Dearie Awards 2009: Movie of the Year - A SINGLE MAN

Reverend was dumbfounded to discover in late November-early December various online articles and blog posts dismissing Tom Ford's gorgeous directorial debut A Single Man as having been "de-gayed" prior to its release. Most of these writers and bloggers hadn't seen the film, while I had and could attest that A Single Man (based on the landmark novel by Christopher Isherwood) isn't only the best gay-themed mainstream film since Brokeback Mountain, but also goes its predecessor a step further in that its multiple gay characters aren't self-loathing closet cases living hypocritical, double lives.

While George Falconer — the film's lead character beautifully brought to life by the duly-acclaimed Colin Firth — is depressed and contemplating suicide à la some of his maladjusted, homosexual cinematic predecessors, it isn't because he hates himself. George simply finds it impossible to continue living happily without his beloved partner of 16 years, who was tragically killed a few months prior in a car accident. He finds renewed hope, however, through a pair of younger gay men who represent a new, less repressed generation.

I don't know how A Single Man could possibly have been "de-gayed." Between the long-term same-sex relationship at the story's heart, Falconer's intelligent lecture to his college students on society's need to identify and persecute minorities, Ford's keen visual and fashion senses, and the film's downright erotic moments involving blue-eyed, skinny-dipping, strip-teasing Nicholas Hoult, A Single Man is not only the best GLBT movie of 2009, but one of the best films depicting our lives to date.

Honorable Mentions:
Similarly stylish and sexy, Little Ashes — which reveals the previously unknown romance between Spanish writer Federico García Lorca and surrealist Salvador Dalí — didn't get the wide release it deserved but will likely be embraced by gay viewers once it hits DVD later this month. And Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is an award-winning hit due in no small part to the insight and sensitivity of its openly gay director, Lee Daniels. Dedicated to "precious girls everywhere," more than a few gay men are appropriately counting ourselves included.

UPDATE: A Single Man is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Amazon.com.

By Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Dearie Awards 2009: Man of the Year - HUGH JACKMAN

Hugh Jackman is the obvious choice for Man of the Year because, well, he inspired a porn copycat named Huge Jackman.

We’re kidding, of course. Jackman is so beloved because he’s a gorgeous action hero who can also sing and dance, as evidenced by his smooth Oscar hosting this year. This year he also pleased fans everywhere by offering his film X-Men Origins: Wolverine to the “hometown” that earned the most votes. Tempe, Arizona won the honors and Jackman led the film's cast at a huge premiere. He ended the year starring opposite fellow Cinematic Crush Daniel Craig in the Broadway hit A Steady Rain. The superstar duo raised more than $1.5 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by literally selling the shirts off their backs each night. Oh, and let's not forget that he looked mighty fine in high definition courtesy of the Blu-rayfor Australia.

Hugh began his career on the Australian musical stage starring as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. He then conquered London’s West End when he played Curly in the acclaimed 1998 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (where he even made "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" sexy). It was his flamboyantly fabulous Tony-winning performance as Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz on Broadway that cemented his status as gay icon, not to mention his stylish (and high kicking) hosting of the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

If only all blokes were as charmingly multi-talented as Jackman, the world would be as spangly as a Peter Allen pantsuit!

Honorable Mentions:
As the dapper master of ceremonies for both the Tonys and the Emmys, Neil Patrick Harris was the host with the most in 2009. And sure, Ryan Reynolds battled Hugh in Wolverine and romanced Sandra in The Proposal, but it was a certain magazine cover that provided us with his most indelible image of the year.

By Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Dearie Awards 2009: Woman of the Year - JANE LYNCH

We’ve loved Jane Lynch since we were first blown away by her performance as butch lesbian dog trainer Christy Cummings in Christopher Guest’s Best in Show. We also loved her in A Mighty Wind, The 40 Year-Old Virgin and countless TV guest spots. Heck, we would have even loved her in Taxi Killer if we knew what that film was. This year, however, Lynch has burst onto the national consciousness as Sue Sylvester on Glee.

