Dustin Lance Black Movies
Over the course of 10 years -- from the early 2000s through the tail end of that decade -- Dustin Lance Black meteorically evolved into one of the most unique and critically acclaimed of all Hollywood screenwriters. The product of a conservative Mormon household in California, Black moved with his family to Salinas during his teens and almost instantly gravitated to the theater arts, with stints as an actor, crewmember, and directorial apprentice. Following high school, Black attended UCLA's school of theater, film, and television, graduating with honors in 1996. During his early post-collegiate years, Black primarily worked as an art director on various projects, then segued into helming music videos and commercials. He remained aware of his own homosexuality from an early age, and thus felt a strong desire to explore gay issues (particularly gay rights) dramatically through his artistic craftsmanship. Black moved into writing and directing in 2000 helming and scripting the gentle and thoughtful (yet unyielding) gay coming-of-age feature Journey of Jared Price in 2000. Thereafter, a series of offbeat documentaries followed that Black scripted, directed, and shot, including the 2001 On the Bus (the vérité account of a bus full of gay men attending the Burning Man alternative culture festival in Nevada), and the 2003 My Life With Count Dracula, a biographical look at Saturn Awards and Count Dracula Society founder Donald A. Reed.Black's recognition increased considerably with two achievements: he scripted numerous episodes of the quirky HBO ensemble drama Big Love (with Bill Paxton as the head of a colorful Mormon clan) and -- as the crowning achievement of his career up through that time -- scripted the A-list feature Milk, a biopic of slain gay rights crusader and San Francisco mayor Harvey Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant and starred Sean Penn. The film received numerous Oscar nominations and won Black one for Best Original Screenplay. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2010
Ed Harris stars as a sheriff-turned-hopeful political candidate whose Senate campaign gets close to being curbed when he finds out that his daughter is dating the son of an ex-mistress of his in this TicTock Studios production. Academy award-winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk) writes and directs, with Gus Van Sant handling executive producing duties. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Alex Loynaz stars as earnest Real World cast-member Pedro Zamora in this intimate biopic tracing the HIV-positive immigrant's rise from humble roots to becoming one of the most instantly recognizable HIV/AIDS activists in the United States as a result of his high profile role on MTV's pioneering reality television series. In 1992, The Real World made it's debut on MTV, forever altering the definition of the term "celebrity," and providing a sympathetic face to the growing AIDS crisis for the millions of Americans who had yet to meet someone suffering from the devastating autoimmune disorder. Born the youngest child in a close-knit Cuban family, Zamora arrived in the United States as part of the 1980 Mariel boatlift. His mother died when he was just thirteen, the pain of the loss prompting the already promising student to hit the books even harder. Three short years and numerous bouts of unprotected sex later, Zamora discovered that he was HIV-positive after donating blood to the Red Cross. It was a crushing blow to the ambitious young student, though one that would unexpectedly give his life new meaning as well. As an activist and educator, Zamora longed to get his message to as many people as possible - and what better medium to do so than television? The producers were quick to recognize Zamora's eagerness to participate in the Real World as well as his openness when it came to discussing his illness, and quickly invited him to join the cast. Not many folks have the opportunity to shine in the spotlight, though Zamora made the most of his fifteen minutes of fame by using it to enlighten and inform those who were still ignorant to the threat posed by the increasingly indiscriminate disease that was once thought only to affect only homosexuals. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alex Loynaz, Justina Machado, (more)
Academy Award winner Sean Penn takes the title role in Gus Van Sant's biopic tracing the last eight years in the life of Harvey Milk, the ill-fated politician and gay activist whose life changed history, and whose courage still inspires people. When Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, he made history for being the first openly gay man in American history to be voted into public office. But the rights of homosexuals weren't Milk's primary concern, as tellingly evidenced by the wide array of political coalitions he formed over the course of his tragically brief career. He fought for everyone from union workers to senior citizens, a true hero of human rights who possessed nothing but compassion for his fellow man. The story begins in New York City, where a 40-year-old Milk ponders what steps he can take to make his life more meaningful.
