Category Archives: Memoir

Reality…What a Concept

Posted on September 25, 2018 by garpinbc

On Sunday I finished reading the David Itzkoff’s, Robin, his biography of Robin Williams. I’ve always been a fan of Hollywood true stories, but they’re usually books about the Golden Age of Hollywood, like The Divine Feud, A Cast of … Continue reading →

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Tears in Rain: Blade Runner (1982) from a queer perspective

Posted on October 11, 2017 by garpinbc

Anyone who is a fan of original the Blade Runner is familiar with its history: It was box office flop when it was released in 1982 and  got a second life when it was released on video—one of the first … Continue reading →

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Review of “Gentlemen of the Shade”

Posted on October 6, 2017 by garpinbc

Gentlemen of the Shade: My Own Private Idaho by Jen Sookfong Lee This is the second book in the “Pop Classic” series that I’ve read; the first being It Doesn’t Suck: Showgirls. I love film criticism, especially when it’s as … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Can-Lit, Criticism, Movies, Pop Culture, The Nineties | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is “BPM: Beats Per Minute” the AIDS epic we’ve been waiting for?

Posted on October 5, 2017 by garpinbc

On Monday night I saw the French film, BPM: Beats Per Minute, at the Vancouver International Film Festival. The story follows the members of the Paris chapter of ACT-UP in the early nineties. At the time the film takes place, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Politics, Pop Culture, Queer Culture, The Eighties, The Nineties | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The other 40th anniversary

Posted on October 1, 2017 by garpinbc

One of the benefits of having a good revue cinema in your neighbourhood is that it forces you to see old movies you’ve been putting off renting. On Monday I went and saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind at … Continue reading →

Posted in Brampton, Commercial Drive, Memoir, Movies, Rio Theatre, The Seventies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

That thing I didn’t do in Toronto

Posted on June 11, 2017 by garpinbc

Visiting Toronto always feels like I’m watching a home movie about my life. Toronto was the first city I lived in on my own after I left home. It’s been nearly 30 years since I moved to Vancouver, but whenever … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Movies, Queer Culture, The Eighties, The Seventies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Old Friends: Revisiting Armistead Maupin and the Tales of the City.

Posted on May 14, 2017 by garpinbc

On Friday I saw the new Armistead Maupin documentary, The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin. The movie is basically a love letter to Armistead Maupin and the Tales of the City. I liked the film, even though there were moments … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Humor, LGBT, Memoir, Movies, Pop Culture, Queer Culture, The Eighties, The Seventies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s hard out there for a debt collector: Watching Skip Tracer on National Canadian Film Day

Posted on April 27, 2017 by garpinbc

I’ve always been a champion of Canadian film. Growing up, I was the only person I knew who watched the Genie Awards telecast. I also recognized the directors Sandy Wilson (My American Cousin), and Patricia Rozema (I’ve Heard the Mermaids … Continue reading →

Posted in Brampton, Movies, Pop Culture, The Seventies, Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Back to my Roots: All the books I’ve loved before

Posted on March 14, 2017 by garpinbc

A couple of weeks ago I saw a great musical by  the local playwright, Dave Deveau, called the Elbow Room: The Musical, about the Davie Street breakfast spot that is an institution in Vancouver’s gay community. I’m sucker for stories … Continue reading →

Posted in LGBT, Memoir, Memoir/biography, Pop Culture, Queer Culture, The Eighties, The Seventies, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The fastest way to a nerd’s heart is with Toy Story shoes

Posted on October 31, 2016 by garpinbc

I live in Canada, but I’ve been listen to NPR religiously. I love the CBC, but I prefer how NPR reporters deliver the news. There could be a zombie apocalypse in Iowa, but the reporter’s voices would still lull me … Continue reading →

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