Movie Review - Outrage (2009)

Directed by Kirby Dick

The crux of this film, as was stated in the pre-film introduction by a former professor at the University of Delaware, is whether the outing of gay politicians by other gays should be considered gay-bashing in the homosexual community. Should politicians who support legislation that is "harmful" to the gay community be outed if they are hidden deep in the closet?

Although the film does detail the story of the outing of Democrats Ed Koch and Jim McGreevey, the huge focus is on the Republican party. Granted, it's the conservatives that are more likely to vote against gay-friendly legislation, but it certainly comes off as more anti-conservative than anti-liberal (This was most evident to me in a completely unnecessary scene towards the end of the film that throws in tales of multiple gay teens who were killed...the only reason this segment is in the movie is to drum up sympathy and it made me angry). Still, even the Republican writing this must admit that there's something innately hypocritical about gay politicians constantly voting "no" on gay legislation.

Yes, the film criticizes my political leanings, but I'm the first to admit that the Republican party isn't perfect (although we're certainly more perfect than those nutjob liberals). It angers me when the Republicans team up with the Religious Right and allow religion to rule over everything. Have some balls, folks! Heck, I'm a religious guy, but isn't a staple of all religions some tenant of kindness? No need to be nasty against people that are "different" from you. I may not be pro-gay marriage, but I'm not gonna be nasty about it (note that I'm for legal unions for homosexuals, but not for the use of the term "marriage"...but enough about my political leanings...there's nothing like discussing politics to make people hate you...so I'm gonna stop).

The film, as a whole, moves along at a fairly quick pace. It doesn't really drag and it looks pretty good onscreen. Yes, it's evident that it's pushing an issue/side (and those interviews with the gay Log Cabin Republicans don't fool me into thinking it's really even-keeled), but it was surprisingly decent even if it didn't really bring anything new to the table.

The RyMickey Rating: B

A Book a Week - I Am America (And So Can You!)

Book Twenty-Nine of the Book-A-Week Quest

I Am America (And So Can You!)
by Stephen Colbert (2007)

I don't really watch The Colbert Report, but I'd certainly rather watch Colbert than Jon Stewart's mug on The Daily Show. If they must make fun of my peeps (that'd be us conservatives...and note, us conservatives are certainly hip enough to use the term "peeps"), I'd rather be made fun of by someone who's at least pretending to be one us.

Colbert's book is clever -- a manifesto, of sorts, detailing how his conservative America would look if all liberals understood the errors of their ways (I kid, I kid...sort of...).

I laughed aloud several times as he takes his conservative character to outrageous extremes. That being said, the book is about 100 pages too long. Halfway through, I was getting bored of his humor...it kind of felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. Sure, there were certainly bits and pieces in the 2nd half that were clever, but it just got to be too repetitive.

Overall, though, a funny book. As a young person with conservative leanings, I can honestly say that I laughed more than enough to recommend the book.

Aargh!

Don't get me wrong...I get the cultural significance of this election without a doubt...

...but is anyone else sick and tired of the nonstop love for a man who has done nothing except speak incredibly eloquently yet?  I mean, he's a smooth talker, but the concerts, Oprah screaming "in-aug-ur-ATION!" and telling me that "you can practically feel the whole country vibrating," the comparisons to Lincoln, Ruby Tuesdays staying open until midnight on Inauguration Day to "celebrate," Will.i.am and David Foster writing songs about "a brand new day in America" that will be "beautiful"(which really is just saying that the last eight years were like living in a trash dump)...

My immediate family knows that I haven't been a fan of W., but all the "buzz" surrounding the new guy makes me more conservative than ever before...

The New Hope hasn't done anything yet, people!