Milk

[Floater]

What a great movie.

Outstanding performances by Josh Brolin, James Franco, and of course the amazing Sean Penn. He should at the very least get an Oscar nomination for his role as Harvey Milk, just incredible.

[Lucky Jim]

I've heard nothing but good things. The swing from his Mystic River-style conflicted thuggishness to Milk is extraordinary. Say what you will about Penn, and he's made some bad films and worse decisions, when he finds the right role, he can be astonishing.

Dead Man Walking is a deeply flawed movie, but his performance is remarkable.

[tennOsfan]

If Sean Penn is involved, it's worth buying a movie ticket.

[TyCobb]

I saw it. Let's just say it isn't my type of movie. It still a great movie. Should get a bunch of Oscar nods. I just don't dig downers.

[Lucky Jim]

I saw it. Let's just say it isn't my type of movie. It still a great movie. Should get a bunch of Oscar nods. I just don't dig downers.

You didn't know how it ended?

I mean, we're not talking Crying Game surprises here. ;)

[TyCobb]

You didn't know how it ended?

I mean, we're not talking Crying Game surprises here. ;)

I knew how it was going to end. lol. But the whole movie is a downer.

[Lucky Jim]

I knew how it was going to end. lol. But the whole movie is a downer.

I was just giving you a hard time - I was pretty sure you knew how it would wind up. I'll give Gus some credit, though - he keeps cranking out idiosyncratic and non-forumulaic films.

[sakata_catching]

I'll give Gus some credit, though - he keeps cranking out idiosyncratic and non-forumulaic films.

Don't expect the challenging minimalism of Gerry, Elephant or Last Days here — the GVS who signed on for this film is working with both feet planted squarely in studio biopic formula.

Still and all, Milk is very, very good, and I didn't really find it a downer at all. It's one of the few modern American films I can think of that portrays the American democratic process in an embracing, non-cynical light, although Harvey Milk is far from a Mr. Smith-style ideologue — he's a shrewd, calculating operator, who, by the end of his career, is growing increasingly comfortable with throwing his political weight around.

Penn is as good as advertised. And I'm still rather amazed at how Josh Brolin seemingly rolled out of bed one morning a couple years ago having transformed into a world-class actor.

[McNulty]

Don't expect the challenging minimalism of Gerry

Wow, I thought I was the only one who saw Gerry. I've never seen people get so angry about a movie before. I really liked the fact that it was challenging to watch.

[Lucky Jim]

Don't expect the challenging minimalism of Gerry, Elephant or Last Days here — the GVS who signed on for this film is working with both feet planted squarely in studio biopic formula.

Still and all, Milk is very, very good, and I didn't really find it a downer at all. It's one of the few modern American films I can think of that portrays the American democratic process in an embracing, non-cynical light, although Harvey Milk is far from a Mr. Smith-style ideologue — he's a shrewd, calculating operator, who, by the end of his career, is growing increasingly comfortable with throwing his political weight around.

Penn is as good as advertised. And I'm still rather amazed at how Josh Brolin seemingly rolled out of bed one morning a couple years ago having transformed into a world-class actor.

Right - I guess I meant that he's unpredictable. For every Gerry, there's a standard biopic. But even when he does a biopic it's about a non-traditional figure - like, say, a gay SF politician.

Just interesting decisions all around.