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Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
My hair-raising investigation into a Gen Z cult
The idea is absurd. It is my wife's. 'I keep seeing these really young men with moustaches,' she says, planting the seeds of it, one evening. Soon I am seeing them too, downtown and in scruffy Brooklyn. It's a peculiar sight. When I was growing up, moustaches were strictly for tradesmen and grandfathers. Now here they are on the faces of people who barely remember 9/11. Harry Styles starts wearing one. And there are these young dudes who call themselves the East Villains. 'It's a play on East Village residents,' an East Villain aficionado tells me. She is 21, a college student; we're in the garden of a bar in Brooklyn. 'In California, it's Silverlake Men. You have the Silverlake Men and the East Villains. It's a big thing on social media. 'They are these guys that smoke Marlboro Reds, they have hiking carabiners looped in their 501 jean pockets. They have a backwards cap or a frontwards cap, a little bit of a mullet. And these people … will always have a moustache. Always. Bar none.' Does Donald Trump have something to do with this? I ask because whenever something happens now, you have to assume he might be involved. 'I think it goes along with this archetyping, or codification of the idea of James Dean,' the student replies. 'This is my theory: old Hollywood stars, they didn't always have moustaches but the aspirational man, trying to emulate this old Hollywood man, he has to have a moustache … You go for a moustache just to have the facsimile of what is masculine.' Hey, I say to an editor. We should get some old codger in the office to grow a moustache and see if people start treating him as a member of Gen Z. Some guy who is a bit past his prime. 'Good idea,' she says. I stop shaving my upper lip. For about ten days you cannot really tell, except with powerful lighting. 'It's really good,' says one of my son's friends, who has something similar. He is 11. Then I start to glimpse it: a horizon of fur beneath the eye. It gives you the fleeting impression that you are furry all over. This must be what it is like to be a bear. I fear people will treat me differently. Interviewing the actor Kelsey Grammer, I feel obliged to explain that the nostril hedge is just part of an investigation. 'It's a little thin,' he says. 'How many days?' Two weeks. He did not like to mention it, he says. 'I always assume that young men are growing whatever part of their facial hair because that's what they can grow.' By week four, the moustache is in full bloom. 'You've got a mo!' cries an Australian colleague in the office. 'You gotta go and find your mo bros.' I go in search of mo bros on a humid Monday night with James Gallagher, a film-maker and photographer. Alighting in Williamsburg, there are moustaches everywhere. I see five just walking off the subway platform. There's another on the face of a Harvard student named Elio Torres, celebrating his 21st birthday in a beer garden. 'I'm second-generation Latino,' he says. 'It's a little hard to demonstrate that in terms of your physical attitude.' Hence his moustache. It's new. 'I was really thrown off by it,' says his friend Simone Marteo, 21. 'I was like, 'Woah! Are you Orlando?' Which is his dad's name.' In a bar called Alligator Lounge, a tech developer named Brendan Justice, 29, pulls out his phone. 'I'm in a group of men called the Moustache DAO,' he says. It's a Whatsapp group. 'All these men are in crypto,' he says. 'DAO stands for decentralised autonomous organisation. We are all dedicated to advancing moustache-kind.' Brendan's moustache is blond and he has a mullet that spills from his backwards cap — for apparently, these are back in fashion too. A large screen behind him is playing something called Nostalgia TV, with lots of moustaches. There's Hulk Hogan and his bleached walrus bristles; there is Chris Pratt, lavishly whiskered. Members of Moustache DAO post pictures of themselves to the group chat and an AI bot scans them for an evaluation. 