JugusGt 2 QQL± J u t « ^ 3 3
queer/indie/vanguard cinema, Christine
Vachon.)
But if it’s less assured and expansive than
Todd Haynes’ film, its seams sometimes show
ing in its reckless veering between the cerebral
and the intuitive, it also has less intellectual
weight to stagger under; there’s enough viva
cious pleasure and energy here to compensate
for occasional unevenness. Although there
have been better films released this year, there’s
unlikely to be another one this simultaneously
smart, fun and provocative.
T
he Meat Rack — a relic revived by Dennis
Nyback, Portland’s premier archivist of
grade-Z movies from stag to the mental-
hygiene films of the ’50s— is a historical curios
ity, but the real reason to see it is for its high
camp value. This was shot on a less-than-shoe-
string budget with nonexistent production val
ues, and its graphic depiction of sex both
straight and gay (and kinky) must’ve seemed
incredibly transgressive to anyone who wit
nessed it during its severely limited original
release in the pre-Stonewall ’60s.
When a young man decides he’s had it with
his small town and crummy home life with a
surly father (his irresponsible, adulterous mom
has left them high and dry), he runs away to
the big city of San Francisco. There, he experi
ences a disillusioning, degrading and explicitly,
thoroughly explored descent into loitering,
hustling and eventual out-and-out whoredom.
He rescues a nude female model from a lecher
ous photographer, and they fall in love.
Pretty in black
This G irl has no soul
by
O riana G reen
o here’s my bias: I’m a writer. I like to tell
stories. 1 like having stories told to me. I
want character development and clear
motivations. 1 want to see characters grow
and change, to learn from their adventures. I’m
also female, and true to type, I enjoy emotional
expression. I want to know how characters feel
about what’s happening to them.
Although there’s much to like about The
Girl, a first effort from director Sande Zeig, for
However, she’s forced to question their love
after a) they’re forced at knifepoint by two drag
queens to have sex for a homemade pom film
and b) she discovers him servicing an S/M
trick with the business end of a strap. Dis
traught, she runs into traffic and is killed, the
tragic result of Jimmy’s prodigal, curiously
exciting and again thoroughly, thoroughly
depicted waywardness.
Don’t go to see this movie alone; you’ll be
bored and insulted. But do go to see it with any
friends you can round up who will appreciate
the fact that 75 percent of The Meat Rack is
exploitative verging on softcore, while the rest
is a cheesy “morality play”—complete with
ultra-soft-focus flashbacks to our protagonist’s
warped childhood— warning against the sup
posed dangers of running away from home,
wearing alluringly tight clothing and whoring
it up with drag queens.
To make the evening a complete trash
orgy, Nyback also will be running original
theatrical trailers for Valley of the Dolls, One
Million B .C . and Muscle Beach Party along
with the Lenny Bruce cartoon Thank You
Mask Man, a vulgar yet sweet parable about
the covert homosexuality of the Lone Ranger
and Tonto. j n
3 ^ y ( f W
thirty men, one woman who knew how to ask
for directions, and a dog named Seaman, embarked on
America's most successful adventure. The Corps of Discovery
changed America forever.
33^
Montana Gay River Float
will tak^you through the same scenic White Cliffs section
of the Missouri River explored by William Clark, Meriwether
Lewis and company. This four-day adventure is fully-guided,
fully-equipped and full of fun.
H edwig and the A ngry I nch opens Aug. 3 at
Cinema 21. T he M eat R ack opens Aug. 3 at
Clinton Street Theater.
Float September 2-5. $1,200 include* all meals, camping & river equipment
and one-night's stay at a historic gay-owned bed & breakfast. Fifty percent of
proceeds to benefit PRIDE, Montana's GLBT advocacy organization
(www.gaymontana.com), creating political change for Montana's gay and
lesbian community.
C hristopher M c Q uain is a Portland writer and
filmmaker who has at least one angry inch.
me it fails on all of the above points. For a low-
budget film, she does make good use of her
seedy side of Paris settings, which fit her
uneven attempt at neo-noir.
Her tone is stylish and tough-edged, and
the script supports that viewpoint with clipped
dialogue; there just isn’t enough of it to sustain
a story line. Many scenes consist of only a few
sentences spoken by one person.
Agathe de la Boulaye portrays a boyish 20-
something butch-in-training, and her brunette
charms might cause some hearts to flutter.
She’s smitten with the long-lashed lovely title
character (Claire Keim), who takes her home
the first time she asks—but then tells her this
was strictly an isolated incident. (Only one
character has a name, the butch’s black girl
friend, Bu Save, who seems wildly tolerant of
her gal pal’s new obsession.)
Our young stud melts when the Girl
demands of her, “Tell me those words that no
one’s ever told me.” Plenty of passion and bare
skin ensue, but without a lot of context. We
never really learn much about anyone in this
story, making it difficult to give a fig about
what happens to them. In fact, the numerous
sex scenes are scantily clad with story, making
this at times feel more like soft lesho pom
made for straight guy pervs.
Even the butch complains about that: “She
never asks about my life; she doesn’t know any
thing about me. When I’m not with her I stop
existing for her altogether.”
But she doesn’t let that cool her ardor,
and— surprise, surprise— the Girl relents. Then
the story turns dark and violent with a silly sin
ister subplot about some gangsters, and the
ending is just plain vapid.
Yes, there are worse ways to while away 85
minutes than watching attractive women make
love, but it’s a shame all that passion couldn’t
have been in the service of a better story. For
me, every great movie starts and ends with a
good story—without that it’s just photography
and special effects. JH
Space is lim ited-call now for itinerary & details:
Missouri River Canoe Company 800-426-2926.
Tickets Now On Sale!
B eauty
B east
T% A N D TH E
B R O A D W A Y S S M A S H
H IT M U S IC A L
2 Weeks Only!
August 15-26
KELLER AUDITORIUM •
SW 3rd A Clay
Call
r e i s g m
T
n t ( 503 ) 790-ARTS
or (503) 241-1802 Mon Frl Sa 5p
r o d i
i * \ i> o r i n i
r n t s i
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À Delta
m'A KJ°3
Tickets available at all licketM aster locations Including Portland Opera
Groups (20 or more): (503) 241-1407
www p o r tla n d o p e ra org • www bro a d w a y se r ie s c o m • www disneyonbroadway com
T he G irl opens Aug. 10 at Fox Tower Cinemas.