The gentleman in the pictures below struck me as one of the handsomest, sexiest, most powerful men I had ever seen. My first thought was that he looked like a big, burly, scary, hot typical bodyguard. If I ever decide to pursue my pop-star career this is the guy I would hire to protect me, teach me how to use a sword, and carry me out of the club when an overzealous fan gets too randy. I was just THIS close to bursting into a rousing rendition of "I Will Always Love You" right there on 43rd street. Anyway, I took my spot within picture-taking distance and began to snap away and luckily I got a variety of poses. I have suspicions that he was aware that I was taking pictures of him. Why else would he strike such typical male model poses as "checking the watch," "pointing at something," and of course "Blue Steel."

What gay boy hasn't dreamed of having the magical ability to make anyone and everyone gay with the power of his mind? In Were the World Mine openly gay and closeted thespian Timothy is coerced into starring in the musical version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by his ethereal earth mother teacher despite his reluctance to out himself in such a way at his all boy's school. While rehearsing his songs Timothy discovers that his singing has the ability to turn people gay and he initially takes full advantage of this ability until it begins to spiral out of control and take over the city. Conflicted after his jock crush finally reciprocates his feelings but knowing these actions are not genuine (or are they?), Timothy searches for a solution to this problem. Competent actors, most notably The Log Lady from Twin Peaks, and strong vocals carry the film along, but long periods of little action often stop the film dead in its tracks. The idea is certainly wish fulfillment at its best but I only wish this movie wouldn't take itself so seriously. Additionally the sound editing for the film was all over the place spiking high during musical numbers and then falling into incomprehensible baritones during dialog often made it difficult to follow the character's motivation. Worth a watch for the musical numbers, powerful vocals and cute boys, but sadly this film didn't quite hit the mark it intended.

By now we all know what to expect from romantic comedies such as this: fabulous fashions, picture perfect sets right out of a design catalog, over-acting (evident even on the poster) and predictable happy endings. I know I'm not dropping any spoilers by saying that Isla Fisher (Mrs. Borat herself) gets the guy, a great job and lives happily ever after. The ending is never why we watch movies such as Confessions of a Shopaholic, rather the journey of the protagonist for us to gleam advice on how to succeed without really trying. If romantic comedies in the last 10-20 years have taught us anything it's that you have to be duplicitous, deceitful, and devious in order to get everything you want out of life and Isla Fisher does these dastardly deeds with aplomb. You won't find any gems in the writing or execution of this movie, but Fisher is adorably likable and born to play these rolls. If you're in the mood for mindless drivel which doesn't cause you to think then this movie is perfect for you.

The greatest thing about summer in New York is that people in general tend to wear far less clothing.

The Pride Parade was insane yesterday, with man floats that were there just for the publicity. As my friend Jonah said, "a Fresh Direct van with 2 balloons taped to it does not a pride float make."

My friend Christopher brought Blowup over recently because we were all excited to see it again. I had seen it when I was about 12 years old and I remembered the beautiful colors, vivid imagery, and fabulous '60s fashion as a main reason for my homahsexallity. What I didn't remember is how completely pointless and rambling the movie was. The plot of an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances (i.e. murder) is certainly not new but this movie may be one of the originals before they actually knew how to execute such a story properly. David Hemmings, most notably of the classic Barbarella, plays a narcissistic fashion photographer with nothing but art and pussy on the brain. When snapping pictures in a park one day he snaps photos of a young and beautiful Vanessa Redgrave who angrily demands the film. Considering my "Subway Hottie Series" I could relate to this portion of the story but once the murder mystery begins and Hemmings spends most of the time wandering around a club, buying a propeller from an antique store, and watching mimes "play" tennis the movie lost me. The art direction and set design in the movie were stellar and it's worth viewing for those aspects alone as the entire movie looks like it was filmed in an Urban Outfitters, but story-wise this film is seriously lacking especially when it comes to an ending. For a much better alternative check out the related Blowout starring John Travolta or Dressed to Kill with sex kitten Angie Dickinson.

Since this weekend is New York City Pride I wanted to offer a few pictures of subway hotties who are both hot, gay and committed to equality. This tall drink of water (right) was at the Marriage Equality Rally last month and he caught my eye. Not only was he there to promote marriage equality and equal rights for all, but he looked good doing it. His friend with the "don't have to tie 'em shoelaces" hair on the right whose face is slightly obscured happened to be riding the same subway as me recently and I recognized him instantly. I showed him the pictures on my iPhone and I e-mailed him telling him the photos of him and his friend.

The gentleman (below) is a prolific bear in the community and organized this weekend's bear pride booze cruise around Manhattan. He lives right across the street from my old office where I would see him on the street walking his adorable dog daily. We've spoken once or twice but mostly he's just fun to look at.

This young man (below) was at the California Supreme Court Proposition 8 Ruling Protest last month and I had to snap a picture based on his flawless skin alone. You can work hard to promote equality but that doesn't mean you have to neglect your skin. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!


