This week marked an historic moment for civil rights in Illinois, and another step closer to legal equality for the LGBT community in the United States. On Wednesday, June 1, civil unions for partners of the same sex became legal in Illinois (including the option for couples of the opposite sex, as well). It became legal for couples to apply for their licenses on Wednesday, and after a 24-hour waiting period, were able to have their civil union ceremonies.

I love Oprah, and I’m not ashamed. Like so many, I grew up with Oprah, but being from the Chicago-area, I remember Oprah when she was on local Chicago television, before her show went national. My Mom watched Oprah; my Grandma watched Oprah; and this meant that I watched Oprah.

What happens when you mix raunch comedy with a chick-flick? Bridesmaids.

The new Judd Apatow-produced, Kristen Wiig-starring (and co-written) film, Bridesmaids, is, however, due much more respect than the simple high-concept Hollywood idea of mashing up two successful genres. It is in fact, a hilarious, well-written, genuinely acted, sometimes sweet, great time at the movies.

Currently touring the U.S. is the powerhouse, 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Next to Normal. Making its Broadway debut in the spring of 2009, the musical closed in January of this year, just short of two years. It was hailed as one of the most innovative and breathtaking musicals to hit the Great White Way since Rent, dealing with issues relevant to contemporary culture and American life, while utilizing the conventions of the musical, but with a wholly original and beautiful score.

Last month, I wrote a review of Thai film director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s beautiful 2004 film Tropical Malady. I recently had the opportunity to see his latest film, the winner of last year’s prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. It is another strange and hauntingly triumphant work from this unique director.

A little escapism never did anyone wrong, right? Do you ever find yourself in just another boring day, staring at the walls of your cubicle and gaydreaming away about the exciting life you were just meant to live?

Last week I went on a brief rant about my love of the Scream movies and my anticipation of Scream 4, or as they write it, Scre4m. So this week, I would like to continue that rant this week, with a review of the film…

Am I the only nerd out there totally excited about Scream 4? Maybe it’s nostalgia for the late 90’s, but I always thought the Scream franchise was at the top of the slasher genre. It had a cleverness about itself and delivered to horror fans exactly what they wanted, while offering genuine entertainment and laughs along the way. I am a horror fan, but I don’t particularly enjoy blood, guts and gore, but anything that is done smartly can win me over in the end. And for me, it’s nice to see a turn away from the torture-porn genre of Saw and its contemporaries.

Last Sunday, HBO premiered the first two installments of its five part miniseries, Mildred Pierce, to great interest both for its revisitation of a classic Hollywood film of the same name, and for its lead actress Kate Winslet, who seems to impress both critics and audiences more and more as her career continues forward. The next three installments will happen over these subsequent Sundays, and you can bet it won’t be long before the mini-series is out on DVD.

This week, we lost one of the great classic Hollywood actresses and a constant champion of HIV/AIDS advocacy, Elizabeth Taylor. Battling health problems for many years, she died on Wednesday of congestive heart failure. Her’s was a life filled with ups-and-downs, controversies, and of course, all of those husbands. In so many ways, she was the perfect Hollywood starlet- a vision on screen, a strong actress, a great beauty who became a brand on her own, and the fountain from which endless gossip fodder spewed into the tabloids.