Milk(2008) Directed by Gus Van Sant Length: 128 minutes Rated R for language, some sexual content, and brief violence
Let me preface this review by saying that my intentions are not to preach to anyone concerning their opinions on homosexuality. That being said, Milk is one of those powerful movies that incites the need to riot, to protest, to fight for a cause. In the shadows of the recent passing of Proposition 8 in California, effectively banning gay marriage, the message and story of Harvey Milk is more important and poignant than ever. Though you may not support gay rights, the persecution, torment, and inequality represented throughout Milk should cause you to stop and consider the way the LGBT community as a whole is treated. Much is made about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the great leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; but little attention or concern is given to the gay community and their struggles for equal rights.
Quite simply, Milk is the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in America who spearheaded the gay rights movement specifically in California, and in turn created a movement throughout the United States. Milk was tragically assassinated by fellow county supervisor Dan White, who blamed Harvey for blocking his reinstatement to his position in the San Francisco city government. There's nothing unpredictable about Milk; you know that he will die, how, and when. Yet that's the beauty of Milk - a historical recount of a remarkable man and the powerful love and effect he had on the gay community not only in San Francisco but in other parts of the country as well.
What really makes Milk incredible is the amazing cast, starting with 2008's Best Actor, Sean Penn (Tree of Life, Mystic River). The man who has evolved from the lovable surfer stoner in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) to the tragically, mentally challenged father in I Am Sam (2001), to now the performance of a lifetime. I've heard lots of reviewers saying that they don't know how Sean Penn fooled people into thinking he was straight for so many years; I have to say they have a point. Penn IS Harvey Milk. It would have been easy for most actors to simply play the stereotypical gay man - the accent, the hand gestures, etc. While Penn does perfect these aspects of his characters, it is the passion that he brings to Milk that makes his performance believable. It's one thing to kiss another male actor and simply be acting; it's another thing entirely to kiss that same person and sell the kiss as one of passion, love, and earnestness. Penn's portrayal of Harvey Milk is one for the ages.
The supporting cast is just as good as Penn. Initially, I was not that impressed with Josh Brolin's performance. As Dan White, the assassin of Milk, Brolin (W., No Country for Old Men), does a decent job, but I questioned his nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After discussing the movie with a friend, I really came to enjoy the nuances of Brolin's performance. Milk could have easily vilified White and his actions; instead, Brolin is able to show the tortured soul of a man who struggled to work with an openly gay politician, no matter how much Harvey tried to reach out to White. James Franco (Pineapple Express) also proved his serious acting chops with his performance. As Scott Smith, Harvey's lover for most of the movie, you really see the love between the couple. You truly feel like this is a couple that deserves to be together; dare I say it, they're cute together. I only hope that one day I'm lucky enough to have a relationship as beautiful as the one Harvey and Scott enjoyed.
I rarely cry during movies, but Milk caused me to tear up at times. It truly is shocking to see the terrible way people did, and for that matter still, treat the LGBT community. I am a heterosexual white male, and I am extremely lucky to never have had to face the persecution that any minority has. I literally laughed out loud at times concerning the ridiculous reasons people raise for why homosexuals should not have equal rights. It truly disturbs me that a gay man or woman still is not treated with the same level of protection under the Constitution that any other straight person is. I don't expect one movie to change the way people believe; but perhaps Gus Van Sant's excellent film can make people pause for a moment and consider treating all people with equality and respect, regardless of sexual orientation. Though I don't feel that Milk was the best movie of 2008, I am shocked and outraged that it did not win over the highly overrated Slumdog Millionaire. Now, more than ever, Milk and its call for equality need to be heard.
Final Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Favorite Quote: Scott Smith: "Christ, Harvey, I thought you were a Republican!"
