Quote of the Day

“I distinctly remember going to see Call Me By Your Name... Timothée Chalamet just smashed it in that movie. He blew my mind, if I’m honest with you. I was so moved by it, it sort of shocked me. He is on another level and it just made me realise what a young actor, roughly the same age as me, could be capable of, the level I had to get up to. I had hardly even worked at all at that point, but I very clearly remember leaving the cinema absolutely terrified by Chalamet’s performance, because I saw how high he’d raised the bar. That was an important moment for me."

There I am just sitting here innocently reading Paul Mescal's profile in the new issue of British GQ -- and not so innocently looking at the photos of Paul Mescal in the new issue of British GQ -- when I should stumble face-first upon this quote, wherein he extols the thesp virtues of one Timmy Chalamet, Boy Wonder, in Call Me By Your Name. As if those shorts-shorts he prefers sauntering around in public weren't enough of a love letter aimed at me already! But you go on that extra mile, Paul Mescal -- you go on. 

In the chat he also talks a little about heading off to film Maggie Gyllenhaal's new movie (we told you about it here) as well as the insane social media response to his show Normal People... oh and keep your eyes peeled for the part where the writer of the piece describes Paul's legs. Those are some legs. They got everybody talking. But to get back to what matters... that photo-shoot! It could include more of his legs, but we dig it. Hit the jump for the rest...

Where'd Ya Get That Gold Chain, Oliver?

A few weeks ago the actors and MNPP legends Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Normal People breakout slash rightful short shorts devotee Paul Mescal were spotted canoodling on a sun-dappled boat together...

I GUESS MY INVITATION TO OLIVER JACKSON-COHEN & PAUL MESCAL’S SEXY BOAT TRIP VACATION GOT LOST IN THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE pic.twitter.com/ycTJ4bnWaF

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) October 17, 2020

... and okay no they weren't "canoodling" but I got you to picture it in your head for a hot sec, didn't I? You are welcome. And they weren't so much "spotted" as they were "Instagramming themselves there in order to make spazzes exactly like yours truly have canoodling fantasies about them." And it's okay! I don't mind being gay-baited in the slightest. If it makes a dent in the centuries of women being asked to paw at each other for straight male fantasies I say so be it! I will suffer for their art.

And there are a couple of pictures of Paul in his short-shorts, just because I felt this post needed more photos. You're welcome. Again. Anyway nobody really seemed to know what the hell Oliver & Paul were hanging out for, since as far as I knew -- and I feel as if I of all people would know an otherwise if an otherwise had existed -- they'd never been spotted together before. Well now we know why! Oliver had joined the cast (thx Mac) of Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial debut The Lost Daughter, which I told you Mescal would be starring in back in September.

Variety says that Oliver (as well as Ed Harris) joins the already-killer cast, which includes Olivia Colman, Peter "Maggie's Husband" Sarsgaard, the great Jessie Buckley... oh and Dakota Johnson baby! This movie is more than I can even. More than I can even. Here's my original post about it with the details on "what is it about" or whatever, like that matters at this point. 

It's a New NewFest!

This is a subject I've addressed on Twitter -- see the thread here -- but there is a documentary about the gay photographer George Platt Lynes (that's one of his typically gorgeous and homoerotic photos seen above) called Hidden Master that has been making the festival rounds this year that I had an itty bitty role in behind-the-scenes. (Really, an exceptionally small role -- but I am thanked in the credits!) Well the doc is finally officially playing my hometown, as today it was announced to be a part of this year's NewFest! It will screen one month from today on October 13th -- it will also be screening virtually -- and you can buy tickets at this link. I obviously can't give an unbiased opinion on the movie given my involvement, no matter how tiny it was, but I've seen the movie several times now and I really do think it's the bee's knees and recommend everybody give it a shot. And NewFest isn't the only place it's lined up -- check the film's website for more information.

Anyway this post isn't just about that film -- as I do every year for NewFest we need to take a look at everything they've got lined up for us this year, running from October 14th through 24th. It's one hell of a line-up -- maybe the biggest they've ever had since I've been going? Their Opening Night film is Rustin, Netflix's biopic of the civil rights leader starring Colman Domingo which I've posted about a ton. Their Centerpiece Film is Nyad, the awards-hopeful biopic of the famous swimming legend starring Anette Bening and Jodie Foster. And their Closing Night film is Andrew Haigh's All of Us Strangers with Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, which I have posted even more about than any of the others for, you know, obvious reasons. 

They are also doing a tribute to Todd Haynes and screening his new movie May December starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. They're showing Eileen, the weird slinky little thriller starring Ann Hathaway that I loved at Sundance. And they're screening some of (well I assume "some of" since it's a full-blown miniseries) Fellow Travelers, with Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey (see my post on the trailer for that here). And that's only the start -- I'm far too lazy to type out everything they're showing, so thankfully they have their own website and have done all of that work for me. Click here for the line-up and ticket info et cetera. And after the jump I'll drop the full press release...

