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Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

New Documentary Suggests John Travolta Was Blackmailed By Scientology Over His Sexuality

March 14, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

john-travoltaThere’s already a lot of interest in Alex Gibney’s HBO documentary, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, with many wondering if the Church Of Scientology will try to suppress it (indeed some wondered if they’d attempt to do so before its Sundance premiere), as it doesn’t exactly paint a rosy picture of the ‘religion’.

One of its claims, according to Buzzfeed, is that once the Church had converted John Travolta, it used its resources to try and ensure he stayed in the closet (it has long been suggested Scientology is pretty homophobic), and would go out and try to silence those who suggested he might be gay. It’s something they were only partially successful with, as over the years numerous people have come forward saying John prefers men, whether it’s former colleagues, alleged male lovers or those who, a couple of years ago, tried to sue him for sexual assault.

Travolta himself has rarely directly addressed the rumours, but the documentary suggests that may be because Scientology was doing the job for him behind the scenes.

Ex-Scientologist Marty Rathbun, who is now one of the organisations most vociferous critics, says “On many occasions, we were sent out to get with his [Travolta’s] publicist, to get with his lawyer to help squash or intimidate these people who were making accusations against him.

It’s also suggested that the Church keeps ‘a black PR package’ on Travolta, which includes private confessions that he is gay, gained during the ‘auditing’ process that is central to Scientology.

As Lawrence Wright, co-producer and author of Going Clear, the 2013 book on which the film is based, puts it, “Once that happened, I think he was really the church’s captive.”

However Wright is certainly not keen to see Travolta as a victim, adding, “When they were facing lawsuits and stuff like that, he’d be brought forward and make his testimony about how great Scientology is. He had the opportunity to affect the behavior of the church. And he chose not to.”

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief premieres on HBO in the US on March 29th.

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ACTORS: John Travolta  

John Travolta Gives Rare Comment On Gay Rumours & Lawsuits

September 17, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

john-travoltaFor decades now there have been rumours about John Travolta’s sexuality, but the star himself has said little about it. Most of the comments have come from lawyers working on his behalf, denying allegations in lawsuits have been launched against him.

The rumours reached fever pitch in 2012 when several legal cases were launched against him by men alleging sexual battery. Swept up in that was Douglas Gotterba, who claims he had an affair with Travolta in the 1980s and had received a strongly worded letter from the actor’s lawyer, which said he was barred from talking to the media as he’d signed a non-disclosure agreement covering his time working for an airline associated with the movie star.

Gotterba then sued for the right to talk about it, with suggestions that he wished to write a tell-all book.

While the sexual battery lawsuits have disappeared, the Gotterba lawsuit is ongoing and in July he was given leave by an appeals court to take his case forward.

Now Travolta has given a rare comment about the case and the rumours that have swirled around him to The Daily Beast, saying, “This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel. It’s just about people wanting money. That’s all. It happens on many levels. Also, I don’t care that much about [those types of allegations]. Other people may attack it back more than I do, but I let all the media stuff go a long time ago because I can’t control it. I think that’s why it persists, to some degree.”

As for the rumours about his sexuality in general, he comments that the point he felt it really went too far was after the death of his son Jett in 2009, when there was speculation that the family’s nanny, Jeff Kathrein, was Travolta’s lover.

The actor says, “I found it most offensive with the loss of my son. I felt like that was the lowest I’d ever felt. Sex stuff is always going to be interesting to somebody, but you stay away from family. You really should. With that, I always felt like the media – not all of the media, but parts of it – went too low there.”

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: John Travolta  

Killing Season (Blu-ray Review)

August 19, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Robert De Niro, John Travolta
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Running Time: 91 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: August 18th 2014 (UK)

It’s always a shame when you can see what a movie so desperately hopes to be, but it falls incredibly far short. Killing Season wants be a tense cat and mouse thriller, with a serious backdrop looking at the horrors of war and the way it affects people after the battle is over.  Unfortunately it ends up just being a bit silly and over the top.