As Faculty Coach of the fictional Cheerios cheerleading squad, Lynch’s Sue is a tracksuit-wearing ball-buster who brings new meaning to the word “power mad”. As awesome as it is to watch Matthew Morrison turn a band of high school outcasts into Glee Club stars, we can’t keep our eyes off Lynch, the perfect nemesis, who received a Golden Globe nomination for her work. Every politically incorrect line out of her mouth is a gut-buster, and Lynch is the only actress around who can pull off the outrageous dialogue and still make you love Sue Sylvester.

The openly gay actress also had a pretty great year at the movies, the highpoint being her sublime performance as Julia Child’s sister, Dorothy McWilliams, in Julie & Julia. It’s another testament to Lynch’s talent and charisma that when she’s on screen, we actually tear our attention away from the brilliant Meryl Streep (last year's Dearie winner for Woman of the Year) as Child.

2010 promises to bring even more hilarity to Sue’s Corner on Glee, as Lynch has been teasing audiences with the possibility of Sue Sylvester singing! For now, we have to content ourselves with her rendition of "Baby Got Bacne" from Another Cinderella Story. For all you do, Jane, this Dearie’s for you!

Honorable Mentions:
The diminutive diva known as Kristin Chenoweth was everywhere this past year, charming everyone (including Emmy) along the way. And 2009 was Sandra Bullock's year, with two hit movies (The Proposal, The Blind Side) earning her two Golden Globe nominations and, maybe, her first Oscar.

By Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Dearie Awards 2009: Stage Show of the Year - SHREK

The 2009 Broadway season boasted shows loaded with GLBT sensibilities: tap-dancing British boys, naked flower children, and, yes, even mothers throwing silverware and singing about being bipolar. However, the best of the best was Shrek The Musical. It touts one of the cleverest, funniest and most inventive scores to come along in a great while. Shrek shines as a beacon, not just for the GLBT community, but also for anyone anywhere who has ever been made to feel less than they are simply because they're different.

The book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (a wordsmith to keep an eye on) remind children of all ages that “what makes us special makes a strong” in the tune “Freak Flag”, a song which soars to the level of a pride anthem in which Pinocchio (John Tartaglia) cries “I'm wood, I'm good, get used to it!” Jeanine Tesori's musical score is inspired and runs a gamut of musical genres, with stellar orchestrations by Danny Troob and vocal arrangements by Tesori and Tim Viel. The cast does full justice to the brilliantly ridiculous material, with a breakout performance by Brian D'arcy James in the title role. Sutton Foster sparkles as Princess Fiona, especially in the song “I Know It's Today” in which she sings an inspired trio with her “younger selves.” And Christopher Sieber is a comical joy as Lord Farquaad. In an ever-increasing line of movie-to-musical shows, Shrek delivers the goods time and again and should stand as a model for the genre.

Honorable “Dearie” mentions go to the Tony Award winning revival of the surprisingly enduring hippie musical Hair and to the highly entertaining and sorely underrated 9 to 5 The Musical. Though not as polished as Shrek, Dolly Parton's freshman musical theater score boasts very singable and well-crafted songs, which bode well for her next proposed foray into musical theater: a show based on her life story. Parton is hopeful that Broadway diva (and Movie Dearest favorite) Kristin Chenoweth, will play the lead in the show.

National tours are planned for both Shrek and 9 to 5 and hopefully will be coming soon to a city near you. In the meantime, both shows' Original Cast Recordingsare available on CD. So, on your next road trip (possibly to some pride festival far-far away) have a great sing-along with one of these highly enjoyable new recordings and maybe even let your own freak flag fly!

By James Jaeger, Los Angeles based actor and resident television critic of Movie Dearest.

Dearie Awards 2009: New Stars of the Year - SCOTT EVANS & BRETT CLAYWELL

Soap operas have had gay characters before, but none have been as fully-realized as Oliver Fish and Kyle Lewis, the One Live to Live couple (collectively known as "Kish") expertly brought to life by Scott Evans and Brett Claywell.

Since their storyline began in early 2009, Llanview Police Officer Fish has come out on national TV, been ostracized by his conservative parents and, oh yeah, unknowingly fathered a secret love child (this is a soap after all). Meanwhile, his former college boyfriend Kyle has dodged blackmail charges, returned to med school and almost got married in a mass gay wedding. In the end, they found true love in each other's arms, culminating in a groundbreaking New Year's Eve love scene the likes of which daytime — or even primetime —television has ever seen.

