Cross My Heart

By Frank Anthony Polito

One of the things I've always admired about Bloggers like my good pal Kenneth "in the 212" Walsh and Matt "Boy Culture" Rettenmund is their ability to influence people with what they post about. Long ago when I had dreams of being a famous actor I would say to myself: "When I make a movie, I'll hire The Flying Neutrinos to do the music." Or "When I go on Rosie O'Donnell I'll talk about my favorite Canadian band Spirit of the West -- and then everyone else in the US will know who they are, and they'll finally get the recognition they deserve!" Guess I've always prided myself in liking things that aren't considered "mainstream."

Like this little gem of a French film I first came upon back in the early '90s on Cinemax: La Fracture du Myocarde.

At the time, I was studying le francais in college, so I was into all things French. I'd seen Cyrano with Gerard Depardieu at the DFT in Detroit, along with Camille Claudel and Au Revoir Les Enfants. So when I came upon "Cross My Heart" I set the timer on the old VCR. (The English title, which is not particularly close to the original French -- "Broken Heart" would be more apt, I think -- comes from a scene in the film when all the children cross their heart as they make a mutual vow.)

The story focuses on a 12-year-old boy named Martin Gaudiner. When his mother dies unexpectedly from a broken heart (described sweetly in the film by one of the children as "a piece of her heart broke off"), Martin's friends worry that he'll be sent to live in an orphanage. Soon, they all band together to help take care of him in his mother's absence.

Sylvain Copans as Martin Gaudiner

Apparently -- and I didn't realize this until doing a little online research -- all of the children in the film, with the exception of Martin and Jerome (the towheaded boy above, who reminds me of Craig at that age), were actual students at the school where the movie was filmed. To be honest, I'm not surprised to learn this. Even though they're speaking in French, you get a sense in watching that the kids aren't the greatest actors. But there is something about their youthful innocence that makes the film even more endearing. The whole movie has a very "indie" feeling which I strongly prefer. Reminds me of other films of that time like Edge of Seventeen and Breathing Room.

Surprisingly, someone posted the entire film on YouTube just last month. You can check out part 1 below, and then there are 6 other parts. In total, it runs about 1 hour 40 minutes. 

Incidentally, there's a cute little song featured throughout the film called "Pincez-Moi" ("Pinch Me") that I believe was originally written for the film. It can be heard right near the opening, and again over the end credits. The version that runs over the end credits, sung by someone named Philippe Kelly, makes me weep every time I hear it <sniffle>

Also of note: according to Wikipedia, it seems that Steven Spielberg at one time had purchased the rights to make an American version of the film, but it never came to pass :-(

Party Like It's 1984

By Frank Anthony Polito

Just got around to watching the Carrie Diaries pilot, and wanted to write about it real quick. Now, it might be hard to believe that I wasn't a big Sex And The City fan (I often call it Sex IN the City), but when it first aired on HBO, we didn't have cable, so... But I've seen a few choice episodes ("Funky Spunk," Miranda's actor b/f who likes to get naked onstage, the one with, I don't know, some guy named "Big"), so it's not like I'm totally unfamiliar with the story. 

I was reading in the Post this morning that the CD pilot wasn't that well-watched. Only something like 1.6 million viewers. (If only I could get 1.6 million people to buy a copy of one of my books!) I posted the other day on Facebook about it, and I got a pretty 50/50 response from those who were for/against the concept of the new show, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch or not.

Suffice to say, I'm glad I did. I thought it was cute, for the most part. Though I will still list my complaints here. Call me whatever... I'd rather see an '80s-themed TV show called Band Fags! But maybe that's just me? Over the past few years, whenever I did approach anyone about creating a TV show, I was told that doing a "period piece" based on Band Fags! would NEVER happen as it's way too gay co$tly. Perhaps if the Carrie Diaries does succeed, it will open up the possibilities to other shows set in the Awesome '80s?

Now for my complaints... Other than the music -- which seemed like there was a different song playing in the background almost every five minutes -- the show itself didn't feel very 1980s. None of the characters; hairstyling was right. Carrie's hair is way too long and stringy, and where are the bangs? All the girls I knew back in Hazeltucy circa 1984 had bangs! And the guys... They all parted our hair straight down the middle. No guy would dare a side-part! And Carrie's dad should totally be rocking a porn-stache.

The fashion, I suppose, felt a little more spot on. A few of the more "popular" girls are seen wearing neon. But where are the parachute pants?! Yes, I suppose they did go out of style in 1983, but... And those gay guys dancing with Carrie at Indochine... Not that I didn't appreciate some hot men-on-men action (good for The CW to go there!) But both those dudes were way too muscular for 1984 standards! Just look at Rob Lowe, who featured prominently in this particular episode.

Back to the music, really quick... It was nice to hear Depeche Mode's "I Just Can't Get Enough" -- which is my all-time fave  by the band -- but might I suggest that if you're going to use Madonna's "Material Girl" and you can NOT get the rights, do NOT use a cover. Not sure where they got the version they used in this episode -- or the slow version of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" -- sung by a guy -- they used near the end. Thankfully, the original by Ms. Lauper eventually kicked in.

My only other "complaint" harkens back to the feeling of the show...  If you didn't know it was set in 1984 and you turned it on, it would look/feel like almost every other show airing on The CW today. Now this might be a good thing in that it says "things haven't changed much in 29 years," but I can't help but think it really says "we aren't willing to totally take a risk and be authentic."

Still, I'll most likely tune in next week to see what happens next...

Miss Needles If You're Scary

By Frank Anthony Polito

Got word today that the reigning America's Drag Superstar, Sharon Needles, is releasing her debut album, PG-13, on January 29th. Some of you have already heard this story, but...

I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Needles, aka Aaron Coady, when I was attending grad school at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh back in 2004-2006. I wish I could say we were BFFs. We only met on a few occasions, over drinks at my local Shadyside watering-hole, New York, New York, aka 5801. But I remember thinking she was super-fun, and we must have hit it off because I had her phone number in my old cellphone for a while -- too bad I've long since disposed of it :-(

I'm sure you're just dying to pick up your copy of Sharon's debut CD on 1/29. In the meantime, check out this sneak-peek trailer for the first single, This Club Is A Haunted House.

Zippity-Doo-Dah

By Frank Anthony Polito

Well, 2013 has gotten off to quite a start! And NOT necessarily in a good way... It's been a busy 10 days since returning from vacation, and frankly I've been in a bit of a funk. But things are starting to look up, and I'm hoping for some (quote-unquote) good news to share soon :-)

Last night I finished reading a lovely little memoir from 2001: A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. My good friend "Kenneth in the 212" forced it on loaned it to me a while back, and I admit that I was reluctant to dive right in. Not sure why.

Actually, I know the reason. "Who the hell is Haven Kimmel?!" I said to myself. Yes, I shamefully buy into the "only celebrities can write memoirs!" thinking that a lot of people have... Or am I the only one who believes this?

The book's subtitle is "Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana," but it might as well have been "Life in Hazeltucky" because the similarities to life in small town IN sound pretty much the same as small town MI. While she's a bit older (Kimmel was born in 1965), I could easily relate to a lot of the things she talked about in the memoir: references to '70s TV shows like Marcus Welby (I think -- don't have the book here in front of me as I type this), and the little electric organ with special keys for the chords (I had one of these, on which I learned to plunk out the melody to 99 Luftbalons and the Days of our Lives theme when I was a lonely kid in junior high).

As many of the reviews state, not much happens in this story of an atheist "oops baby" born into a Quaker family, but it's the way Kimmel turns a phrase that makes it such a good book. As I mentioned on my Facebook page, my favorite, laugh-out-loud line in this one is: "he wore the look men get in their forties when they've given up hope and plan to get even." 

I may have to steal that line if/when I ever sit down to pen my actual memoir!

Magic to Do in 2013

By Frank Anthony Polito

Happy New Year! Sorry for the absence of blog posts over the so-called Christmas Break. Craig and I went home for the holiday to visit family and see friends. All in all, the trip was rather relaxing and restful. Got to spend time with my nephews and niece, ate a ton of "crap" food, drank a lot of alcohol, watched TV with my mom and dad. Got Mom hooked on Downton Abbey -- which we watched with subtitles -- and my new favorite show thanks to Dad is American Pickers. 

On the day after Christmas, Craig and I went with my mom, sister, brother, and sister-in-law to see Les Miserables. I was a HUGE fan of the musical back in the day -- saw it a good half dozen times before I stopped counting. I was planning to post a review here, but... I will say that I enjoyed it. Even Russell Crowe's attempt at singing didn't bother me too much. Though I will always prefer Terrence Mann's rendition of "Stars."

Speaking of... Craig and I spent New Year's Eve in Cambridge, MA where we had the pleasure of seeing the 40th anniversary production of Pippin at the American Repertory Theater, featuring Mr. Mann, along with my good friend (and fellow Detroiter) Andrew Fitch, and my Carnegie Mellon classmate Patina Miller, Tony-nominee for her starring turn in Sister Act.

 Patina Miller and the cast of PIPPIN

Fingers crossed others will have the opportunity to see this circus-infused production, directed by Diane Paulus (HAIR, The Donkey Show)... Next stop Broadway? For now, check out the Boston Globe's review HERE.