Paul Mescal Getting In Gladiator Shape

The time has come for the Gladiator II workout videos! A staple of the PR push for movies where our favorite hot ass actors get into fighting shape we knew we'd be getting these for Paul Mescal beekcake-ening and sure enough, here they be. Well it's just one now but I foresee myself also making gifs out of like a Men's Health cover story video at some point in the near future and I am not mad about it. But for now just an official video!

Gladiator II is out on November 22nd -- pretty much the perfect Thanksgiving movie -- and you'll hear more from me when the time comes on it. Because oh right I saw it last night?

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A post shared by Jason Adams (@jasonaadams)

Yes as I "hinted" at yesterday I was in the presence of Mr. Mescal himself, and saw the movie and the whole deal. You'll hear my opinion about the movie when the time comes but Mr. Mescal in person? All you could hope for. Funny, charming, somehow really genuine-seeming even though he's very much in the period of time where we're all staring dumbly at him not hearing a word he's saying. Honestly though I don't remember a single word he said. I was just like, "Look at that profile... those eyes... swoon..." Although I will say -- it was 80 degrees here in New York yesterday so the fact that he wore pants felt like a slap in the face. I don't care if this is a fancy movie premiere thing -- they make dress shorts now, Paul. Okay my leering aside let's hit the jump for more gifs so we can all leer at Paul together...

Quote of the Day

"I’ve got a pretty extensive short shorts wardrobe."

We are so blessed that Paul Mescal knows that (beside his great acting talent) his legs are his greatest asset -- he chatted with his Lost Daughter co-star Dakota Johnson for Interview Magazine and apparently the chat happened on Zoom while he was wearing the short-shorts seen in the above photo (I wish we could see them better!) so the subject came up and he gave the above quote and, as Dakota replies, "We know, Paul."

We know because he's been so good about wearing them in public since Day One! In fact I'd say that Paul was even more of a tastemaker when it came to Short Shorts Renaissance than Colin Farrell was. Remember this moment??? I sure do. Anyway short-shorts aside the chat between Paul & Dakota is charming if scattered so check it out, and I've got the rest of the photo-shoot (which is otherwise short-short-less, I feel cheated) here after the jump...

Paul Mescal Eight Times

If you'd told me yesterday that we'd be getting a "Paul Mescal in short shorts" photoshoot for GQ Magazine this morning I'd have brought my inhaler in with me to work. No I don't own an inhaler, but I'd have found one because I'd have known twas gonna be necessary for this. Phew! The whole shoot is (unfortunately) not all short-shorts -- he wears a couple of lovely sweaters, some jeans, whatever. Let's focus on the important things. The gold chain is there too! He knows which side his sweet buns are buttered upon. Hit the jump for the rest...

Paul Mescal's Thighs Invite You

Charlotte Wells' film Aftersun starring Paul Mescal is so good (here is my review) that if you ask me the advertising doesn't need to rely on advertisements like the one below, that sells it as "Paul Mescal in short shorts... possibly getting a blowjob too!" trickery... but I am not complaining. And technically this is only half the ad -- A24 posted it on their Instagram and if you swipe through you'll see the other half, where the daughter character lays opposite. But they knew what they were doing. We all know what they were doing. And we all thank them for what they done did. Now go see Aftersun, it's truly special.

Big Day For Paul Mescal Fans

No sooner had I just finished posting the above ES magazine cover on Twitter (where I kicked off what will be a year-long armpit thread because of course I did -- check it out here) than did I see Paul Mescal's also on the cover of the new issue of The Hollywood Reporter, shot by the very talented Ryan Pfluger who's always make menfolk look their best.

I mean not only is Paul wearing shorts and flashing those illustrious career-making gams of his, but he's doing it in front of SHELVES???? Photographer Ryan Pfluger you're an MNPP reader, aren't you? This was a gift for me. I accept!

I haven't read the interview in THR with Paul yet but I did skim through as I was snatching up the photos and I did see him mention Nicole Kidman going backstage at Streetcar (which he's performing in London right now) to meet him in his underwear, and let's all give Nicole another round of applause. She earned that.

Anyway I'll read that chat over lunch in a wee bit -- for now let's just be very happy that H'wood seems to have cottoned on to the Mescal heat. He really seems to be the real deal. He deserved that damn Oscar nomination for Aftersun, and even though I hated the first Gladiator I am still excited for him to star in a sequel. Okay it's the skirts. I'm in it for the skirts, what can I say? How about hit the jump for the rest of this fine-ass photoshoot...

I See Paul Mescal's Underpants

Given how world class good looking Paul Mescal is, it took me a minute of staring at these new photos of him for Vogue magazine to realize he's been yanked into the unfortunate orbit of recent runway style that's had the waistbands of boxer shorts showing above a trousers natural waist -- and listen. I like thinking about what Paul Mescal is wearing under his suit as much as the next guy. But I don't think I can co-sign this trend. I know it's just a coopting of the "urban" aesthetic of droopy pants...

... and I sort of get it being reworked in this way in theory -- it adds a splash of color to the midsection; some interest. It's sort of like a sash instead of a belt I guess. But mostly it just makes me think, "Ouch his boys must be strained." And I just don't think fashion that makes our testicles wince (outside of a fetish space, natch) should be encouraged. Maybe that's just me though! Those crazy kids! Shakes cane!

