Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon (2008)

"Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon" is a straightforward documentary about Jack Wrangler, a spoiled Beverly Hills brat, an insecure homosexual, and an unsuccessful actor who became a self-made icon of gay porn films. Born Jack Stillman, his father was a producer of TV show "Bonanza" and Jack realized his sexual nature with his attraction to Michael Landon. When he reached the peak of the gay porn-star profession, he then made a big a name in straight porn, married a famous woman, and started several new careers. This detailed documentary takes you through Jack's mind and life with much footage of him, his work, his times, and many people who were around him.

Wrangler is the emcee of this event, sharing his story with interviews and a horde of stills and footage documenting his rise to a formidable object of lust. He becomes the face of the gay porn scene, changing feminine stereotypes with his "everyday man" image and aggressive marketing angles, revealing Wrangler to be a puzzling, intelligent human being. Gay men saw him as a hero and role model. He seems shocked at how much he accomplished, discussing the branding of his name on sex toys and poppers, and his personal appearances, where he would work out stand-up routines to throngs of gay men. Wrangler crossed over to straight porn and although he admitted to be gay, he was able to participate in very hot heterosexual sex scenes. His testimony is backed by a slew of cult icons, including Bruce Vilanch, Chi Chi LaRue, Sharon Mitchell, Marc Shaiman, and Jamie Gillis.

The last part is devoted to Wrangler's relationship with Margaret Whiting, the famous singer who fell in love with the young star, ignoring his career and his sexual activities. The pairing is given adequate screentime to appreciate, allowing a comfortable transition to explore Wrangler's declining years in the adult industry, and his eventual career as a legitimate musical theater presence. The end of this documentary feels like a roller coaster slowing to a halt, concluding a ride of amazing experiences and revelations, showcasing a man who in his own words, "wanted to take a bite out of life."

In this fascinating documentary, Wrangler looks back over his life, and his wild, unpredictable career and life is recounted in this funny, smart and sexy film. He had invented himself and had great determination. Even though the porn industry is part of his past, people will always refer to him as a former porn star. It is easy on the drama and tells us a lot of the obvious. Interesting though, is to hear him finally explain his marriage to Margaret Whiting and how that has worked all these years. Some of the comments he makes in interviews in the DVD "extras" section are more interestesing than those included in the film. Jeffrey Schwarz directed.

Sun Kissed (2007)

The movie opens with a very good-looking man driving a truck along a desert highway. It is Teddy Rappaport (John Ort), a young aspiring writer on his way to his professor's isolated house to complete his first novel. He stops to pick up Leo Spaulding (Gregory Marcel), a handsome man waiting at a bus stop and the the mysterious caretaker of the house. When Leo and Teddy first meet they have sex after a beautiful interlude in the sun. Thus begins a romance which is filmed as soft core porn. Layers of memory and hallucination unfold that intertwine the two men. This is is the only part of the film that seems real.

Suddenly the plot switches both locations and chronologies and no explanation is given why. What could have been a beautiful love story becomes nonsense and questions are left unanswered, and even if we knew the answers I don't think we would care. When Teddy attempts a drunken seduction, Leo reveals a murky, mysterious and possibly dangerous past. What is the true nature of Leo’s relationship with Crispin (George Stoll), the older gay gentleman who owns the desert house where the two young men are staying? We witness Leo's slow sexual awakening, in painful conflict with his prejudices, obsessed with the idea "I am not homosexual." It is the supposed heterosexual who appears inwardly divided, in contrast to Teddy who knows that he is "completely" gay and draws an inner balance from this consciousness, in spite of his moments of despair. The loneliness of this couple in the middle of the loneliness of nature creates lots of atmosphere.

Intrigue and surrealist imagery dominate this gay-themed drama. Contemporary issues of sexuality, identity and creativity are explored through the young men's quests for love and intimacy. However, a plot with possibilities has poor and clumsy editing, horrible close-ups, and the overuse of the word "amazing". "Sun Kissed" is not a good movie. Typical viewer comments are "This is a nothing movie with a nothing story that feels and looks like a bad high school play" and "The quality of the film was horrible, sections of the movie must have been filmed with an 8 mm camera." It does have redeeming features though: good looking men, nudity and great music. Rockers "The Sea and the Cake" supply the music and if the songs were not there the plot would have been a disaster and the underlying bisexual theme would have suffered. Yet the music alone cannot make a good movie. It seems to be an Irish stew that would be a fine short, but as a full length film it falls flat. Of course, it does have some admirers. Patrick McGuinn wrote the screenplay and directed. He is the son of former "Byrds" rock band member Roger McGuinn.