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 a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

Norbert Weisser co-stars as Erich in Alan Pakula's 1978 hit "Midnight Express."Our journeys into classic cinema has allowed us to explore the beginnings of the gay best friend trope and coding during the Hayes Code. Once the code was abolished, the late 60s and 70s were able to go wild. While sex, swearing and violence began to populate films, the depiction of gay people stayed relatively the same. Movies were able to actually define characters as LGBTQ+, but they were often villains or would meet a tragic fate. Sympathetic LGBTQ+ characters were tough to come by.

At first glance, the brutal prison drama Midnight Express would not seem like the place to find a nice gay best friend. But Erich (Norbert Weisser) stands out as a light among the considerable darkness. Erich acts as the confidant and guide for our protagonist,...

Giancarlo Esposito is a dual Emmy nominee this year, landing a second consecutive Drama Supporting Actor nod for his work on “Better Call Saul”; he is also up for Drama Guest Actor for Disney Plus’ “The Mandalorian.” For his “Better Call Saul” bid, he has submitted the seventh episode of the fifth season, “Jmm.” Esposito reprises his iconic role from “Breaking Bad,” Gus Fring: charming head of fast food chain “Los Pollos Hermanos” by day, menacing drug boss by night. His submitted episode sees his character plot moves in the drug war with the Salamanca family.

In “Jmm,” Gus is at a board meeting presenting his new “Spicy Curls,” which he describes as “the curly fries with the South Western kick.” They are a big hit with Peter (Norbert Weisser), the CEO of the parent company. Back at his hotel room, he puts on the “Do Not Disturb” sign and...

The following contains spoilers for Better Call Saul season 5.

In Better Call Saul season 5 episode 7, “Jmm,” Gus Fring takes a little trip to Houston, Texas. He’s not there to see the rodeo at Reliant Stadium (now Nrg Stadium), though he does presumably check that out. He’s not even there to share the good news about El Pollo Hermanos’ superb sales reports, though he does that too.

No, Gus heads to Houston to meet with two of his Madrigal Electromotive accomplices, Peter Schuler (Norbert Weisser) and Lydia Rodarte-Quayle (Laura Fraser) about setbacks on a project very important to Better Call Saul and the larger Breaking Bad universe altogether. Yes, after being hinted at previously, the enormous German conglomerate Madrigal Electromotive (or Madrigal Elektromotoren GmbH in the original German) is now fully a part of this story. Here is why that’s important and what it might mean for the show going forward.

Waterworks some nights at 11. This one is from the vaults from the first season. But it's worth a revisit as the film is currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.

I've always been a little bit a lot perplexed by the famous shower scene in Alan Parker's Midnight Express (1978). I'm not exactly sure why it's in the movie. Midnight Express strongest asset is arguably its expressive physicality and gritty tactile quality; you feel like you're right there in the grotty hellish Turkish prison, sweating and suffering along with Billy Hayes (Brad Davis). But the sexual vibes coming off of the movie are at times unfathomable. Is it gay? Is it bi? Is it straight? Is it just horny? Or is its ambiguous eroticism simply a by-product of casting a star as carnally charismatic as Brad Davis in the lead role?

As warm up to the famous shower scene we get...

Stars: Megan Ward, Peter Billingsley, Seth Green, A.J. Langer, Bryan Dattilo, Norbert Weisser, John DeLancie, Don Stark, Humberto Ortiz | Written by David S. Goyer | Directed by Albert Pyun

Released at the height of the straight to video techno-horror phase that rode in on the coat-tails of The Lawnmower Man and also saw the release of films such as Evolver and Brainscan, Arcade was, I think, unfairly overlooked, at least in the UK, at the time due to poor distribution, a lack of big-name stars (unlike Brainscan which had a post-T2 Edward Furlong, the biggest stars in Arcade were A Christmas Story’s Peter Billingsley and St:tng’s John De Lancie), and effects that – even though they were apparently redone after the film was completed – did not compare to other CGI-heavy films at the time.

Arcade tells the story of Alex Manning (Megan Ward), a troubled teenager whose mother committed...