It’s a particular shame as this is the first time Robert de Niro and John Travolta have appeared on-screen together. [Read more…]

Karen Gillan Has A Valley Of Violence Opposite Ethan Hawke & John Travolta

May 26, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Karen-GillanKaren Gillan’s film assault is picking up this year with Oculus, Guardians Of The Galaxy and The List. Now she’s booked another role as Deadline reports that she’s signed up for A Valley Of Violence.

Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, and Taissa Farmiga are already set for the movie, which will see Gillan as ‘Ellen, the older sister to Farmiga’s character. Together they run a hotel in the town where Hawke’s drifter seeks vengeance for the death of his best friend’

Ti West is directing the movie, marking a step towards the mainstream for the helmer of House Of The Devil and The Innkeepers. It should start shooing in late June.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Karen Gillan, Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, Taissa Farmiga  DIRECTORS: Ti West  

John Travolta & Salma Hayek Up For A Three Dog Life

February 10, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

John-TravoltaFor a while it seemed like every other movie had John Travolta in it, but in the last year or two he’s cut back a bit. However he has now signed up for a new role – which should allow his to stretch his acting muscles – as Variety reports that Travolta and Salma Hayek will star in the drama A Three Dog Life.

The movie will be based on the best-selling memoir by Abigail Thomas. It follows Thomas (Hayek) after her husband, Rich (Travolta), gets hit by a car. His brain is shattered and he has no memory of his past life. Subject to hallucinations, rage and terror, he is forced to live in an isolated institution to control the side effects of his near-death accident. In order to be close to her husband, Abigail reinvents her life and moves from New York City to the small country town, with her new family of three dogs.

Nick Guthe (Mini’s First Time) will direct the movie, working from his own screenplay. The movie is currently been sold at the European Film Market.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: John Travolta, Salma Hayek  

Killing Season Trailer – John Travolta faces off against Robert De Niro

June 17, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment


I’m not entirely sure what’s happened to John Travolta, but it looks like he’s got a case of Mickey Rourke plasticine face in this trailer for Killing Season. Even so it looks like the movie could be okay.

The movie is about two veterans of the Bosnian War, one American, one Serbian, who clash in the remote Rocky Mountain wilderness. Ford (De Nrio) is a former American soldier who fought on the front lines in Bosnia. He has retreated to a remote cabin in the woods, trying to escape painful memories of war. The drama begins when Kovac (Travolta), a former Serbian soldier, seeks Ford out, hoping to settle an old score. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game in which Ford and Kovac fight their own personal World War III, with battles both physical and psychological.

The movie is due out in the US on July 12th. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Robert De Niro, John Travolta  

Anthony Hopkins Joins John Travolta In Revived Gotti Biopic

May 21, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

anthony-hopkinsIf all had gone to plan, we’d already have had Gotti in cinemas by now, but endless delays over script and casting caused the whole thing to crash, before it was picked up again a few weeks ago by director Joe Johnston. Now he’s driving is forward, with Variety reporting that he’s signed Anthony Hopkins for an unspecified role in the biopic.

John Travolta is still set to star as Gambino family crime boss John Gotti, with Kelly Preston portraying the teflon don’s wife, Victoria Gotti. The story follows Gotti and his son, who wants to leave the family business to start fresh on his own. Lindsay Lohan and Ben Foster were previously attached to star, but it doesn’t seem like they’re involved anymore.

Leo Rossi and Lem Dobbs wrote the screenplay, based on an original idea by John Gotti Jr.. Shooting is scheduled to begin in New York this September.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: Anthony Hopkins, John Travolta  DIRECTORS: Joe Johnston  FILMS: Gotti  

Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against John Travolta Dropped By Former Cruise Ship Employee

February 7, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

John-TravoltaLast year it seemed barely a week could go by without a man coming forward to claim sexual assault against John Travolta. However while a series of suits by male masseurs were dropped (largely due to the fact that it was discovered that when one of the assaults was initially said to have taken place, the actor was on the other side of the country), one lived on, from a former cruise ship employee who said Travolta assaulted him aboard a ship in 2009.

