Milk

This movie will both entertain and make you feel uncomfortable regardless of how you feel about the subtext. This is not a movie promoting any particular lifestyle. It is about a fight for human rights in a turbulent time of our nation's history, California's history, and in particular San Francisco. This movie is about political and personal struggle.

First let me congratulate Dustin Lance Black who wrote a very smart screen play and won an Oscar and 8 other awards for it worthily. This is an excellent example of how to tell a compelling story when everyone already knows all the details from beginning to end.

Then, I want to commend director Gus Van Sant for making a picture with old footage blended with new footage and threaded together so well we sometimes can't tell the difference. To say the least, he does quirky but powerful movies. If you have seen his work, you will remember the movie for years.

Finally we should acknowledge the genius of Sean Penn. He has come a long way since his humble beginnings in Little House on the Prairie. He chooses iconic roles from Spicoli in Fast Times to this current masterpiece. I look forward to seeing him a Larry in The Three Stooges soon.

As a native San Franciscan I appreciated this movie even more. But, you don't need to be from there, or gay, or political, to enjoy it. You just need to empathise with the human struggle.

Watch this movie with an open mind.

Into The Wild

What a masterpiece. Sean Penn is a genius. While you may not approve of the message, the ending, the skin or the language of this movie, you will most likely have to admit it is well-written and well told. It was not what I expected, and yet much more than I had hoped for.

Emile Hirsch does his best work to date, but raises my expectations for future work from him. Powerful acting is a gift. Please use it wisely. May you be as wise as this character.

This movie communicates some very strong messages. Many are a commentary on American society. You may, or may not, want to hear everything this young scholar has rumbling around in his head. But the story is very compelling.

If you like to do your travel and tourism via your TV, this movie will take you to many places in the US you might not otherwise see. The main character does a fantastic walk-about across America and gains wisdom and dept in the process.

At one very critical moment in the film, Hirsch's character pens the entire point of the movie. It has taken him 2 years and many bumps and bruises, both physical and emotional. Happiness is only real with it's shared.

Don't watch this movie with an animal rights activist. Don't eat dinner while watching the second half of this movie.

But, do watch it with someone who will enjoy the message, the scenery, and the wonderful Eddie Vedder soundtrack.