Cannes Film Festival...Brad Pitt film wins Palme D'Or! Kirsten Dunst Best Actress!

 


 




In spite of the fact filmgoers booed the latest Brad Pitt flick ("The Tree of Life") at at screening at the Cannes Film Festival last week - the prestigious Festival honored the period drama - with the coveted Palm D'Or.

Although Mr. Pitt attended the exotic seaside celebration in Southern France, the elusive star was not in attendance when the heady news was announced Sunday afternoon.

The forty-something heartthrob jetted over off to Hollywood over the weekend to attend Angelina Jolie's Kung Fu Panda 2 premiere.

"Tree of Life" was directed by Terrence Malick - and also stars another Hollywood heavyweight - Sean Penn.

Kirsten Durst was a big winner, too, when she was named Best Actress.

Robert De Niro headed up the Cannes Film Festival selection jury this year, which also included two other high-profile stars - Uma Thurman and Jude Law - on the celebrated panel.

The Festival was not without controversy this year.

Director Lars von Trier was barred from Cannes Film Festival events on the heels of uttering of Nazi and Hitler comments which didn't sit well with guests of the annual event.

At another press conference for a documentary on the BP Oil crisis, Peter Fonda fessed up to media hounds present, that he fired off an e-mail to President Barack Obama this past week, in which he labelled the President a "fu**ing traitor".

WINNER"S LIST
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2011

Palme d’Or

“The Tree of Life”
 by Terrence Malick

Grand Prix
 Tie
“The Kid with a Bike” by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
“Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Prix de la Mise en Scene
Best Director
Nicolas Winding Refn for “Drive”

Prix du Scenario
Best Screenplay
Joseph Cedar for “Hearat Shulayim”

Camera d’Or
Best First Feature
“Las Acacias” by Pablo Gorgelli

Prix du Jury
 Jury Prize
“Polisse” by Maiwenn

Prix d’interpretation feminine
Best Actress
Kirsten Dunst for “Melancholia”

Prix d’interpretation masculine
Best Actor
Jean Dujarin
“The Artist”

Palme d’Or
Short film
“Cross Country”
Directed by Marina Viroda

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Sean Penn...outspoken actor to receive Stanley Kramer Award! Producers Guild honor!



The Hollywood Producers Guild is bestowing one of its highest honors on Oscar-winner Sean Penn.

At a  ceremonyy On January 22nd the at-times-controversial actor will be presented with the Stanley Kramer Award which is named after the celebrated film director.

Penn has the distinction of being the first individual to receive the coveted prize which has normally been awarded to single out issue-oriented films such as "The Defiant Ones" and the landmark film feature "Guess Who's coming to Dinner" in the past.

Paula Wagner - the Chair of the Producers Guild - underscored that Mr. Penn has been a committed activist (deserving of the nod)  who has devoted himself to unselfish causes that have shed light on powerful stories and individuals during the course of his long industrious film career.

Congrats, Mr. Penn!

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Oscars...Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Taylor Lautner, Zak Efron & Quentin Tarantino nabbed to present!

Oscar celebrations belong to young stars this year!

In a titillating move to rustle up a lot of frenzied exictement for the Oscar ceremonies next week, producers have begun to tease film buffs with news-breaking alerts about a bevy of high-profile stars to present the coveted prizes on March 7th!

The focus appears to be on youth, glamour, and popularity!

 For starters, it was announced that muscle-bound  stud - Taylor Lautner - has been slated to appear with Vampire actress - Kristen Stewart-  on his arm.

Yup!

Kristen was invited to the big top, a dazzling dream that eluded her last year.

Kate Winslet, a perennial favorite among Titanic fans, is expected to stroll down the red carpet just prior to her presenter duties early on in the proceedings, too.

Fans of heart-throb - Zak Efron - will be thrilled to hear that the handsome triple-threat talent will be appearing at the Kodak Theatre once again.

Unfortunately, no word from the Academy as to whether the popular stage performer will warble a tune or entertain with a snazzy two-step or three.

Quentin Tarantino (nominated for best director for Inglorious Basterds) will present the award for the Best Foreign Language Film.

