Category Archives: Recommendations

Coming to theatres tomorrow, Friday, August 3:
SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD

Director:
Matt Tyrnauer

Premiere:
Toronto 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Palm Springs, Rome, BAFICI, Provincetown

About:
The tell-all story of the man who catered to the sexual desires of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read:
Scotty Bowers is an unsung Hollywood legend, known for catering to the sexual appetites of celebrities – straight, gay, and omnivorous – for decades. Filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer captures Scotty in his 90s as he delivers the ultimate counter-narrative of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Prepare yourself for a different take on Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner… the list goes on. Tyrnauer’s portrayal has a touch of GREY GARDENS as Scotty copes with hoarder tendencies to uncover buried secrets.

Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, July 31:
TOMMY

Directors:
Erin Leyden and Gentry Kirby

Premiere:
ESPN (September 2017)

About:
The rise and fall of a heavyweight boxing champion.

This 30 for 30 project looks back at the troubled life and career of Tommy Morrison, who, as a young, up and coming boxer, was spotted by Sylvester Stallone and cast in ROCKY V. Within a few years of that spotlight grabbing opportunity, Morrison faced off against George Foreman, beating the legend during his comeback, and claiming the heavyweight title for himself. While this was short-lived, Morrison’s star was on the rise until he tested HIV positive in 1996, derailing his career and contributing to an addiction-fueled downward trajectory. Despite a somewhat unsympathetic subject, Leyden and Kirby effectively chronicle Morrison’s sad story, which included multiple denials of his HIV status before he finally succumbed to AIDS in 2013.

Coming to NYC’s Film Forum this Wednesday, August 1:
THE ATOMIC CAFE

Directors:
Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader, and Pierce Rafferty

Premiere:
Film Forum (March 1982)

Select Festivals:
SXSW 2018 (restoration premiere)

About:
A compilation of clips from the first decades of the nuclear era reveal an undercurrent of denial and anxiety.

I previously wrote about the doc here.

Coming to VOD tomorrow, Tuesday, July 31:
LARGER THAN LIFE: THE KEVYN AUCOIN STORY

Director:
Tiffany Bartok

Premiere:
Hamptons 2017

Select Festivals:
DOC NYC, Full Frame, Cleveland, Edinburgh

About:
A portrait of a too-soon-departed fashion world pioneer.

I previously wrote about the film for DOC NYC, saying:
Moving to New York City from small town Louisiana in the early 1980s, Kevyn Aucoin found acceptance as a gay man and success in the fashion world. Developing an often overlooked profession into an influential art form, Aucoin became the go-to makeup artist for – and fast friends with – supermodels and celebrities until his tragic death at the age of 40. Tiffany Bartok offers an intimate look at a legendary figure who made people beautiful.