The Next Best Thing
Directed by John Schlesinger

Paramount Pictures

What’s left to live for after you’ve paid $8 to see Rupert Everett and Madonna sleep together? In The Next Best Thing, trés gay Rufus (Everett) kicks back a few cocktails with his best friend, Abbie (Madonna), and hark!, a child is born. According to Paramount’s publicity parrots, these two form “an unconventional family bound by friendship.” Five years later she falls for a straight man and a brutal custody battle over the child erupts. Keep an eye out for Rufus’ HIV positive lover in the mélèe. Shooting started in April, but the release date is up in the air—after Paramount sat on the script for two and a half years before giving it the green light.