Oscar Winners: Best Actor in a Leading Role-Sean Penn Best Original Screenplay
Oscar Nominations: Best Achievement in Costume Design Best Achievement in Directing-Gus Van Sant Best Achievement in Editing Best Original Score Best Motion Picture Best Supporting Actor-Josh Brolin
Changeling(2008) Directed by Clint Eastwood Length: 141 minutes Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, and language
It seems 2008 was Clint Eastwood's year. Already receiving lots of press for his critically acclaimed film Gran Torino (2008), Changeling was the "other" film that received less hype and support from critics. I'll admit, before watching this movie, I was skeptical as I never have been a big fan of Angelina Jolie. Thankfully, I took the time to watch this excellent film by a director who just seems to get better with age.
Changeling is set in the late 1920s in Los Angeles, a time known for its corrupt police tactics and lack of due process. Christine Collins, played by Angelina Jolie (Salt, Wanted) in an Oscar nominated role, is a single mother who works as a telephone operator manager. Christine's life is centered on her son, who goes missing when she is forced to work a weekend shift and leaves the boy alone at home. Based on a true story, what follows is a bitter history of the terrible corruption that plagued the LAPD for years. When Christine's son is "found" by the police, the reunion does not go as hoped when she discovers the boy is not her son. Though Christine has proof that the boy is not hers including dental records, circumcision, height, etc. she is still unable to convince the police that they have made a mistake. What follows is the best depiction of the corruption of the LAPD since 1997's L.A. Confidential, fueled by Jolie's powerful performance as a mother determined to find her child.
As I stated, I have never been a big fan of Jolie's; however, in Changeling, she appears to have taken on a different form. Dressed in vintage 1920s attire and bright red lipstick, I almost couldn't believe it was the same woman who recently has played a sexy assassin in Wanted or the tough adventurer in Tomb Raider. Jolie's wraith-like figure and visage really complete her appearance as a working woman in the early 20th century. Beyond just her looks, she does an excellent job of not overdoing her character. It would have been easy to simply be a hysterical parent weeping on every sympathetic shoulder, but Jolie keeps a quiet yet believable strength about her character that helps you cheer on her crusade to find her real son.
The supporting cast, for the most part, does a respectable job. I was a little disappointed with John Malkovitch's (Jonah Hex, Burn After Reading) performance as Rev. Gustav Briegleb. It's not that he was terrible, but I have come to expect such great performances from Malkovitch that anything below great is slightly disappointing. Others may recognize Jeffery Donovan (Burn Notice) who plays the infuriating Capt. J.J. Jones. You will most definitely grow to hate Donovan's Irish captain who is often the center of the corruption.
I will warn that the movie does have some disturbing content. While this isn't as "in your face" as many modern movies, the weak-at-heart should be warned. At risk of spoiling the movie, I will not reveal the content, but it plays a central part of the film that will strongly influence your opinion of the characters as well as provide an interesting yet unforeseen twist.
On a more artistic side, I really love the colors employed by Eastwood throughout the film. A majority of the film has a hazy look that keeps the actors and sets in a drab almost monochromatic color scheme. This lack of colors really gives the movie a classic feel and look; yet, it is the bright burst of colors, like a yellow taxi or a red trolley, that really emphasize the look of the film. Perhaps this color scheme is what accentuates Jolie's almost ghost-like look throughout the film.
Ultimately, I feel Eastwood deserves more credit for his extraordinary year directing two great movies. While Gran Torino is still the better film, Changeling is an excellent drama that will force you to empathize with the plight of a mother who loses her child and fights the corruption others were afraid to challenge. Jolie is certainly deserving of her nomination and has proven she is a serious actress who can perform with the best of them. I certainly hope Eastwood will continue to direct, considering that he has already directed some of the best modern classics in just the last decade alone - Mystic River (2003) and Million Dollar Baby (2004) come to mind. I highly recommend this film to all; you will definitely be treated to a master of directing and an actress in a career-defining role.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Favorite Quote: Christine Collins: "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on."