'It will give you proof of moustache,' he says. There is a leaderboard charting how often people have given proof. 'The top person has sent their moustache 51 times,' he says. 'I'm at 13.' He looks at mine. 'You should join,' he says. I explain that it is just part of an investigation. Or possibly, a midlife crisis. I cannot quite imagine that anyone would find it attractive. It feels like the defensive pikes of an infantry battalion, repelling all advances. My wife refers to it as 'the chaperone'. But then James, the photographer, tells a story about his girlfriend. She so loves moustaches that he grew one for Valentine's Day. 'Every time I walked into a room, she lit up,' he says. We are by now in a bar called Union Pool, with several luminaries of the moustache movement. One of them is ND Austin, a leader in New York's 'underground drinking' scene who creates pop-up speakeasies. As long as I have known him, he has always had a delicate black moustache that rises at the corners like a smile. 'My experience,' he says, 'since I grew a moustache, is that the people who haven't wanted to kiss me because of the moustache was … far, far outweighed by people who are like: 'Ooohhh.'' I think mine makes me look like a deviant. The other day, delivering a box of coffee to my children's primary school, I caught sight of my moustache in the video screen at the front door. I did not think they should let me in. 'You have a sex-pest moustache!' Austin exclaims. 'One hundred per cent!' 'You do,' concurs his friend Jason Eppink, 41, a bearded artist. Austin says a friend of his had a moustache so fierce that when he went into bars, 'dudes that felt threatened would get into fights with him. He's a total pacifist but he just looked like someone who was about to shiv you', he says. 'His girlfriend made him shave the moustache off. The moment he did that, no problems.' Another of his friends 'has a moustache that makes him look extra sleazy and he works it,' he says. 'He is an international lothario.' This friend arrives. His name is Brendan Burke, 44. 'I think Covid launched a lot of moustaches,' he says. 'You could come out, afterwards, and pretend you always looked this way.' He shows me some photos of earlier models: a handlebar, and then a pencil moustache. The current number, shades of Clark Cable, has a peculiar effect on certain people, he says. 'I go talk to cops, they think I'm on the force,' Brendan says. 'If I put on a suit I can walk into a movie theatre without buying a ticket.' Other men with moustaches nod to him. 'I met someone at a rave in Detroit the other day,' he says. 'We were in the tech booth talking about how well situated each other's moustaches were, to our faces, and what was our whole journey with that.' 'Your journey!' Eppink exclaims. 'Fulfillment!' Austin says. 'You have finally come into your own.' But 'now every freaking person has a moustache', Burke says. 'I used to be different! Now I'm just every other hipster again.' They fall to talking about moustache care. Austin suggests that I mascara my moustache, to give it some oomph. But I think I will get shot of it. If it makes me look any younger, this can only be because it distracts from the other cracks in the painting. It is like wearing a monocle. I take it with me on one last outing, to a book launch in Chelsea. The actress Gina Gershon is there. She was in Cocktail and Showgirls. She has big dark hair and a mischievous half slant to her smile. What do you think of my moustache? I ask. 'If I were a guy, I would have a full beard and moustache and mutton chops,' she says. 'So maybe I'm the wrong person to ask.' I'm just growing it as part of an investigation, I say. 'I think it looks great,' she says. 'I think they make you look … like you are hiding something naughty.' She gives me one of her wicked smiles. And all of a sudden, I start thinking about keeping it.
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Scientists discover: how to be cool
Are you cool? No? Would you like to be cool? Oh, you don't care about being cool? Whatever. That is something a cool person would say. If you are the type of person the elusive designation of cool has always evaded, then you are in luck, because a team of researchers has just published a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology that delves into what exactly makes someone cool. So you can study it, you big dork. Researchers conducted experiments with 5943 people across six continents — in the US, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, Chile, India, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria and, yes, Australia. These experiments were not, shockingly, playing a shonky rendition of Stairway To Heaven on an air guitar in front of people and then saying: 'So whaddya think of that? Pretty cool huh?' But I guess they had their own methodology. What the study did find is that cool people share six main attributes: extraversion, hedonism, power, adventurousness, openness and autonomy. That would make for a pretty wild remake of Captain Planet. Surprisingly, the definition of cool remained consistent across all those countries. So if you're a dag in Australia then bad news: you're also going to be a dork in Nigeria. Brutal. James Dean was only considered cool when he was smiling. Credit: Bob Thomas / Popperfoto Also interesting: the attributes between coolness and goodness largely overlapped. Basically, good people are cool. Not being a good person? Deeply uncool. Your mum was right yet again. How uncool is that? Participants were also shown photographs of people widely accepted as being 'cool': athletes, models, James Dean. They were shown photos of these people showing no emotion and then photos of these people smiling. And guess what? The pictures of them smiling were deemed cool, whereas the ones where they look, erm, coolly detached, not so cool. All this time we thought being cool was looking blandly disinterested in everything while wearing dark sunglasses. Turns out it's being smiley, friendly, independent, open to new things and a little bit of a loose unit. Big teacher's pet energy here. Which is to say this multi-nation study has concluded pretty much the same thing Huey Lewis and the News told us in four minutes in 1986: it's hip to be square. How cool is that?
UAE Moments
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Cinema Akil Launches 'Summer of Classics' Program
Dubai's beloved independent cinema, Cinema Akil, is turning up the heat this season with its much-anticipated 'Summer of Classics' film program. Running from July 11 to September 25, 2025, this cinephile-friendly series is bringing back a curated selection of timeless movies that have defined—and defied—genres. Whether you're a fan of silent-era comedy, French arthouse, Hollywood rebellion, or mind-bending thrillers, the lineup promises something for everyone. The program offers a rare chance to see these cinematic landmarks the way they were meant to be experienced: on the big screen. 🎬 Featured Films in the 2025 Lineup This year's 'Summer of Classics' showcases an eclectic mix of genres, countries, and eras: The Gold Rush (1925) – Charlie Chaplin's legendary silent comedy The Phantom of the Opera (1925) – A gothic horror classic The Money Order (Mandabi) (1968) – Ousmane Sembène's powerful Senegalese satire Rebel Without a Cause (1955) – James Dean's iconic teen drama La Haine (1995) – A gritty French masterpiece on race and rebellion Dead Poets Society (1989) – A soul-stirring tale of education and individuality Edward Scissorhands (1990) – Tim Burton's fairytale of loneliness and beauty Before Sunrise (1995) & Before Sunset (2004) – Richard Linklater's poetic love story told in real-time. Memento (2000) – Christopher Nolan's mind-twisting thriller Braveheart (1995) – Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic Batman Begins (2005) – A bold reboot of the superhero myth The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Wes Anderson's whimsical tale of nostalgia and loyalty Undine (2020) – A modern German romance rooted in myth Why You Shouldn't Miss It Cinema Akil's 'Summer of Classics' is more than a film series—it's a cultural experience that invites viewers to revisit groundbreaking works or discover them for the first time. The films have been carefully selected for their artistic impact, emotional resonance, and enduring relevance. Whether it's the stylized aesthetics of The Grand Budapest Hotel or the moral ambiguity of La Haine, every screening offers a deep cinematic journey. Where to Watch Screenings take place at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai's creative arts hub. Known for its intimate ambiance, arthouse vibe, and commitment to diverse storytelling, the venue is a must-visit for film lovers year-round. Join the Celebration of Cinema Dubai's film fans now have the perfect reason to escape the summer heat and dive into a cool, dark theater filled with the magic of movies. Whether you're discovering Mandabi for the first time or revisiting Dead Poets Society, 'Summer of Classics' is your ticket to film history.
Buzz Feed
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
17 Old Hollywood Movies That Were Almost Banned For Being Gay
Old Hollywood movies had to follow strict guidelines throughout the 1930s–1960s, known as the Hays Code. This basically prevented all US films from featuring anything that was overtly sexual or "inappropriate," which forced a lot of filmmakers to get creative about how they could navigate potential censorship. I have running lists on Letterboxd of every Old Hollywood and LGBTQ+ movie that I watch, so I sifted through them to find a bunch from the Hays Code era that are subtly (and not so subtly) suuuuuper gay. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy! Rebel Without a Cause (1955) stars James Dean as a bisexual hottie, so you really can't ask for much more. The original script had his character kissing Plato, who was one of the first gay teen characters on screen, but the Hays Code quickly squashed that from happening. Still, this movie is edgy and dramatic and romantic, and the whole cast is just so fun to look at. Who's in it: James Dean, Sal Mineo, Natalie Wood, and Dennis Hopper Here's the trailer: All About Eve (1950) is a witty and toxic drama about an aging actress who befriends a fan who ultimately tries to usurp her. This movie shares the record for the most Oscar nominations ever, with 14, and it briefly features Marilyn Monroe in one of her first roles ever. There are so many queer undertones and characters throughout, and they're all so delicious. Also, I personally think this is the best film ever made, so I'm basically begging you to watch it. Who's in it: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Thelma Ritter, Celeste Holm, George Sanders, and Gary Merrill Here's the trailer: Homicidal (1961) was made towards the end of the Hays Code and sort of pushed the boundaries of what was allowed. You'll see why when the big twist in this horror-thriller is revealed, so I won't spoil anything for you now. Just know that this film was deemed so scary that it literally included a 45-second "fright break" that appeared on screen before the climax, which told viewers they could request a full refund from the movie theater if they were too scared to finish watching. Who's in it: Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Joan Marshall, and Eugenie Leontovich Here's the trailer: Tea and Sympathy (1956) follows a "sensitive" prep school teen who's bullied by the other students and teachers. He finds solace in an older woman, played by Deborah Kerr, and the whole thing is just sooooo pretty to look at. Who's in it: Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, John Kerr, and Edward Andrews Here's the trailer: Compulsion (1959) follows two hot, wealthy, and secretly queer college boys who commit a murder and think they're too smart to get away with it. It's loosely based on the real-life Leopold and Loeb murder trial, so just trust me on this one. Who's in it: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Diane Varsi, and Richard Anderson Here's the trailer: Rope (1948) is Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of a play that was ~also~ inspired by the Leopold and Loeb murder trial. This one focuses on two young (and queer) killers who host a dinner party after hiding the dead body in their apartment. The movie was shot to look like it was filmed in a single take, which heightens its suspense and helps to keep the characters (and viewers) on edge. Who's in it: Farley Granger, John Dall, and James Stewart Here's the trailer: Edge of the City (1957) is a gritty drama about the friendship between John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier's characters. It's rough and tough and has a lotttt of queer subtext. Ruby Dee is also in this movie, and she's especially fantastic. Who's in it: Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Ruby Dee, and Jack Warden Here's the trailer: The Children's Hour (1961) stars Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as two women who run a boarding school for girls in 1930s New England. One of the students is a troublemaking little b*tch who starts a rumor that they're in a lesbian relationship, and all hell breaks loose. The movie is based on Lillian Hellman's famous play of the same name, and it's a must-watch. Who's in it: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Fay Bainter, and Miriam Hopkins Here's the trailer: Purple Noon (1960) is actually adapted from the book The Talented Mr. Ripley. This French film is just so freaking hot, and if you're into suspenseful dramas or even remotely liked the 1999 version with Jude Law and Matt Damon then you absolutely need to check this out. Who's in it: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt, and Billy Kearns Here's the trailer: Strangers on a Train (1951) is a psychological thriller from Alfred Hitchcock. It's about two strangers who both want someone murdered, so they swap victims to prevent anyone from getting suspicious of them. It's a super fun watch, and Farley Granger is so handsome that he'll kinda take your breath away. Who's in it: Farley Granger, Robert Walker, and Ruth Roman Here's the trailer: Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) is centered around a wealthy