Director Albert Pyun tries his hand at this latest adaptation of the Lovecraft classic. Morgan Weisser star of other Pyun movies including Bulletface (2010) and Infection (2005) leads a small but experienced cast that includes his father Norbert Weisser horror fans will remember him from his brief but memorable role as the crazy Norwegian in The Thing (1982) and Crystal Green (who also starred in Bulletface). Although made on a shoestring budget the few who have seen H.P. Lovecrafts Cool Air seem to like it. A veteran director and seasoned actors will hopefully make this adaptation work. We will see.

We got the first word on director Albert Pyun's adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's Cool Air at the end of last week, and to kick of this week, we have a look at the brand new key art for the film.

Cool Air will be debuting at the Estepona International Film Festival in September, and rest of us here in the States should be able to see it soon afterwards via Wrekin Hill, who bought North America rights to the film.

Writer Cynthia Curnan and Pyun have re-imagined the story with a contemporary but no less creepy setting. Cool Air stars Morgan Weisser, Wendy Phillips, Jenny Dare Paulin, Crystal Green, and Norbert Weisser; and the editing is by Glen Berry.

You can check out the opening credits sequence below, but first here's the 1926 short story's synopsis courtesy of Wikipedia:

The story is set up as the narrator's explanation for...

Another H.P. Lovecraft adaptation is headed our way, this time from the man for whom "rest" is a dirty word, director Albert Pyun, who is putting the finishing touches on Cool Air, which will be debuting at the Estepona International Film Festival in September.

The rest of us here in the States should be able to see Cool Air soon afterwards via Wrekin Hill, who bought North America rights to the film.

Writer Cynthia Curnan and Pyun have re-imagined the story with a contemporary but no less creepy setting. Cool Air stars Morgan Weisser, Wendy Phillips, Jenny Dare Paulin, Crystal Green, and Norbert Weisser; and the editing is by Glen Berry.

You can check out the opening credits sequence below, but first here's the 1926 short story's synopsis courtesy of Wikipedia:

The story is set up as the narrator's explanation for why a "draught of cool air" is the most detestable thing to him.

Albert Pyun's long gestating Tales of an Ancient Empire has been picked up for distribution by Liongate, but apparently the version we'll all be able to see starting January 24th isn't exactly the director's own vision for the film so he's decided to release the first 18 minutes of his cut for comparison's sake. Check it out!

Synopsis:

The sword and sorcery epic, written by Cynthia Curnan, tells the story of a princess forced on a quest to recruit the greatest warriors of the ancient world to save her kingdom from a demonic sorceress. But the odyssey to find them reveals a secret past for all.

Michael Pare plays "Oda", father of Kevin Sorbo's character - Aedan - as well as Victoria Maurette's Kara (via Whitney Able's Xia - the vampire sorceress). He also fathers Princess Tanis (Melissa Ordway) and Rajan (Janelle Taylor) amongst others. The film...

It's been making the festival rounds lately, and in advance of its release around the world soon, an international trailer has hit the Internet for Albert Pyun's long awaited Tales of an Ancient Empire, and of course we have it for you right here!

The trailer was edited by Daniel Gutierrez, and as Pyun said on his Albert Pyun Movies Facebook page, "I really like Daniel's creative point of view!" Check it out below and see if you agree with him.

Synopsis:

The sword and sorcery epic, written by Cynthia Curnan, tells the story of a princess forced on a quest to recruit the greatest warriors of the ancient world to save her kingdom from a demonic sorceress. But the odyssey to find them reveals a secret past for all.

Albert told us previously that Michael Pare plays "Oda", father of Kevin Sorbo's character - Aedan - as...

Many things are happening for Albert Pyun's latest film Tales of an Ancient Empire, and they are all good. The flick has landed some new players, some new eye candy, and even some solid distro. Read on for the details.

In terms of casting Pyun dropped the following on us:

Michael Pare plays "Oda", father of Kevin Sorbo's character - Aedan - as well as Victoria Maurette's Kara (via Whitney Able's Xia - the vampire sorceress). He also fathers Princess Tanis (Melissa Ordway) and Rajan (Janelle Taylor) amongst others. The film is about how Oda's womanizing has created both the extreme good and evil in the world. And how parental abandonment colors each character's life and behavior. And Sorbo's character - Aedan - has a child with his half-human/half-vampire half-sister Kara - Hekate - played by newcomer Cazzy Golomb. Hekate narrates Tales and becomes one...

