I used to be in a lesbian chorus that had a gay male director. One evening before rehearsal, this incredibly talented Doctor of Music excitedly reported that he'd discovered a female singer that he thought we'd love: Patti Smith. I hope our collective inner "duhs" didn't register on our faces. How could a person whose life work is music not know one of its pioneers?

Granted, Smith took a hiatus through most of the '80s to be a mom. But a new documentary, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, that premiered at Sundance earlier this year, at least will give people who don't know her a chance to catch up. The intimate, 16mm documentary, shot mostly in black and white, was made over the past 12 years. Even the trailer reflects Smith's intense and personal approach to her music.

In the film, Smith pays tribute to the artists who influenced her life and work over the years, from William Burroughs to Bob Dylan to Jim Morrison. She had a close friendship — maybe more — with Robert Mapplethorpe and credits him with encouraging her at the beginning of her career. … continue reading

Never let it be said that the Fanning sisters are trying to slide by on cuteness alone.

Oh, they're cute all right, but they also are freakishly good actors. (Dakota freaks me out, period, but that's another matter.) At last year's Sundance Film Festival, a rape scene from Dakota's film Hounddog was so disturbing that the film still doesn't have a distributor. The scene itself was not graphic, but Fanning's performance was so powerful and convincing that conservative groups called for the arrest of Fanning's agent and mother.

This year was Elle's turn in a less-disturbing, but equally gripping, performance in Phoebe in Wonderland. Elle plays Phoebe, a nine-year-old girl whose wild imagination and obsession with Alice in Wonderland alienates her from classmates and gets her in trouble with teachers.

Sounds like a sweet little Disney-like film, right? But several things made me take another look. First and second, Felicity Huffman and Patricia Clarkson. What would you pay to be Elle Fanning in this next photo? … continue reading

I have a really long to-do list in a notebook somewhere. I call it my things-to-do-before-I-croak list. It includes stuff like places I want to see, books I want to read and things I'd like to accomplish. Thanks to AfterEllen.com, I can sort of cross off one of those items. No. 67: Get published. Sure, the Internet wasn't what I had in mind when I added that particular item to my list, but it counts in my world.

Another thing on my to-do list is attend the Sundance Film Festival. If I could manage to squeeze in the time off and barter my way to Utah, I'd make 2008 the year to get that one crossed off the list. The complete list of films screening at next year's festival was released over the course of the past couple of weeks. Not only do some of the films sound intriguing, but the list of who's in those films should make the red carpet a true treat. In last week's Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. we told you about one reason to head for the Utah mountains, a reason named Saffron Burrows. Here are a few more reasons to make the trek.

One of the people I would expect to see strutting about town is Lena Headey. Not only would I love to drool over her in person, but I'd also like to see the movie she's in that's screening at Park City at Midnight. It's called The Broken and tells the tale of a woman who sees herself drive by in her own car while on a busy London street. She follows the mystery double into "a living nightmare." Lena Headey in what sounds like an eerie psychological thriller? Count me in. … continue reading

I just watched the trailer for the movie Introducing the Dwights, also known as Clubland and starring Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn (Secrets and Lies, Little Voice, Saving Grace). Quirky, offbeat, charming — these words are coming soon to a blurb near you. Hot mic; real hot mic!

I don't know why I haven't heard of this film, but I'll definitely be watching for it now. Some of the ads are comparing it to Muriel's Wedding, which is one of my faves. That might be aiming a little high, but it looks pretty good nonetheless. … continue reading