Lastly this guy (left) caught my attention as I was coming home from work recently. He had a perfectly manicured beard and enviable hair that I would kill for. His eff me scuffed army boots and camo shorts sandwiched those strong calves but when my eyes moved upward I noticed that his t-shirt said "Gay Marriage Now! Repeal DOMA." Sometimes looking good is the best way to get your point across.

True, gay Pride events often degenerates into a series of "Twinks and Their Admirerers" floats but don't forget the real reason Pride parades still exist: as a way to say that you are not ashamed of the way you were born and to come together in unity towards full equality. Twinks, bears, chasers, otters, Chelsea guys, chubs, wolves, polar bears, daddies, gay nerds, etcetera. No matter what your gay clique get out and show that you are proud of who you are.

As I personally suffer from debilitating coulrophobia (fear of clowns), I was intrigued by this movie when I saw it on the shelf of my local heartless, rapidly dying video rental facility which shall go unnamed. However the crew over at Night of the Living Podcast have bashed this film for so many years that I went in expecting the worst. Perhaps Mad TV had it right when they brought up the idea of lowered expectations because it wasn't really as painful as they had led me to believe. Don't misunderstand me, it was awful with stilted acting, laughable dialogue, and unbelievable motivation, but I didn't find it as offensive as The Spirit which was trying to be something it was not and would never be. Fear of Clowns focuses on Lynn Blodgett, an upcoming artist who specializes in painting pictures of evil clowns primarily for use in evil motels I assume. When Lynn starts getting stalked by a creepy, terrifying, and oddly hot clown she fears her childhood trauma is coming back to haunt her. I don't want to spoil the entire movie but suffice it to say people die and the identity of the killer is a mystery. The best part of the movie was the love interest played by the endearing and charismatic Rick Ganz who has a definite career ahead of him with the help of a little Rogaine. This is an ultra low-budget movie but as stated on the IMDB message boards, "you don't pay for plot, right?"

If you can't read the t-shirt from here it says, "Don't get too excited, I'm only the wingman." So I take that to mean he's like the hot girl they send out to show a little leg when hitchhiking and when a car stops her ugly friend runs out. Whatever it's a nice show while it lasts.

With what seems like an odd mix of actors, subject, director, and timing "Away We Go" snuck into the summer movie season like a chubby girl with a hairlip into a beauty pageant. Surprisingly this subtle film is wowing audiences and critics alike with it's endearing mix of chemistry, hilarity and emotion. John Krazinski of The Office and Maya Rudolph, most notably from Saturday Night Live play the kind of couple that is lacking from most romantic comedies; a couple who love and respect each other and don't feel the need to base their relationship on lies and deception. When Maya's character (Verona), becomes pregnant, and Krazinski's (Burt's) selfish, hippie parents relocate to another country, the couple set out on a trip to find a city with a support system in which to raise their baby. What ensues is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking journey into the world of what might become of the two main characters. With memorable performances from Allison Janney, as a loud-mouthed "cool" mom, Maggie Gyllenhaal, as the scariest kind of hippie there is, a hippie with money, and many more, Krazinski and Rudolph traverse this world of parenthood and family with humor, love and fears as they rely on each other for support. Rudolph turns in a surprisingly subtle and moving performance that she never had the chance to showcase in her previous performances. Krazinski is a very giving actor and matches every performer he works with in talent and charm and allows them to have their moments. When I left this movie I felt uplifted and hopeful which, in my opinion, is the sign of a truly amazing film. I can't stress strongly enough how quickly you should go see this film and how moving these character's journey turns out to be.

One time in grade school I told my teacher that I thought Keri Ferrigo's pig tales made her look like an actual pig in a community theatre production of Heidi. My teacher got very cross and reminded me of the time-honored adage, "if you can't saying anything nice, don't say anything at all." This practice has stayed with me through the years and I still try to follow this rule to this day. So I watched "The Spirit" recently........Yep. Sure did watch it.

Since I no longer work at the same office building I felt it was time to offer up this picture of this dude from my old office building. His name? Cutie Von Fauxhawk. You may have guessed but that name is made-up since I don't know his real name, only that he smokes Newports. We would often smoke at the same time and occasionally bum lights or cigarettes from each other but rarely pleasantries. I wish I had gotten a better picture to highlight his welcoming face and well manicured faux hawk (that's where the name came from) but I hope you can use your imagination to fill in the blanks on this cutie, and if you see him on the street say Fozzie says, "holla!" He won't know what that means but you should still say it.

As evidence that I am not solely a male-centric misogynist I offer you this young lady from the New York City MTA C-line subway train. I snapped her picture a while ago after being taken with her ethereal beauty and her intense focus on those pages she was carrying. From her full lips to her alabaster skin to her raven hair, this young lady epitomizes my opinion of female beauty. She actually looks like what I think people thought Winona Ryder looked like 20 years ago. If I ever make a movie about an artsy fartsy high school student who is the butt of a bet from some high school jocks (please don't steal this idea as I've been working on the screenplay for about 15 years), I would totally cast this girl. As you can see she is working hard to mask how attractive she actually is but the bulky coat and shoddily sewn patches on her jeans can't cover up her hotness anymore than glasses and a pony tail could mask Rachel Leigh Cook's. So as you can see I am an equal opportunity objectifier and one day I will be rich and famous for my movie idea.

Dismissed by most as a throwaway mockumentary about horror movies, or dismissed because most people have never heard of it, Behind the Mask:The Rise of Leslie Vernon shows a grad school documentary film crew as they follow an up and coming slasher through his latest reign of terror. Leslie Vernon has worked for years to build his mystique and create a mythos so that he can join the ranks of Jason Vorhees, Michael Meyers, and Freddy Krueger. From faking his death to planting evidence that link crimes to himself, Leslie is on the brink of his ultimate coup de gras. The documentary crew follows Vernon as he stalks his latest virginal "survivor girl" and rigs the farm house so that bodies will pop out on queue, items of defense will be useless and cars won't start when needed. A twist towards the end sends the films spiraling into a true horror movie and leaves the documentary aspect in the dust offering up some legitimate scares and comedic moments. The cast is very likable, most of all the title character of Leslie Vernon, and horror fans will be thrilled to see cameos from a few legends of the industry. Although not a perfect movie it is a must-see for fans of horror movies who will get the inside jokes about cliches of the genre.

One time at a party we were trying to decide which horror movie to watch. I voted for Slither while another guest kept pushing for The Evil Dead. I stated that Slither was gruesome, gory, and hilarious while Patrick said that Evil Dead was so retarded that you don't really even have to watch it. I told him "that's exactly what my parents said about my little brother but then he drowned in the pool." But I digress. The point is I have never been a fan of the Evil Dead movies or Sam Raimi finding them an uncomfortable combination of horror and slapstick. Now I may have to eat my words after seeing Drag Me To Hell, with its legitimate scares and creeping terror mixed with dropping anvils and talking goats. Drag Me To Hell has everything one could want in a movie from laughs to jump scares and made me leave the theater whistling a jaunty tune. I also stole an old Gypsy lady's umbrella because it was raining. What's the worst that could happen?

Rarely do I disagree with the professionals at Night of the Living Podcast in regard to horror movies, but I rented this movie based on their recommendation and can't see eye to eye with film guru Freddy on this one. Salvage starts off strong with a young student/gas station employee getting attacked in her home and waking up prior to the violence with the full memory of the events like a gruesome Groundhog Day. Unfortunately as the movie goes on it meanders and culminates in a "twist" ending not worthy of Tales From the Darkside. There are some legitimate scares and strong performances from non-professional actors, but that does not make up for the "whah huh?" ending. The Alicia Silverstone-esque star has a lot of potential as well as the film makers, but unfortunately this movie missed the target.

Like a beautiful flower Dolores Claiborne unfolds slowly until it reveals its full beauty. Bit by bit we see the story of Dolores and her mysteriously dead husband and employer unravel while her angsty daughter is back in town and bit by bit we discover the truth at the same time as Jennifer Jason Leigh. Kathy Bates turns in a solid performance that arguably rivals her turn in the other Stephen King adaptation Misery. This film was overlooked when it was released because people did not know what to do with it: "Is it a horror movie? No? But it's Stephen King? Is Jennifer Jason Leigh that dude on 'My Name is Earl?'" Luckily with time and clarity I was able to visit this film and thoroughly enjoyed viewing it like watching a full season of Desperate Housewives in a little over 2 hours. If you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend giving it a go with an open mind, ready for a true mystery.

This angelic underground-dwelling hipster caught my eye and iPhone camera today based on his casual, sexy hair and pin-striped shorts. I took several pictures of him from the first arm-crossed pose (left) to this aloof turn away (below).... To this shot where he told me off for taking his picture.

This certainly isn't the first time I've seen this Frank Darabont/Stephen King collaboration, but upon each viewing I notice something new. The scariest thing about "The Mist" isn't the poodle-size bugs, or the killer crab monster, or the pterodactyls, or the acid-webbed spider mons.....OK they're terrifying, but the aspect that gets me every time is the study of societal dissentigration in the face of fear. One character believes in the goodness of people and is put in her place when another character reminds her, "Yes, until you take away electricity and running water and schools. When those normalities are taken away they'll turn on each other in a heartbeat." I'm of course paraphrasing but Marcia Gay Harden's role as a Christian Fundamentalist with eschatological prophecisizing makes me shiver right down to the core. If you haven't seen it yet, please make a point to rent "The Mist" if for no other reason than the shocking finale.

This weekend I went to Fire Island for my birthday. Although we stayed in the old fogie section known as Seaview we did venture to gay ol' Cherry Grove for dinner and flirting. The gentleman on the right caught my eye because he reminded me of one of those chatty mannequins in the Old Navy commercials. "New board shorts for only $12. Anal sex sold separately!" The guy below was on the ferry with his wife or girlfriend but I snapped a picture of him because he is the epitome of a sexy schmo. The kind of guy who doesn't know how attractive he is and thinks he's fat. Low self esteem is so sexy.