Oscar Nominations: Best Achievement in Art Direction Best Achievement in Cinematography Best Actress in a Leading Role-Angelina Jolie
Body of Lies (2008) Directed by Ridley Scott Length: 128 minutes Rated Rated R for strong violence including torture, and for language throughout
It seems for every great movie Ridley Scott directs, it is usually followed by a not-so-great one. Though you may not agree consider the following: Oscar winning Gladiator (2000) followed by Hannibal (2001); Black Hawk Down (2001) with Matchstick Men (2003) and Kingdom of Heaven (2003). Well now you can add Body of Lies to the list of bad "next movies" (in case you are wondering, 2007's American Gangster is the good preceding movie).
Based on David Ignatius's novel of the same name, Body of Lies is your typical "CIA agents trying to bring down the terrorists in the Middle East" flick. Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island, Revolutionary Road) plays Roger Ferris, a CIA operative who is responsible for running field operations in the Middle East in order to capture known terrorists . Playing the role of the man-in-charge of it all is Russell Crowe (Robin Hood, American Gangster) as Ed Hoffman, the older, more experienced man behind the desk that attempts to maintain control of every operation from the safety of Langley, Virginia.
I will give Body of Lies credit for one major item that often plagues most modern spy movies; the story, while not the greatest, is easy enough to follow and never gets too convoluted. While there is plenty of back stabbing, secretive deals, and undercover double agents, the story remains relatively easy to keep track of and never gets too messy. Beyond that, I really expect better from Ridley Scott and this cast.
Scott has directed many classics throughout his long film career; perhaps that is why it is so maddening to me that his films typically go like a pendulum--good, bad, good, bad, etc. I don't expect an Oscar winning film every time he directs a film, but this movie is disappointing and a tad boring. The action, if you can call it that, is not memorable; the plot contains nothing original; and the acting could have been MUCH MUCH better. When I see that two of the biggest and best actors in Hollywood are slated to team up in a Ridley Scott film, I expect big things. Both DiCaprio and Crowe leave something to be desired. Both actors chose to utilize a southern accent for Body of Lies, which only raises the question of why? It never seemed to fit either character and at times proved to be a bit distracting. I could almost let it go with Crowe's character since he is the somewhat "racist" character, but I feel like this would only serve as a huge stereotype that a good actor would not lean on for a crutch.
I don't feel like I have wasted my time; I simply feel like this movie could have been much better. Look at more recent films such as Syriana (2005) to see an example of a good modern spy thriller. I can only hope that Scott's upcoming films can continue the trend of bouncing back after a disappointment.
Final Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
Favorite Quote: Roger Ferris: "You're a fat fucking piece of shit. We do this shit for a living. Go on a Goddamn diet!"
Taken(2009) Directed by Pierre Morel Length: 91 minutes Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic content, sexual content, some drug reference, and violence
Before I saw this movie, one of my roommates (whose opinion I often disagree with) proclaimed that this is the best movie of 2009, so far. While we are certainly just beginning 2009, such a claim seems worth an investigation. After now seeing Taken twice, I remember why my roommate and I often disagree on our taste in movies.
This movie is just plain average: nothing extraordinary, nothing terribly damning. The movie starts with old Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson (Lincoln, The Chronicles of Narnia) playing the role of Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative who is attempting to rebuild his relationship with his seventeen year-old daughter before she leaves for college. You really get an idea how out of touch with his daughter Bryan is when he buys a karaoke machine for his daughter's birthday, believing that she is still the little girl who wants to grow up to be a singer one day.
Just as it seems Bryan is beginning to regain his daughter's love, she asks for his permission to travel to Paris for the summer with a friend. As I'm sure you have gathered from the preview, things don't go according to the plan. Bryan's daughter Kim, played by Maggie Grace (Lost), and her friend are soon abducted and sold into the world of sex trafficking. So what would any good former CIA operative do if his/her daughter was captured? Why travel to Paris to kick some ass, torture some Albanians, and save the girl of course!
