Palahniuk flick at USA Film Fest

By Daniel A. Kusner – Life+Style Editor

The 38th annual USA Film Festival kicks off on Monday. There are a few queer-interest movies.

• "Saving Grace" directed by queer filmmaker Tom Kalin ("Swoon") and starring gay-fave Julianne Moore screens Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m.

• "Hollywood Singing and Dancing" should lure showtune lovers. It’s the full-feature documentary about the American movie musical: An abbreviated version was recently previewed on PBS. The film includes clips of "The Wizard of Oz," "Chicago" and many more. Screens Sunday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

• But you might want to grab tickets for "Choke" while they’re still available. The film is based on gay writer Chuck Palahniuk’s dark comedy about sexual compulsion and the sordid underbelly of Colonial theme parks. Palahniuk, pictured, wrote "Fight Club," and he has a fanatic following. If any film seems like an early sell-out, it’s "Choke."Screens Sunday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

Tickets available at the Angelika Theatre for day of show only. Advance tickets can only be ordered over the phone: 214-631-2787. $4 service fee charged for all advance orders. Tickets $8. Angelika Film Center-Dallas, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane.

— Daniel A. Kusner

NEW ‘GREY GARDENS’ SCRAPBOOK

There’s an enticing CD, "Little Edie Live: A Visit to Grey Gardens" that’s been circulating on the Internet since last year. It’s from a 1976 interview with Edie Beale by then-Rutgers student Walter Newkirk, who struck up a decades-long friendship with Little Edie. They exchanged countless letters, photos and drawings. Newkirk just released a "private scrapbook" about Edie. Don’t expect a definitive biography. "MemoraBEALEia" is a fun 90-page paperback ($37, AuthorHouse) for those who crave more about Jackie Kennedy’s most stylish cousin.

— D.A.K

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 18, 2008.