Milk follows the true life story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first openly gay man to be elected to major public office.  It follows him from his days at an insurance company in New York where he meets the love of his life Scott (an perfectly even, warm and funny performance by James Franco).  The two move to San Francisco, seeking a sort of asylum among other semi-closeted gays during a time when you could legally be fired, or kicked out of your apartment for being a homosexual.  The film then focuses on his heroic campaign efforts finally resulting in a win, when Milk is elected as one of San Francisco’s City Supervisors.

This is the best ensemble cast of the year, without a doubt.  Emile Hirsh, Josh Brolin (who plays the slightly homophobic fellow Supervisor Dan White), Diego Luna, Alison Pill, they all play their roles pitch perfectly.  Penn is endearing and inspiring in his portrayal of this fallen American hero.  The script deserves special recognition as well, penned by Dustin Lance Black (Big Love), as it brings a sense of realism often glossed over in political dramas.

The most credit however, goes to Van Sant who handled this piece remarkably well.  If the Academy doesn’t throw him a bone with a nomination nod, I’m going to do something drastic.  I didn’t want the movie to end, it was that good.  A film celebrating this American hero and the fight for civil rights which he led, comes at a painfully relevant time, and perhaps it’ll bring a little more attention and humanity to the current unstable political atmosphere surround gay issues (get your shit together California).  This is Van Sant’s best film to date, and without a doubt, one of the years best ten.

4 out of 4 stars

Rottentomatoes: 93% – Cream of the Crop: 91%

There is no plot in this film.  Really, there’s not.  It follows two friends, both named Gerry, as they wander into the desert to go to a ‘thing.’  After getting half way to the ‘thing’ they decide to turn back, but they get lost.  For (as I count it) four days, they stumble around the desert looking for their car, climbing hilltops.  Not only are the two both named Gerry, but they use the word gerry (probably why it’s not capitalized on the poster) as a transitive verb, meaning to screw up.  The dialogue is completely useless, never discussing anything of value.  In fact, the most interesting topics talked about are Pat Sajak, and a fictional video game.  Click here for mindnumbing memorable quotes.  The best part of the whole film is the cinematography, which was brilliant.  Filmed in the Salt Flats of Utah, the scenary is breathtaking, and a welcomed contrast to the situation the two twenty somethings find themselves in.

The film is more experimental than it is a coherent narrative.  Director Gus Van Sant chose (well, he was forced by budget constraints) to preserve film.  This led to extremely long shots (some approach ten minutes).  One shot focuses in on the profiles of the the two Gerrys (played by Casey Affleck and Matt Damon who also co-wrote the script with Van Sant) as they walk side by side.  For ten minutes.  In silence.  It’s understandable why this movie decisively split critics.  It seems that Van Sant, feeling a little icky after going so mainstream with his previous three films: Psycho, Finding Forrester, and Good Will Hunting, decided to return to his minimalist indie roots, but went a little too far in that direction.  Despite all the these complaints, I couldn’t bring myself to turn off the film.  Gerry, for one reason or another, fascinated me, and even though I saw another fantastic movie immediately after it, I couldn’t stop thinking about Gerry after both were over.  Check it out if you think you have the patience.

3 out of 4 stars

Rottentomatoes: 61% – Cream of the Crop: 50%

Gerry