Venarde

A frank story of homosexual love and tragedy made 85 years ago, featuring such amazing things as a same-sex dance hall and a drag ball as background to dramatic scenes. It still packs a wallop, thanks to its purpose as an impassioned plea for justice and a wonderful central performance by the Conrad Veidt. Kino has just released this reconstructed version of about 50 minutes, based in large part on a print discovered in Moscow, with intertitles and a few stills telling the rest. It's a an effective drama and a fascinating history lesson. A good bit is still missing, but the most amazing things turn up, so maybe more of Anders als die Andern will as well. To have this much is wonderful.

A totally winning character study in which each of the three main characters has major troubles with trust and friendship. The stature of Fin, brilliantly played by Peter Dinklage, is the most obvious obstacle to "normality," but Patricia Clarkson's Olivia and Bobby Cannavale's Joe have their own less obvious limitations. Dinklage is astonishing and Clarkson and Cannavale are marvelous -- such emotionally raw and at the same time very funny performances are a total joy to watch. Three major supporting actors also do a great job. The movie doesn't know quite how to end, but that's a minor matter given the riches that come before the credits rolls. A unique gem.

Two young New Yorkers, each somewhat awkward in his own way, get to know in other over an evening that does not go as planned. Don't expect anything profound or moving. However, the two central performances are very appealing and Tori Spelling makes fun of her own annoying persona by singing campily and wigging out in a very funny scene in an all-night diner. Only the scene in the club goes on too long; an overall gentle sweetness, about middle-aged and physically ordinary gay men as well as young beauties, pervades. "What kind of a girl do you think I am?"