ABOVE: John Travolta in the shower circa 1970s could have sold people just about anything,
ABOVE: John Travolta in the shower circa 1970s could have sold people just about anything,
ABOVE: This is fascism.
Bonus Track, a new queer coming-of-age rom-com from director Julia Jackman, hits all the right notes — and unless you're stone-hearted, will make your heart sing just at a time when we could all use it.
Based on a story by screenwriter Mike Gilbert and actor Josh O'Connor (who makes a hilarious cameo), the film follows George (Joe Anders), a high schooler who longs to be appreciated for his musical talent, and who is such an unpopular nerd he hasn't even gotten around to figuring out how to handle being gay.
School is disrupted when Max (Samuel Small), the famous son of a pair of iconic, divorcing musicians, arrives for class — his mom has relocated to town, seeking a refuge from the paparazzi.
Max's appearance comes right after George has received dismal grades and a dire prediction for his future from teachers and his dad (Jack Davenport), though his mom (Alison Sudol) sees hope, and wisely points out, “It's who you know,” even if you don't know them quite yet.
George is flabbergasted when Max singles him out and vibes on the simple beat that has driven him to distraction all year, the beginning of a musical partnership and, in spite of peer pressure, a first-love story.
Things take a turn when the tabloid press rears its ugly hear, and the boys have to decide where their hearts lie.
This sort of romance has been done before, but it's done awfully well here, with achingly innocent performances by the leads, an innovative, beats-driven structure and engaging subplots involving George's squabbling parents and his queer teacher (Susan Wokoma).
(P.S. Prepare to be jolted, but it takes place in 2006, making it a period piece. Hey, 19 years is a long time ago — keep in mind that American Graffiti, from 1973, was about 1962!)
Bonus Track is on Cable VOD and Digital HD platforms from today.
ABOVE: Chad Douglas wasn't the only sexy porn star named Chad in the '80s.
BELOW: Keep reading for young Vin Diesel, new trans movie at SXSW and more ...
ABOVE: Don't sleep on James Spader as a sex symbol.
BELOW: Keep reading for perfect Cooper Koch, Trump/Vance/Musk/West are pro-racism and more ...
I keep a crazy-long list of every (!) star age 80+ HERE; I've lovingly maintained it for nearly a dozen years. It's crazy if you glance at it because all the pink represents famous names who have died in the interim. Fame, and life, are fleeting!
For fun (?), here is a list of the 40 oldest stars currently. It is somewhat heartening that there are so many nonagenarians that I couldn't include anyone under 95.
Some notes:
I'm trying to avoid a list of EVERY famous figure, so I don't include Noam Chomsky and Warren Buffett, for example. I'm avoiding politics and business. These people are actors, musicians, dancers and directors.
I also skipped over some names whose ages would qualify them, but whose work — I subjectively think — is comparatively minor. Though I don't doubt there will be some people on the list even 50-year-old fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood might not know offhand, most of those are people with, nonetheless, some kind of connection to an iconic project, some unique distinction.
Finally, this will be a living — or dying? — list. I'll update it with others as these people depart.
Let's get this going while all 100 are with us ... and please comment how many you could ID from their names alone: