Big Gay Picture Show
Outfest Closes With Freak Show Starring Bette Midler and Laverne Cox
July 13, 2017 By Tim Isaac
We haven’t seen Bette Midler in a movie since Parental Guidance in 2012. However, she’s returning with Freak Show, which will be the Closing Night movie at this year’s Outfest LA LGBT Film Festival this Sunday. The movie has recently been picked up for release by IFC Films in the US, who have released the first clip.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther), once lived a fabulous life in Connecticut, with his equally fabulous mother, Muv (Bette Midler). But when he is suddenly shipped off to his father’s (Larry Pine) Southern mansion, he finds himself a fish out of water.
‘With his closet of extravagant and flamboyant attire, Billy is completely different from the cheerleaders, bible belles and beefy quarterbacks at his new high school. Yet despite the well-meant advice of his father and his housekeeper Florence (Celia Weston) that he should just throw on some blue jeans, Billy is determined to be himself – even if that does mean wearing face glitter to school.
‘With Muv missing in action, Billy experiences a culture clash the likes of which he has never known before – and his only allies come in the form of handsome football player and schoolboy crush Flip Kelly (Ian Nelson), and a chatterbox girl he calls Blah Blah Blah (AnnaSophia Robb)… because when she talks that’s all he hears.
‘When Muv finally comes to visit, Billy thinks his troubles are over, but he is in for a shock that shakes him to the core. Just when it seems life can’t get any worse, his finds himself up against ultimate mean girl Lynette (Abigail Breslin) in a battle of tolerance versus ignorance. Billy’s indomitable spirit rises once again to challenge the conservative traditions of Grant Academy, taking him on a journey that will lead to extraordinary and hilarious results.’
