Be thankful its not presented in Smell-o-Vision.

I suppose if your culture has been raped and burned by corporate thugs leaving your generation with nothing to hang its artistic hat on, it makes sense to keep looking back at a bygone era for direction. This is sad. Honoring a movement that effected the changes that led to the slaughter of untold numbers of Cambodians and Vietnamese. It's cool though, American teens got to party in the mud, so everything good, man. I'm sure they won't discuss the larger global political aspect of these useful idiots, just stick with the marketing plan and sell the music and free love.






Screenwriters: James Schamus (Hulk)
Director: Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain)
Actors: Liev Schreiber (Wolverine), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen), Emile Hirsch (Milk), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), Imelda Staunton (Freedom Writers) and Eugene Levy (American Pie)

Labels: Ang Lee, Emile Hirsch, Eugene Levy, film, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Liev Schreiber, movie trailer, Paul Dano

This film has been praised far beyond its actual value. It is nowhere near as wonderful as one may be led to believe due to all of the awards and critical praise. Having seen the film, it is clear to me all of the hoopla is little more than politically correct cheerleading. The problem criticizing a film like this is that given its overt agenda, combined with today’s neo-fascist attitudes, going against the grain and pointing out how emotionally distant and manipulative the film is will be confused with hatred towards gays. The fact is that this film is much like every other Gus Van Sant film, it is completely lacking in any meaningful emotional connection and overloaded with self important dialog, along with heavy-handed visuals. The story of Harvey Milk should be told. I honestly believe this. He was an important figure and the rebellion of Castro Street is ripe for cinematic explanation. The man’s life lends itself to being a fascinating biography, despite one’s feelings about homosexuality; he was a notable figure and a fascinating one as well. This film doesn’t tell his story in the best possible way.

I will be upfront and admit that I don’t jive Van Sant’s directing style. I think he gets in front of his camera too often. We see this in overt shots like one in this film where Milk and his lover are sitting on the stoop of his camera shop. The two men, having just been insulted by a Christian liquor store owner, are shown making out in front of Milk's store. This is presented as an act of love and defiance. Behind them a large store sign that reads “Yes, we’re OPEN” may as well be a billboard. Where a more delicate director would combine these images Van Sant practically puts the sign in neon pink and has animated arrows pointing out his clever use of environmental symbolism. Blunt overtures like this litter his works.

Sean Penn’s performance as Milk is solid, but certainly doesn’t rise to the level of a Best Actor Oscar. Then again, I believe the award shouldn’t be an annual distribution but only passed out when someone honestly excels at the art of acting. Penn's work doesn't rise to the level of a signature performance. He plays the man with vigor and brings him to life, but he doesn’t stand out. He doesn't get lost in his portrayal, which he is certainly capable of doing. In this performance, he's always just Sean Penn with an affectation.

This is not a biography as much as it is a piece of political theater. Yes, Milk was an activist who became a politician and telling his life’s story demands his politics be explored. I don’t have a problem with his activism and political attitudes being on display. I concur with some of his assertions. Gays should be allowed to live their lives in peace. Yes, they are God’s children and they deserve respect and love. With the exceptions of being able to marry and adopt children, I agree with many of the political aspirations of the homosexual community. But this film overplays its hand. Van Sant is too overt, too involved to deliver this material without getting in its way.

If you’re comfortable seeing homosexual activity and are looking for a biography that is good, not great, then this will work for you. Just don’t be fooled by the hype machines. It’s not a great film and Penn doesn’t give a stunning performance. It is a good film, and has some merit. Perhaps someday the subject matter will be revisited and a stronger film will result.




Related Reviews:
Sean Penn movies
21 Grams (2003)
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)


Other Critic’s Reviews:
The Flickering Wall
Behind the Hype

Labels: Emile Hirsch, film, Gus van Sant, James Franco, movie review, politics, Sean Penn

At first glance this appears to be a fawning ode to a gay politician made purely for the sake of political correctness. While this cynicism, if you're inclined towards it, would be grounded in a natural reaction to how the entertainment industry works, I would advise to give the story a close inspection. Yes, this is a film about the first openly political in California, Harvey Milk. Yes, it will be fawning and present Milk as a wonderful man and will most likely avoid displaying his flaws. Milk is a martyr for the gay movement and the reason this film found funding is obvious. The story isn't without merit however. Harvey Milk's story is a fascinating one and his life and death had repercussions for the nation on both political and legal grounds. The building confrontations with democrat Dan White, who murdered Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone is rich with drama and will probably make for a good film. There is an agenda here but there is also a compelling story to be told.





Screenwriter: Dustin Lance Black
Director: Gus Van Sant (Finding Forrester)
Actors: Sean Penn (The Assassination of Richard Nixon), Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer), James Franco (Annapolis) and Josh Brolin (American Gangster)

Labels: Emile Hirsch, film, James Franco, Josh Brolin, movie trailer, Sean Penn

Short Review: A whitewashing “true story” movie stemming from a critically acclaimed documentary about the birth of a dumb “sport”.


The writer of this film, Stacy Peralta made a documentary called Dogtown and Z-Boys in 2001. It is one of the better documentaries of that year. This fictionalization of the same story presented in Peralta's documentary, shows a gaggle of wastoids in Venice Beach, CA in the 1970’s as they drop their surfboards in favor of skateboards. The actions of these boys and their handlers led to the broad marketing of skateboarding throughout the U.S.

To water this down, this film and the documentary would have us think of these troubled kids as heroes and legends. While each has the relatively useless talent of performing interesting tricks on skateboards, they are hardly legends outside of their specific group. To look at them honestly, they were nothing more than marketing tools. This film does a good job of showing that aspect of the “legend” of the Zephyr skating team. From the inception of the team, to the wide commercialization that it spawned, this whole exercise was executed for one purpose: get easily led kids to think skateboarding was cool so they would get their parents to buy them a board and the accessories that comes with it.

While I enjoyed much of this quirky and uneven film, I just can’t get myself to take it too seriously. Having seen how well done the original documentary was and knowing that this film skips some pretty significant pieces of the actual story (many of the major players are missing or reduced in their prominence,) kills the buzz a bit. Then there’s that whole thing about not being able to pretend skateboarding is actually a sport. Please, grow up and be serious. Skating is a skill, not a sport.

Overall, this is an interesting little film but thanks to over-acting teenage thespians and a disjointed plot line, I cannot recommend it too highly. The only performance of note is Heath Ledger's as shop owner Skip. Ledger's offers some humor and a grounded performance in this movie littered with pedestrian acting.

If its there in front of you and you can see it for free, knock yourself out. If someone wants you to pay to see it, knock them out.


Related Reviews:
Other odd sports movies
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Murderball (2005)


Other Critic's Reviews:
The Cinema Source
Film Jerk

Labels: Emile Hirsch, film, Heath Ledger, Johnny Knoxville, movie review, Rebecca De Mornay, sports

Andy and Larry Wachowski (The Matrix) bring the famous cartoon to the cinema beginning May 9th. From the looks of the trailer, the film is like having an acid trip inside of a pinball machine. Make sure you take your seizure medication before going to see it.




Screenwriters: Andy and Larry Wachowski (V for Vendetta)
Director: Andy and Larry Wachowski (Bound)
Actors: Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow), Matthew Fox (Smokin' Aces), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise), and John Goodman (Monsters, Inc.)

Labels: Christina Ricci, Emile Hirsch, film, Matthew Fox, movie trailer, Susan Sarandon, Wachowski Brothers