wondering if there are history repeating parallels beyond Proposition 6/Proposition 8. Has anyone thought of Anita Bryant recently, or have we assumed she is completely defanged and living harmlessly in obscurity? Not according to this investigation by Gossip Boy.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy her 1979 opus Drugs Are Like That. It's really worth watching not just the opening above but also part 2 and the riveting part 3 finale. The surreal influences can be seen right off with the opening shower of drugs/Legos echoing the opening credits for Douglas Sirk's version of Imitation of Life. The child actors were clearly schooled by master class leader Edith Massey at the JWSDA (John Waters School of Dramatic Arts). There is an overarching sense of dread and clear a message that something wonderful might turn out to be horrible, or something that seems horrible might turn out to be great. Basically, the take away message is that no matter what you do in life you'll probably get screwed over. The overall aesthetic, however, most reminds me of Elevator Girls in Bondage, right down to the sound effects, acting, make-up, sets and Legos. And Anita and Rumi's portrayal of Maxine seem to be twins separated at birth.

Colour Me Something

Is it homophobic or self loathing to simultaneously laugh and wince at a hideous queen getting away with just shy of murder while sucking up pints of vodka? That was the queasy feeling I got about 2/3rds of the way through Colour me Kubrick this evening. I really didn't get a chance to discuss it in any detail with my non-date (okay a fig). It was at the 2/3rds point that the various tricks and over-acting seemed to come crashing back, though it almost redeemed itself in the final minutes with Ken Russell impersonating a man deluded into thinking he was Ken Russell throwing Jello in the air. And then there was just the thrill of cameos by Honor Blackman and Marissa Berenson. I'll sleep on it, but I think I will have long forgotten the film by the morning. It was just like a bottle of cheap champagne that is frothy, sweet and forgotten even before your head hits the pillow.