dangermousie | Heavenly Footwear: Kinky Boots

Saw the delightful, delicious English movie yesterday, Kinky Boots. It's a little Full Monty, a little Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and wholly wonderful.

I haven't felt this good about a movie in a long time. The plot? Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) has inherited a fourth-generation shoe factory, after the death of his father. The factory, which manufactures old-fashioned, well-made men's shoes, is about to go out of business. Charlie is at the end of his rope when he meets Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a transsexual drag queen (whose real name is Simon) and whose problem is that there are simply no sexy, feminine footwear that can bear the weight of a man. Has Charlie found his niche market? Has Lola found a new calling as a shoe designer?

What really makes this movie are the characters. Charlie (who is attractive in an understated, rumpled way) is my movie boyfriend: a bit quiet, very decent, and about as adorable as a puppy. And Chitewel Ejifor's character is all sassy brass as Lola, and sexy vulnerability as Simon. (For those who like slash, I have to warn you, no, Charlie and Lola don't hook up).

Favorite moment? Charlie on a runway in Milan, his models gone kaput (long and spoilery story), walking out on the runway, clad in a shirt, a shuit jacket, underwear and a pair of glittery, thigh-high red snakeskin boots. It's funny, and embarassing, and touching and just perfect. When an elderly shoe factory employee asks Lauren (another employee, who is sweet on Charlie) "does he look good?" and Lauren replies "to me he does," well, that sums up the entire sweet, gentle, funny, beautiful movie.

What a fashionable man is wearing. Or not:

Lola, Lauren and Chalie discuss business:

Charlie and Lauren demonstrate that those are indeed fuck-me boots:

Simon and Charlie:

Heh:

Charlie and Lauren bond over shoes:

Simon and Lauren:

In other news, I am getting a bit bored with Saiyuki. It's too much of a formula: the foursome drive, Goku claims he is hungry and Gojyo insults him. They fight. Sanzo threatens them. Hakkai is calm. Bad guys attack. They defeat them. Goku is hungry. Gets a bit repetitive.