widow who tries to get her niece lobotomized to cover up the truth about her secretly queer (and now deceased) son. This one is a little out there, but Katharine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor both received Best Actress Oscar nominations for their roles, so there's that. Who's in it: Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift, and Gary Raymond Here's the trailer: The Hitch-Hiker (1953) is about two male friends who are basically taken hostage after picking up a hitchhiker while on their way to a fishing trip. The film is based on the 1950 killing spree of Billy Cook, and it examines homosexual panic, masculinity, and traditional gender roles. Who's in it: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, and William Talman Here's the trailer: The Servant (1963) deals with unspoken desires, homoerotic tensions, and the ultimate dom-sub power dynamic. In it, a wealthy, young Londoner hires a man to be his servant. The servant slowly takes control and manipulates his "master," and it's a wilddddd ride. Who's in it: James Fox, Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, and Wendy Craig Here's the trailer: Victim (1961) is centered around a closeted lawyer in London who's blackmailed for being gay, which was illegal in England until 1967. This is a groundbreaking piece of movie history because it was the first British film to explicitly mention homosexuality, and it should be required viewing for everyone. Who's in it: Dirk Bogarde, Dennis Price, Anthony Nicholls, and Sylvia Syms Here's the trailer: Advise & Consent (1962) is a political drama that was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. It's centered around the confirmation of a nominee for Secretary of State, who just so happens to be a married US senator who's being blackmailed for secretly having past relations with a man. Who's in it: Henry Fonda, Don Murray, Gene Tierney, Walter Pidgeon, and Charles Laughton Here's the trailer: The Haunting (1963) is a revolutionary horror movie that features one of the only lesbian characters of its time to be feminine and not predatory. The film is based on the book The Haunting of Hill House, which was ultimately turned into a hugely popular Netflix series, so if you like either of them then you should watch this too. Who's in it: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn Here's the trailer: Finally, Rebecca (1940) is the only Alfred Hitchcock film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. It features one of the most famous ~coded~ queer characters from Old Hollywood: Mrs. Danvers. Throughout the film, her obsession with Rebecca becomes more and more prevalent, though under the Hays Code her queerness had to be implied rather than stated outright. Who's in it: Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, and Judith Anderson Here's the trailer: Looking for more LGBTQ+ content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's Pride 2025 posts here!
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
James Dean's biopic cast its leading actor; praises script for being humanistic and highlights forced personal life in old Hollywood
James Dean 's biopic on his personal life finally received its leading actor, who is none other than '13 Reasons Why' fame, Brandon Flynn . The writer-director Guy Guido's film is currently in production and is based on William Bast's 2006 memoir, 'Surviving James Dean.' Brandon Flynn as James Dean According to the Hollywood Reporter, Brandon Flynn would be playing the role of the late James Dean, where the narration begins from the Bast meeting him when they were 19 years old. It chronicles the tale of their life, from becoming roommates at UCLA to becoming close friends and eventually lovers. Bast had to keep their private life a secret to protect Dean's career, while the late actor was dating women in his public life, and the author had hope that one day, they would live together. However, five years after meeting Bast, Dean passed away at the age of 24 in 1955 in a car accident. Guido stated that this would not be a traditional biopic in a conversation with Bass in 2011. 'It's a tender and sometimes tragic story about two young men who found each other in a time and place where being seen—truly seen-came at a cost. Brandon Flynn brings both the fire and vulnerability this role demands. I couldn't imagine anyone more perfect to explore and play out the complexities of James Dean,' he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "Forced LGBTQ people into performance..." 'James Dean is like the known unknown. His short life left behind just three films, a mountain of photographs, and a cultural mythology we keep trying to decode. This script is a beautiful attempt at truthfully understanding who he really was — not just the icon, but the man,' Flynn added. Additionally, the actor also praised the Willie and Jimmy Dean script for humanising Dean, instead of taking the traditional sensationalised approach. 'It highlights how Hollywood has historically forced LGBTQ people into performance, even in their personal lives,' Flynn continued, before adding, 'This story dares to present James Dean as a man with real, complex relationships, and I think there's power in that truth. '
