Milk

The story of Harvey Milk is one I've known only briefly. An out gay man who was elected to San Francisco's board of supervisors and who was gunned down by a fellow supervisor in 1978. The subject seems perfect for a movie, right?

In Milk, Gus Van Sant's affecting dedication, Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, a man frustrated with his life, so, he moves from New York area to San Francisco to follow his dreams of living a simplistic life with his partner. Soon he and the audience realize, like many instances in this life, sometimes having the easy life isn't meant for everyone. Milk is dissatisfied with his neighborhood and the treatment of homosexuals and wants change.



Milk begins by running for office. He fails. Repeatedly. He does eventually win, however, after much strife and alienation experienced by his long-time boyfriend played by James Franco in a strong, subtle performance.

What fascinates and awes in this movie is the degree to which Milk plays the system. Yes, he's gay, but he's smart and calculating as a politician. He's elected. And there's resistance of course. Threats on his life are made. He forges ahead.



What is great about this movie is its universal and timeless message that we our in control of our fates, if we're willing to take the responsibility to do so. Still more amazing is Penn's ability to strip away the narrative of the film and talk directly to the audience without actually doing so. At times, when Milk is talking to those huddled masses, that he shakes you to the core and makes you look at yourself. And personally, as a gay man, he tells you exactly what every homosexual must realize: a life of simplicity and privacy is something you should have if you desire it, but no matter how we try, what happens in the bedroom affects us as much as any other force in our lives, and hiding can't lead to change.

Inspirational, chilling and affecting. Van Sant crafts an amazing and subtle movie with much grace. Could it have been as good if the director himself wasn't gay?



Josh Brolin, as Dan White, Milk's fellow supervisor who eventually guns him down, is strong and reserved. There's something boiling under White's skin. Frustration? Disenfranchisement? Whatever it was, we know how it ends. And what an unexpectedly expected ending.

This movie, its quality of performance and craftsmanship, will be remembered for years to come, and perhaps everything Milk fought for won't die in vain. ***A***

Cool Photo Time

Random Acts of Boredom

You Are a Maine Coon Cat

You tend to be loving and playful around your family and friends. But when you're around strangers you tend to be a bit reserved. You are intuitive. You understand human emotions well. You do best when you are around people. You don't like being left alone.

What Breed of Cat Are You?

You Are the Tree Pose

You are a well grounded, down to earth person. Not much shakes you. You can remain steady through a crisis - and other people lean on you. You have high standards and morals. You easily rise above pettiness. While people sometimes accuse you of being stubborn, you are able to shift focus when you need to.

What Yoga Pose Are You?

You Are 46% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Your habits are pretty on par with the average person. Unfortunately, this means your chances aren't good in another Great Depression. Start saving your money now. Living in debt isn't doing you any favors. Also figure out how to live a little more cheaply. Every little bit you can trim will help.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

You Are a Pilgrim

Like the pilgrims, you've felt persecuted for your beliefs from time to time. You have a strong sense of right and wrong. Your morality sometimes makes you feel out of step with the modern world. You may not go as far as moving across the world, but you still identify with the pilgrims. Well, except for the whole stealing land and killing Indians thing.

Are You a Pilgrim or an Indian?

Your Sexuality is Australian

The average Australian first has sex at age 17. And the average number of partners is 13. 17% of Australians have had a same sex experience. 22% of Aussies have done some role playing in the bedroom.

What Country Matches Your Sexuality?

You Should Spend the Holidays In

Denmark - where you leave a mischievous elf a bowl of rice pudding

What Country Should You Spend the Holidays In?

You Are Pecan Pie Soda

Sweet, but totally nuts

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Quantum of Solace

Ah, James. How does a former super-spy designed to fight Cold War villainy keep modern audiences entertained and captivated? First you revamp the entire genre starting with a comparison to what audiences respond most: intelligent action propelled by character-driven story lines. Simple enough, right? Not so much.



Quantum of Solace picks-up where the last James Bond left us in Casino Royal. The series was revamped with a new, more intense James, Daniel Craig, and inspired by a need to tell the origins of how one becomes a secret agent with a license to kill. The action sequences become more elaborate and sophisticatedly real. The series became more dark, more real, and somehow promised to compete with every action series out there.



Easy enough. Not so. While Casino Royal promised a new direction, the ability to keep up with its commitment has once again stranded the super spy in action hero limbo.



For all intents and purposes, Quantum delivers on the action. A little too much. From the very start the action sequences are long and intense. And I mean needing a defibrillator and a cigarette intense. Much appreciation goes out to the cast and crew for delivering so much to a genre that once needed invisible cars to get us from point A to point B.



But for all the action, the story dwindles. Our Bond is tough, smart and savvy, but the transition from action sequence to action sequence, disguised as a story, or hell, even a plot, is lost. It's almost as if our dear James is so worried to keep up with the Jason Bournes, the Transporters, the superheros, that he's lost touch with what people really love about him: he's a spy. He has to investigate and gather clues to get to those bad guys. Believe me, people like to feel a part of the story by understanding how you arrived to the bad guys. In this Bond, he seems to know where they are at all times and just goes in for the kill. And boy does he rack up the body count.



For what it's worth, an action movie, Quantum delivers above and beyond. As for a spy drama, let's hope the next one is a little more in-tune. Kudos to Daniel Craig for bringing Bond to a whole new level of badass and for Marc Forster for bringing beautifully shot landscapes and technically marvelous action sequences to the sliver screen. But as far as delivering on what began a couple of years ago, that shot heard around the world has long since been muffled. ***C***

Role Models

There is something in the water in Hollywood. Ever since the take-over of Judd Apatow and his league of funny men, Hollywood's yearly barrage of comedy popcorn flicks has featured great ensembles, crude and highbrow humor, and surprising heartfelt human touches on what could be less-than-stellar plot lines.



Role Models is such a movie. This time Paul Rudd carries this feature with much-do credit. Rudd plays Danny, a man in his thirties unfulfilled in his professional life which has put strain on his personal one. Rudd proves, once again, that he can charm and deliver us the laughs. Great actor.



Danny's partner where he works, did I mention it was an energy-drink company, Wheeler, is just the Stifler-like character you'd expect would be the wingman. Shockingly the movies producers got Seann William Scott. Fitting.



In a fit of rage Danny distroyes a company truck, forcing Danny and Wheeler to serve community service. They are directed to Study Wings, a Big Brothers, Big Sisters-like organization run by ex-con Gayle Sweeny, played perfectly by Jane Lynch.

The humor is perfectly crude at times. Look for excellent cameos by the young men that Danny and Wheeler mentor, Bobb'e J. Thompson as Ronnie and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Augie. Enjoy laughing your ass off! ***A***

That Quote

As soon as I wrote it down...BAM! I remembered where that quote came from. Only one of the best movies ever made, The Shawshank Redemption!



Red: Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.

I'm On Board!

Okay, it wasn't perfect. But we got something. Hope. Which according to some movies is a dangerous thing. I'll agree. But we have to have it. I could not be more proud.



I need to pull it together. I just watched this for the third time and I've been balling like a bitch with a skinned knee. Seriously.