Eventually, Milk makes the decision to relocate to the West Coast, where he and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco), found a small business in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. Empowered by his love for the Castro neighborhood and the success of his business, Castro Camera, Milk somewhat unexpectedly begins to emerge as an outspoken agent for change. With a growing support system that includes both Scott and a like-minded young activist named Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), the charismatic Milk decides to take a fateful leap into politics, eventually developing a reputation as a leader who isn't afraid to follow up his words with actions. In short order, he is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, though this seeming triumph is in fact the catalyst for a tragedy that starts to unfold as Milk does his best to forge a political partnership with Dan White (Josh Brolin), another newly elected supervisor. Over time it becomes apparent that Milk and White's political agendas are directly at odds, a revelation that puts their personal destinies on a catastrophic collision course. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Eventually, Milk makes the decision to relocate to the West Coast, where he and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco), found a small business in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. Empowered by his love for the Castro neighborhood and the success of his business, Castro Camera, Milk somewhat unexpectedly begins to emerge as an outspoken agent for change. With a growing support system that includes both Scott and a like-minded young activist named Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), the charismatic Milk decides to take a fateful leap into politics, eventually developing a reputation as a leader who isn't afraid to follow up his words with actions. In short order, he is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, though this seeming triumph is in fact the catalyst for a tragedy that starts to unfold as Milk does his best to forge a political partnership with Dan White (Josh Brolin), another newly elected supervisor. Over time it becomes apparent that Milk and White's political agendas are directly at odds, a revelation that puts their personal destinies on a catastrophic collision course. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, (more)
- 2007
Bill meets resistance from the wives when he proposes a night off for himself each week. Meanwhile, the feud between the UEB and the Greene's comes to a head. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2007
In the second season finale, Bill attempts to manipulate the UEB to his advantage. Meanwhile, on the brink of death, Roman is taken away from Alby and brought to the Henrickson home to recover. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2007
With palpable tension in the air, Bill and Nicki arrive at Juniper Creek for a family reunion. Meanwhile, Rhonda gets cold feet about her pending marriage to Roman. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Bill (Bill Paxton), believing that Roman (Harry Dean Stanton) is responsible for him losing the site for the third Home Plus store, enlists Lois (Grace Zabriskie) and Joey (Shawn Doyle) in an effort to find a mole on the UEB council. They come up with one man, Ernest Holloway (John Ingle), who hasn't been given a new wife in over ten years. Thinking that Ernest must be out of favor with Roman, Bill and Joey go to meet with him, but Roman seems to be a step ahead of them. While Bill is at Juniper Creek, Wanda (Melora Walters) goes into labor. Back home, the family is preparing for Teenie's (Jolean Wejbe) baptism. Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) fails in her assignment to wash Bill's whites when a red crayon ends up in the dryer. When she visits Pam (Audrey Wasilewski) for stain-removal advice, she gets an earful. Pam has apparently determined that Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) is a polygamist, and is none too happy about it. Margene exacerbates her laundry problem when Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) catch her trying to clean the dryer with a flammable spray. Margene contemplates running away, and is thrown for a loop when Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) tells her that when Margene first joined the family, Nicki bet Barb that she wouldn't last six months. Ben (Douglas Smith) is feeling tremendous sexual pressure from Brynn (Sarah Jones), who has decided that they're both ready to lose their virginity. Barb's disapproving sister, Cindy (Judith Hoag), visits town, and tells Barb that her estranged mother wants to spend time with Barb's children. This episode was directed by Michael Lehmann (Heathers). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2003
American independent filmmaker Dustin Lance Black makes his directorial debut with the documentary My Life With Count Dracula. The film is a biography of cult figure Dr. Donald A. Reed, the creator and founder of the Count Dracula Society, the Saturn Awards, and the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Throughout his life, Reed struggled to gain appreciation for his beloved genre by celebrating the work of sci-fi and horror filmmakers who were typically ignored by mainstream film societies. Black captures the man in the last years of his life, suffering from diabetes until his death at the age of 65. Features appearances by Bryan Singer, Randal Kleiser, and Dean Devlin. My Life With Count Dracula was screened at the 2003 IFP Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dr. Donald A. Reed
- 2003
Another presentation of the American Movie Channel's AMC Project anthology, Gay Hollywood follows five openly gay men, all employed (not always gainfully) in show business, as they discuss the ups and downs of their Hollywood careers. The quintet includes two aspiring screenwriters, Lance and Benjamin; Robert, an actor/model; Allan, a director; and Micah, a standup comedian. The documentary also offers a capsule history of homosexuality in Hollywood, from the "closeted" years of William Haines, George Cukor, Rock Hudson et al., to the more liberal atmosphere of the late 20th to early 21st century. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Lance Black, Q. Allan Brocka, (more)
- 2001
Los Angeles filmmaker Dustin Lance Black chartered a bus to attend the annual Burning Man Festival, an alternative culture event in the Nevada desert, and made the trip along with six gay friends in their late teens and early twenties. Black brought along a camera to record the trip for posterity, and On the Bus is a documentary that chronicles the misadventures of Black and his traveling companions on the road, among them Charles, a former exotic dancer who now waits tables while he tries to get his acting career off the ground, and Jason, a former Midwesterner who now makes his living as a porn star. On the Bus was initially commissioned as a multi-part reality series for the Digital Entertainment Network, an online film and video site; when DEN went out of business, Black reshaped his footage into its current form as a feature-length documentary. On the Bus was shown at the 2001 San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
A young man moves to the big city and has to make some tough choices about who he is and what he wants in this gay-themed coming-of-age story. Jared Price (Corey Spears) is a young man of 19 who has decided he wants to see more of the world than one can find in the small town in Georgia where he was born and raised. With little more than a backpack full of clothes and a couple hundred dollars, Jared heads for California to start a new life. Jared has long felt unsure about his sexual orientation, and while staying at a youth hostel he enters into a friendship with another young man, Robert (Josh Jacobson), which soon becomes something much deeper. Needing a job, Jared is hired as a caretaker for Mrs. Hanes (Rocki Craigg), a rich, elderly woman who has lost her sight. While looking after Mrs. Haines, Jared gets to know Matthew (Steve Tyler), Mrs. Haines' son, who doesn't take long to express his attraction to Jared, even though he's nearly a decade-and-a-half his senior. Jared and Matthew become lovers, but Jared begins to wonder if Matthew is simply taking advantage of him, and has to decide if job security is more important to him than his self-worth. Shot on digital video equipment, The Journey of Jared Price was the first feature film from writer and director Dustin Lance Black. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
