Apartment Zero (1988)

Set in Buenos Aires, the film centers around a relationship between two roommates. Adrian LeDuc (Colin Firth) is a lonely sociopath who is forced to rent out his crazy mother's room due to poor ticket sales at his revival-house cinema. Jack Carney (Hart Bochner), the mysterious new roommate, appears normal, charming, and outgoing at first but it becomes apparent that he is hiding something. They quickly settle into a domestic routine, with Adrian taking over laundry and cooking duties for Jack, and they also begin to bond emotionally. As their friendship develops, Adrian is attracted to him and suppresses his suspicions that Jack may be the government mercenary turned serial killer who has been terrorizing the city. Dead bodies are found in the streets, murdered for political reasons. The other eccentric residents of the building begin to worry as Adrian shows increasing signs that his mother's insanity may be hereditary. Jack has sex with a female neighbour, and it is implied that he also has sex with two male neighbours. Then he falsifies Adrian's passport and prepares to leave Argentina. Unfortunately, the passport is expired and he can't leave. Jack picks up a gay man at the airport and goes to a hotel with him, where he murders him for his passport. Adrian is devastated by the death of his mother, and Jack turns out to be Michael Weller, listed as "dead" by the death squd. Jack kills Claudia (Francesca d'Aloja), the ticket seller at the cinema and part of the committe investigating the political murders. Adrian helps dispose of the body, then eventually kills Jack. The shocking climax of this twisted tale of deceit, perversion and murder reveals the darker side of the human psyche. Suffused with homoerotic overtones and moments of black comedy, the name "Apartment Zero" comes from apartment number, 10 with the 1 missing. Martin Donovan wrote the screenplay and directed.

Tantrums & Tiaras (1997)

This documentary is about gay musical composer Sir Elton John during 1996. With unprecedented access to the star, it's a fascinating, funny, and honest fly on the wall look at the temperamental artist directed by his civil partner David Furnish. Excellent concert and behind the scenes footage leaves nothing to the imagination. Foul language abounds, but it all adds to the magic of this fascinating insight into one of Rock's most successful solo artists. Elton's tantrums are abundant, his performances on this film are great, and there is never a dull moment. There are only two major tantrums. In the first Elton becomes upset during a video shoot for "Believe", saying he hates making music videos. His second tantrum occurs when he is playing tennis and is recognized by a fan. Throwing the racket, he stomps off court, returns to his hotel, and makes arrangements to fly home. Later, we find out Elton had calmed down and canceled his plans to leave.

One interesting scene in the film comes when Elton John's mother sits down with her son to discuss his career. When she begins to recall his drug use in the 1970's, she asks that the camera be turned off. After Elton reminds her they agreed to do this in front of the camera, she continues the story and starts to cry. We are also briefly introduced to his very elderly grandmother. Elton is very open about his addictions to drugs, food, and shopping. He talks about his contract with his record company and the fact that his relationship with them is very good. The DVD has a 2008 audio commentary by Elton and David Furnish reflecting on the changes since 1996. There are also 11 deleted scenes, and they are all good. This made for TV documentary is a fine portrait of a legendary rock star. David Furnish directed.