One of the earliest (and best) cinéma-vérité films to cross our desks was Albert Pyun's 2005 one-take wonder Infection, which was renamed Invasion (review here) for its DVD release, so you can bet our ears perked up today when we learned a sequel is on its way!

Here's what director Pyun told us, "We begin shooting Infection (aka Invasion) 2 in Nevada on March 28. The original cast is back (Jenny Dare Paulin, Norbert Weisser, Scott Paulin, Morgan Weisser, Alan Abelew) to continue the struggle against the spread of infection."

Pyun adds that additional casting is being done by Norbert Weisser and includes a much bigger cast and much more action and creatures than the original film.

He continues, "Again, it will be a single unedited shot that will follow the infection into a small town. It will be set in the time period between 1:40 Am (when the first film ended) and 3:00 Am.

Shakespeare's "King Lear," featuring alternating star turns by Dakin Matthews and Harry Groener; Rogue Machine's searing family drama "Four Places"; and Fountain Theatre's powerful "The Ballad of Emmett Till" are among the most-honored productions in the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 42nd annual awards nominations, announced today. The annual citations salute excellence in L.A.-area theater productions during 2010. Winners will be announced during a ceremony at Burbank's Colony Theatre on March 14. Joining the aforementioned shows in contention for the coveted production award are the Fountain's "Opus," the Actors' Co-op's "Wit," and two world premiere offerings: Del Shores' "Yellow" (Coast Playhouse) and Tom Jacobson's "The Twentieth-Century Way" (Theatre @ Boston Court). Shores' "Yellow" has also been named as the recipient of the Ted Schmitt Award for outstanding world premiere script, accompanied by a $1,000 award from Samuel French, which also extends an offer to publish it.Among other special recipients...

"Alternate Realities" from Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada, is a new, classic science fiction film collection, to be released on several DVDs, beginning April 6.

In director Aaron Lipstadt's 1982 feature "Android", starring Klaus Kinski, Bree Howard and Norbert Weisser:

"...Somewhere on the outskirts of deep space, orbits 'Ulz-53', a forgotten research station manned only by intense scientist 'Dr. Daniel' (Kinski) and his lonely android assistant 'Max 404' (Don Keith Opper). When three escaped convicts-including a beautiful woman- arrive aboard, Dr. Daniel finds the missing element to his outlawed experiments while Max discovers his own forbidden urges. Can a turned-on robot turn off his human insticnts and still get down to earth?..."

In "Astro Boy Greatest Astro Adventures", directed by creator Osamu Tezuka :

"...In the first ever 'Astro Boy' series created in full color, brilliant robot engineer 'Doctor Boynton' loses his son 'Toby' in an accident. The dedicated.

Alternate Realities from Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada, is a new, classic science fiction film collection, to be released on several DVDs, beginning April 6. In director Aaron Lipstadt's 1982 feature Android, starring Klaus Kinski, Bree Howard and Norbert Weisser: "...Somewhere on the outskirts of deep space, orbits 'Ulz-53', a forgotten research station manned only by intense scientist 'Dr. Daniel' (Kinski) and his lonely android assistant 'Max 404' (Don Keith Opper). When three escaped convicts-including a beautiful woman- arrive aboard, Dr. Daniel finds the missing element to his outlawed experiments while Max discovers his own forbidden urges. Can a turned-on robot turn off his human insticnts and still get down to earth?..." In Astro Boy Greatest Astro Adventures, directed by creator Osamu Tezuka : "...In the first ever 'Astro Boy' series created in full colour, brilliant robot engineer 'Doctor Boynton' loses his son 'Toby' in an accident. The dedicated.

April Showers

I've always been a little bit a lot perplexed by the famous shower scene in Alan Parker's Midnight Express (1978). I'm not exactly sure why it's in the movie. Midnight Express has, at its best, an expressive physicality and a gritty tactile quality. You often feel like you're right there in the grotty hellish Turkish prison, sweating and suffering along with Billy Hayes (Brad Davis). But the sexual vibes coming off of Midnight Express are at times unfathomable. Is it gay? Is it bi? Is it straight? Is it just horny? Or is its ambiguous eroticism simply a by-product of casting Brad Davis in the lead role?

As warm up to the famous shower scene we get a montage detailing the friendship of Billy and Erich (Norbert Weisser) a fellow prisoner. They've been in this hellhole for years. They do yoga together. They bathe each other. They even...