Prior to their breakthrough roles on OLTL, Evans was primarily known as the gay brother of Fantastic Four's Chris Evans (god bless that gene pool), while Claywell had a recurring role on the teen sudser One Tree Hill. Now, with passionately loyal fans that follow the super couple's every move via live blogs, YouTube clips and tribute sites, the dynamic duo are certified soap studs ... and our New Stars of the Year!

Honorable Mentions:
Boldly going where William Shatner went before, Chris Pine brashly recreated the iconic character of James Tiberius Kirk in the new Star Trek, while Javier Beltrán brought poet Federico García Lorca to life in Little Ashes.

See more pictures of Scott Evans in The Back Room (NSFW).

Dearie Awards 2009: Television Show of the Year - GLEE

The title of Glee is most fitting, for that is exactly what we are filled with each time we watch it. Creator Ryan Murphy's musical dramedy — think Election meets High School Musical by way of American Idol — defied all the odds to become a pop culture sensation in 2009. And, if the continuing string of hit iTunes singles, four Golden Globe nominations (more than any other TV program this year) and a growing fan base of dearly devoted "Gleeks" everywhere are any indication, it is only just beginning.

Glee's deft mixture of relentless optimism and biting cynicism helped it overcome any false notes along the way (most infamously: that credibility-straining fake pregnancy storyline). It has also made instant stars of its multi-talented, Screen Actors Guild nominated cast, including Broadway faves Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, break out hunks Cory Monteith and Mark Salling, newbie Chris Colfer, and ace scene stealer Jane Lynch. To borrow the title of its most famous song: don't stop believing in Glee!

Honorable Mentions:
Forget all those wimpy Twilight vamps with their sparkly skins; for a real blood suckin' good time, true vampire fans tuned in to True Blood, Alan Ball's sexy and smart American gothic. And the year's best made for television movie was the Emmy Award winning, dramatized remake of the cult classic documentary Grey Gardens, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore as our beloved Beales.

Dearie Awards 2009: Documentary of the Year - OUTRAGE

Filmmaker-agitator Kirby Dick has turned his probing camera on increasingly sizable targets. He took on predatory Catholic priests in 2005's Oscar-nominated Twist of Faith and the Motion Picture Association of America's secretive ratings board in his follow-up, This Film Is Not Yet Rated. With Outrage, Dick names members of Congress and other US politicians who have been living closeted gay lives while supporting and/or passing legislation against the GLBT community.

A bit more balance would have been helpful in the final film (which makes its DVD debutJanuary 19) but Dick's approach, employing equal parts journalistic skill and righteous anger, is undeniably effective. With Dick's filmmaking technique continuing to improve, his will no doubt become an even more powerful voice in the fight for freedom from oppression, wherever it exists. Which bastion of enduring hypocrisy will be next? The US Armed Forces? Network television? The Vatican? They had best beware of Kirby Dick!

Honorable Mentions:
My personal favorite documentary of 2009, After the Storm, played several film festivals but hasn't yet gotten a theatrical release. This shouldn't stop readers from checking out this inspiring saga of a group of New Orleans youth staging a production of Once on This Island in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction. Learn more, including where the film might be available for viewing in 2010, at the film's official website. Also theatre-based and inspiring was Every Little Step, about the evolution of the enduring musical A Chorus Line. Both docs are potent reminders of how theatre, film and the arts can be truly transformative for local communities and our culture at large.

By Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Movie Dearest Proudly Presents: The 3rd Annual Dearie Awards!

Yes, it's that time of year again, time for some awards that are even gayer than the Tonys: The 3rd Annual Movie Dearest Awards!

The "Dearies" honor the best and brightest of film, television and theater as covered here on Movie Dearest, and this year myself and my fellow Men on Film — Chris Carpenter, Neil Cohen and our newest contributor James Jaeger — are excited to announce some changes for the 2009 festivities.

First, instead of giving you all the goods in one day, we're prolonging the suspense by announcing the winners one a day for the next week. And, since there was so much to love in the past year, we're also naming, for the first time, the honorable mentions in each of our categories — Stage Show, Television Show, New Star, Woman, Man and Movie of the Year. Plus, we are adding a brand new category, Documentary of the Year, which will be announced later today.

So stay tuned ...