Breakfast on Pluto (2005, Ireland)

Now these are the kinds of things I watch when my odd (but wonderful!) friends recommend films to me. We have Jeff to thank for this one.

Breakfast on Pluto is the story of Patrick "Kitten" Braden, whose mother abandons him after his birth—he is the illegitimate child of the priest in the small Irish village. He begins cross-dressing from a young age. He hangs out with other unusual kids—a bohemian girl, a boy with Down's Syndrome, and a future IRA revolutionary. He causes a lot of trouble in his Catholic school. In other words, he's just an odd duck. But he always, always stays true to who he is inside, no matter how much external forces threaten him or not take him seriously. (He continually has to tell people that he can take things seriously, but that they are too serious.)

So Kitten tells the story of how he sets out for England to find his long-lost mother, the strange things that happen to him along the way, and what he really finds in the end. It's about his character, and it's about his journey. That, combined with the interesting method of story-telling (he actually gives chapter titles and tells his own "autobiography") and the "big" themes (gender identity, cultural/Irish national identity), make this film unique. There are touching moments, funny moments, uncomfortable moments... It's just great.

And Cillian Murphy? Wonderful.

Rating: 3.5

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, UK/U.S.)

Seeing as I'm such a cinephile, people are always surprised when I haven't seen certain movies. I would say Rocky Horror is probably one of those, and that has now been corrected. I figured this was going to be one of those movies I either loved or hated, but I was wrong about that. My overall response was just "eh." It was okay. I can see how it must have been revolutionary and amazing back in the day, and I can definitely see why it had a cult following and was banned in some countries, but I wasn't floored or anything. I think the best thing I could say about it was that it was a pretty good B movie.

I did of course enjoy it more thanks to my recent obsession with Velvet Goldmine. I'm really glad I saw VG before I saw Rocky Horror, because I felt like I was much more prepared with some knowledge of the '70s and glam rock -- which were clearly a huge influence on this musical. And crazy as those glam fans of the '70s were, I can see the appeal of a man in makeup, platform boots, and androgynous clothes. Even if it's Tim Curry. Not that I don't love Tim Curry--he's an amazing actor--but he's more interesting than sexy as a cross dresser. And on the subject of actors, young Susan Sarandon running around in a bra and slip, changing from innocent young future wife to lustful man-chaser overnight... too weird.

Rating: 2.5