Paul Mescal Twelve Times

As twas foretold (in this morning's "Good Morning" post) I have returned from my screening and am back here at my desk -- as luck would have it about ten seconds before my screening began I saw these photos of Paul Mescal for Rolling Stone on social media and I dropped to my knees (metaphorically speaking) and went all Darth Vader with my "Noooooo..."

... obviously not because of anything these pictures did. These pictures are our friend. But rather that I'd have to wait until this afternoon to share them. I'm sure y'all have already memorized every fold of his soaking wet boxer shorts on the cover (photographer Ryan McGinley continues to be a god among men) but anyway here I am and here are the photos, after the jump...

Pic of the Day

Paul Mescal got dressed by Gucci for a fashion event over the weekend and this hotness was the result -- swoon! As I said on Twitter we need to just shut down the week now because it's all downhill from here. Give a raise to whoever put Paul in those shorts -- they earned it! 

Anyway I've got a thread going on Twitter with every available photo and/or video I come across so click below for more, with presumably more showing up as the day goes on. (Can we get a shot of him sitting please? I need that.)

Gucci gets a gold star in knowing how to highlight Paul Mescal's assets pic.twitter.com/Ds0t4IcNkq

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) June 17, 2024

The Paul Mescal Collection

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Well it looks like The World went and took my advice and no one has told Normal People actor Paul Mescal about Pants -- Good work, World! We did it! We finally got one right! In celebration of our accomplishment -- and also in celebration of the fact that I cannot seem to form any coherent thoughts worth sharing today -- I have gathered up for us a gallery of photos of Paul and his Perfect Legs running around London in short shorts over the past few months, huzzah! (That said these don't include the most important shots of all, which I'd already posted back in May.) Hit the jump for several dozen photos that'll make this brown day blue...
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Today's Fanboy Delusion

Today I'd rather be...

... working up a sweat with Paul Mescal.

I just want it on the record here that I have been having a real hard and conflicting time with the sort of photos that used to bring me such joy, such as these -- the Normal People star is clearly a big crush of mine after slamming through all the episodes of that phenom new series in a day and a half (see all our posts so far) and these athletic short-shorts were clearly and precisely built in a laboratory for me and me specifically to freak out about... and yet! I am so fucking tense about people wearing masks in public -- yes even while jogging; I jogged with a mask on this morning and so were most of my fellow joggers -- and social distancing that I'm having trouble not having all of these old pleasures ruined for me. It took me a ton of effort not to question that Jonathan Tucker photo this morning. It's a tense time!

So many crushes being stamped out during this pandemic by a-holes being papped in public sans masks pic.twitter.com/CX6FxZ6Rsu

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) May 24, 2020

Future Gay Boys & Mothering Sundays

Don't get too excited, I think that photo is faked. But it's a good reminder of the recent in-itself exciting news that Josh O'Connor and Paul Mescal are going to make a gay romance movie for us, and I'll take any reminder of that, any day, any hour, any second! (And anyway -- Josh in those shorts! Phew!) And having that to post is a good gratuitous segue to lead me into my real reason for being here -- the trailer for Josh's new movie Mothering Sunday was released today, and I have that below.

I saw Mothering Sunday at TIFF and reviewed it right here -- it stars Odessa Young (so good in Shirley last year) as a maid who's having a torrid affair with the fancy-man son of a neighbor's house (O'Connor) not long after WWI; the movie also stars Olivia Colman (who has one scene where she grabs your heart and smashes it onto the floor in a billion different pieces) and Colin Firth. It's worth seeing, and that's even before we get into how very very very naked Josh is for a bunch of it. Weirdly the trailer doesn't use that as a selling point -- they really should let me cut these trailers; I'd get butts in seats! Butts for butts! 

Mothering Sunday is playing one week in L.A. on November 17th

and then gets a proper drop come February 25th of next year.

Steven Yeun Fourteen Times

I woke up in a bad mood this morning but I gotta say the universe has been kind to me so far -- on my commute I got a roomy seat on the train and then I got an elevator to myself in my building, and when I got here I had the office to myself for half an hour. And then i read that Criterion is having its Flash Sale today AND now Steven Yeun took his top off in a magazine? Today is okay! Officially okay! These photos are for AnOther magazine -- yes the same magazine that gave us Paul Mescal in short shorts last week; they win all the prizes -- and if you'd like them all (and I really recommend them) hit the jump...

Pics of the Day

Here's a movie I have done a terrible, a truly despicable, job keeping up with and now it's out in theaters tomorrow -- Benjamin Millepied (aka Natalie Portman's hot tiny dancer husband) has turned the opera Carmen into a musical film, and it stars Paul Mescal. And where the hell have I been? Fuckin' AWOL, for shame. Anyway the trailer is right here, and I gathered up here (via) a nice assortment of photos of Paul training for and shooting the movie, which seems to've consisted of a lot of Paul wearing his trademark short-shorts while dancing and/or boxing. The magic that movies are made of! Hit the jump for it...