14th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

After the first weekend of screenings at the 2008 Philadelphia International Film Festival, I'm off to a decent start but having watched the opening night film, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!, things can only get better. Gay Sequel revisits the same over-the-top comedy path as 2006's Another Gay Movie but goes down in flames faster and gets dirtier than the original. Only Jonah Blechman and Scott Thompson bravely return for the second outing, and help from RuPaul, Perez Hilton and Lady Bunny is not enough to lift this sinking mess out of the quicksand. Summer lovin' in Ft. Lauderdale will never be the same. My Score: 4.5 out of 10

La León, a somber film about a lone gay man who lives and works in the Argentine jungle is beautifully photographed in black and white and made me want to know more about the background and the sheltered people who live there. There is no gay culture here but there is homophobia. Though only 85 minutes long, the film takes its time and will pay off for those willing to devote their attention (unlike the two men sitting behind me who huffed and puffed and verbally blew out how impatient they were with the pacing – after five minutes.) My Score: 7.5

Based on the novel by lesbian author Sarah Waters, ("Tipping the Velvet") Affinity is an involving though uneven costume drama that ultimately satisfies. When an upper-class woman, Margaret (Anna Madeley), volunteers as a "Lady Visitor" at a nearby prison, she meets and falls in love with one of its inmates, Selena (the appropriately enchanting Zoe Tapper). As the story unfolds it's easy to get wrapped up in the desire for the women to meet outside of the prison and get swept up in the haunting and unexplainable mysterious happenings never expecting the approaching twist. With Logo as a distributor, it's likely to show up on the gay cable channel. My Score: 7.5

On hand for the Q&A after his film Mulligans was actor-screenwriter-producer Charlie David, who is as charming as he is hot. David stars as the college student who spends a summer with his best friend's family only to spark the interest of the BF's father. Comparisons to The Graduate are a stretch – no one is really seducing anyone and there is no alternate love interest to fall back on. The set-up is fine but as it tries to dig deeper into the ramifications of the tryst portions play out as expected and motivations are never explored as deeply as they should. Thea Gill ("Queer as Folk") plays the cheated-on wife who becomes more understanding than you could ever hope for. It all left me wanting more. If Afternoon Specials and movies of the week are your thing, then this might work for you. My Score: 6

Though there are multiple stories told in a lighthearted, non-linear style Spinnin' never is out of control. This Spanish delight is one of most enjoyable films I've seen in a while. Taking place in 1995 and focusing more on the characters rather than plot, there are many issues raised, such as love, marriage, parenting, HIV/AIDS, which affect both gays and straights equally. With the appearance of working with a low budget, this independent film benefits from the freedom of doing more with less and ultimately projects an infectious optimism that takes you to that happy place. My Score: 8.5

I was really skeptical about going to a movie where the little old ladies are being killed by a real estate agent so he could buy up the property, clean up the neighborhood and turn it into a hip gayborhood. But Boystown had a lot more laughs than expected and a lovable bear couple at its center trying to overcome mother-in-law problems. Boystown isn't just for cubs… My Score: 7.5

You don't have to go over the rainbow to find love because it just might be in your own backyard. This is a theme found in the Israeli film Antarctica, which has its characters searching high and low on the Internet and abroad hoping to make a match. And though their paths crisscross the web ultimately becomes untangled. Likable characters, good acting and smart directing choices combine to make this a comedy-drama that won't leave you out in the cold. My Score: 9