For those fans of Jack Bauer and his 24 torture/stop the "bad guys" adventures, this is your movie. For those of you that like a good movie, then you might be out of luck. Liam Neeson does a respectable job as the father possessed with finding and saving his daughter. His daughter Kim is a different story. Is it bad that I almost wanted her to be deflowered and taken by the sex slave traders? I know teenagers are emotional, moody, and needy; but Jesus, would someone take the silver spoon out of this girl's mouth and just say no! What parent thinks it's a good idea to send their daughter to Europe unattended, when she can barely even act like a mature adult. For someone who is actually twenty-seven, I'll give Maggie Grace her dues; she truly is believable as a seventeen year-old. But dear God did I want her to not be rescued. I can only pray I don't have a daughter like this.
My ranting about annoying children aside, the action is ultimately on the dull side. When your whole basis is as an action movie, dull does not bode well. You never feel like Mills is in danger of not succeeding. I know he is a trained CIA agent, but even James Bond gets his ass kicked every once in a while. I have trouble believing that an older, albeit experienced, agent can demolish so many people and come out with minimal damage. Not to mention, you would think his judgment would be clouded by emotions. I mean, this is his daughter that is being sold into sex slavery; not just some stranger.
If you are looking for a decent popcorn flick, then by all means rent Taken. I can't recommend spending the cash to see the movie in the theater, but it could not hurt to rent/Netflix it. As long as you don't expect the Bourne trilogy, then I feel like you will find an easy to watch, entertaining, yet average movie.
Final Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote: Bryan: "Now's not the time for dick measuring, Stuart!"
Choke(2008)
Directed by Clark Gregg Length: 92 minutes
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, and language
So let me start by saying, this is not a movie to watch with the kids (unless you have mature kids, mad props mom). I'll even go on to say that if you are easily offended by language or very extreme sexual content (as in perverse sexual fantasies), this is not the movie for you!
Based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Survivor), Choke is definitely not your typical movie. Victor Mancini, played by an excellent Sam Rockwell (Moon, Frost/Nixon), is a med school drop-out/sex addict that simulates choking in public places in order to be saved by a soon-to-be hero, who Victor then exploits for money by sharing his sad story of destitute. On top of scamming people to pay for his mother's nursing home bills, Victor lives in denial of his addiction to casual sex and issues with intimacy. To make matters worse, Victor is stuck working a dead-end job at a colonial village where he must maintain character or face time in the shackles.
If you don't get the picture of just how out there Palahniuk's novels are by just that brief description, then trust me, you will by the end of the movie. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Choke. For a dark-esq comedy, it certainly has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Often, the best exchanges come from Sam Rockwell's character of Victor and his current "buddy." Missing anal beads, around the worlds, simulated rape role plays, and crazy old nursing home patients provide for PLENTY of laughs; and I haven't even mentioned Victor's best friend Denny, played by Brad William Henke (Dexter, Star Trek), a chronic masturbator who falls in love with a stripper named Cherry Daiquiri!
Sam Rockwell does an excellent job in this role. You really relate to him, even though he's just a huge asshole and womanizer. Everyone has issues with his/her parent(s) at some point, and Victor is no exception. Rockwell's performance alone is enough to carry this movie, and he is certainly making a strong case that he is one of Hollywood's vastly underrated actors who deserves bigger roles. The supporting cast, while not necessarily as memorable as Rockwell, is excellently casted and perform their roles sufficiently.
As far as story, it certainly is original. I cannot say that any moment felt cliched. There are a couple of scenes that are a bit redundant. Although they come from the book, they could have been cut without hindering the plot advancement. Overall, the movie flows well and never feels like it drags or goes stale. If anything, the movie definitely keeps you glued with catchy one-liners/exchanges, funny situations, or even more emotionally charged scenes, typically involving Victor's mother played by Anjelica Huston (Medium, The Darjeeling Limited) and her battle with Alzheimer's.
I highly recommend this movie. If you're like me, it makes you want to read more Palahniuk, but his style certainly isn't for everyone. A dark comedy with an original plot, funny dialogue and scenes, what more could you ask for? As I warned, if you are easily offended, probably not right for you. But if you give it a try, I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied with an excellent comedy.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Favorite Quote:
Internet Date: "You don't hit me with the knife! That's called stabbing me!"