However now this claim has been dropped, shortly after a judge denied Travolta’s attempts to get the case put into private arbitration, rather than being dealt with in open court. The denial was a victory for the claimant, Fabian Zanzi, but shortly afterwards he dropped the lawsuit entirely. There’s been no official statement on why he decided to give up, although some have suggested it’s because he can’t afford the costs of a full trial, while others have alleged the whole thing was an attempt to get money from Travolta, and now that Zanzi’s realised he isn’t going to get a quick payment, he’s decided to drop it.

Zanzi had claimed that he was assigned to bring food to Travolta, at which point the actor asked for a neck massage. The steward agreed but said that when he reached for Travolta’s neck, the star took off his robe and forcefully hugged him. He also alleged that Travolta told that he was “Beautiful” and said, “Take me, I will take care of you, please.”

After he says he reported the incident, he claimed Travolta offered him $12,000 to keep his mouth shut, and his employers, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, refused to do anything.

Travolta’s attorney, Marty Singer, commented to RadarOnline.com: “My client and our firm are very pleased that Mr. Zanzi has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit.”

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: John Travolta  

Another Man Sues John Travolta Over Alleged Affair (or at least his right to talk about it)

December 4, 2012 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

It’s been a bit quiet on the guys-claiming-John-Travolta-wanted-to-have-sex-with-them front. Earlier this year you couldn’t move for masseurs and others launching legal actions over supposed unwanted sexual advances.

However, if Travolta was hoping the whole thing would quietly disappear, he’s going to be disappointed, as TMZ reports that former pilot Doug Gotterba claims he had a ‘steamy affair’ with the actor and he is now suing after receiving what he describes as a threatening letter from Travolta’s attorney Marty Singer. The lawyer apparently sent out the letter after reports of the affair emerged in June, with suggestions at the time that a tell-all book was on the way.

Singer apparently wrote to Gotterba saying that he was barred from talking to the media as he’d signed a non-disclosure agreement covering his time working for the movie star. The pilot, who says he worked from Travolta from 1981 to 1987, says he never signed such as an agreement. He admits there was a termination agreement that he signed, but it didn’t include anything about confidentiality.

TMZ reached out to Singer, who stands by the statement that Gotterba signed a confidentiality agreement, and that the lawsuit is ‘ludicrous’. The lawyer adds, “Mr. Gotterba obviously filed this lawsuit to get his 15 minutes of fame. We plan to get this meritless case promptly dismissed.”

As others have pointed out though, so far Singer hasn’t actually denied anything that’s been said about Travolta and Gotterba having an affair. Some have even interpreted this as a tacit coming out (although that’s quite a stretch), with the actor’s camp only saying a confidentiality agreements bans the pilot from talking about it. I wouldn’t hold a coming out party just yet, but the language Singer uses is interesting.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: John Travolta  

John Travolta Wins Gay Spa Lawsuit

September 30, 2012 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

The last few months have seen numerous rumours and allegations emerge about John Travolta having a bit of a thing for male masseurs. However before individual masseurs came forward to make allegations there was Robert Randolph’s self-published book, You’ll Never Spa In This Town Again and a 2010 Gawker article based on Randolph’s claims.

Travolta wasn’t too impressed with someone going around saying he enjoyed gay sex in spas and bath houses, with Randolph claiming the actor liked to be watched engaging in sex with various men. This causes Travolta’s pitbull lawyer, Marty Singer, to speak out against the claims and send Gawker a cease-and-desist letter, which alleged that Randolph was an unreliable source in part due to allegations of mental issues.

Randolph sued for defamation, saying the allegations  harmed his reputation with false statements and hurt the sales of his book. However now a judge has thrown the lawsuit out, more on a technicality than on a finding of fact. The judge found the letter Singer sent to have gone out ahead of planned legal action and is therefore privileged and can’t be used to sue someone in court. It was also noted that rather than hurting sales of the book, Singer’s lawsuit may well have helped it sell far more copies than it would done on its own, which is probably true.

Indeed it’s one of the odd things about the way the tenacious Singer operates, in that in so vociferously denying any and all claims, he has a tendency to draw more attention to them than they would othersie have had.

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARCHIVES:
ACTORS: John Travolta  
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