MILK: SEE THIS
I watched Milk last night and I have to say: it was easily the best film I saw out of 2008 in terms of its formal, filmmaking elements, its performances, and its inspired energy.
It was a remarkably, incredibly prescient film for 2008 - not just because of Prop 8 (though its dramatization of the fight against 1978's Prop 6 was an obvious, sobering parallel), but also given Obama's election and the idea that mass movements in the United States are still a possibility.
But that larger backdrop aside, the performances were phenomenal, especially Sean Penn who, to me, was completely unrecognizable from any other role I've ever seen him in. While, sentimentally, I like pulling for Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, I feel like Penn does the better "acting" job here. James Franco is very good, Emile Hirsch is great and Josh Brolin as Dan White was incredible too, imbuing White with a nuance that gives his character such depth beyond "the guy with the Twinkies defense." Did I mention that Penn smiles, a lot? It's weird. But in a good way.
(Milk also further confirmed how downright trifling Slumdog Millionaire was. If people are looking for a "feel good" film, Milk's real-world message is >>>>>>> some fantasy about game shows and destiny.)
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