Miley Cyrus will undoubtedly dream up an eye-catching gown - if only to cause a few tongues to wag and gossip-mongers like Perez Hilton to scream bloody murder!

I can't wait for the much-anticipated unveiling, can you?



Sean Penn, now a seasoned pro and respected actor in the biz, will also be on hand to present an award, too, shortly after the prestigious annual event strikes up the band and gets underway for the 82nd  year.

See 'ya there!

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Oscars...red carpet coverage tastier than the main entree!

Last week, industry insiders were speculating that red carpet arrivals would be relatively low-key this year -and inclined to tone down the glitz and the glamour - because of the troubled economy.

The theory?

Since common folks around the country have been struggling to make ends meet, many thought it might be prudent for Hollywwood's elite to refrain from traipsing down the red carpet in a vulgar display of jewels and expensive couture gowns, while the rest of the country was hurting.

But, when the carpet was rolled out at the Kodak, and sleek limos purred up to the curb, it was obvious the celebration would be big and splashy.

At this juncture, the experts did an about-face.

"This is what people want to see. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood," chirped Randolph Duke, a fashionista reporting from the wings.

Personally, I found the red carpet coverage more entertaining than the main event.

Stars fluttered in front of the camera for a second or two, offered up a few insightful comments, then moved on.

The Oscar show needed more of that!

The overly-long boring telecast amounted to nothing but talk! talk! talk!

In spite of the fact producers tried to keep the names of presenters and performers under wraps, one anonymous insider revealed that actor - Robert Pattinson - would be doing the honors.

The Vampire heart-throb laughed when it was pointed out that he was the only one who got special advance warning.

"I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing," he chuckled in a sexy accent.

Mickey Rourke, who many were pulling for to win the little gold statutette (Wrestler), had a poignant moment or two.

"I'm happy to be invited back to the dance."

After the interviewer threw some comments his way about his wardrobe choices (last night he sauntered down the the carpet in a white dinner jacket with matching dress slacks and a flourish of black underneath) he insightfully noted that Rourke tended to do things his own way.

Quick on the uptake, Rourke quipped:

"You pay a price when you do things your way."

Valentino - the celebrated fashion designer who has dressed the great beauties of the world (in fact, over the years many Oscar-winners have dashed up to the podium in one of his delicious couture pieces which flatter the female form) - was also trotted out.

He is retired now, and looks a bit mumified, but still has irons in the fire.

As usual, there were many fashion disasters.

On a morning radio show, one woman joked that Myley Cyrus appeared to be wearing a tacky chandelier.

What grated on my nerves was that high-pitched squeaky speaking voice of hers.

She should be playing cartoon characters on Saturday morning kid shows.

Robert Downey Junior was calm and in control as his pretty wife stood by his side.

"Your wife produced your next movie, Sherlock Holmes," noted the entertainment host.

"How was that?"

"It has its fine points," he smirked.

Anne Hathaway looked stunning in an elegant gown which accented her lithe pretty figure.

"Are you wearing anything that is yours," the interviewer probed.

"I can't tell you," she giggled.

I didnt' see any VPL (Visible Panty Line) so I have to wonder if she ran the gauntlet sans panties.

Viola Davis, who played opposite Meryl Streep in "Doubt", was asked how it was working with the seasoned pro.

"I had to take stress tabs," she laughed.

She seemed to double-think that comment for a moment, then hastily added - "homeopathic" - as she spoke directly into the camera.

Queen Latifa was a fashion disaster!

She struck me as ceremonial barge floating down the carpet.

Mr. Duke was a tad critical of Melissa Tomei's - um - gown.

"It looks like a bunch of serviettes tacked on here and there," he snidely remarked.

"A napkin should be in your lap at the dinner table," he noted with an acid tongue.

Ouch!

There was odd moments, too.

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (who looked stunning) stopped to chat with George Pedacio from ABC TV, Pitt gave the entertainment reporter strange furtive looks.

Surely, in view of the fact Brad is an actor, he is keenly aware that a thought transmits openly across the face.

In this instant case, I got the impression the studly star thought George was a silly goose!

Or, just maybe, George gazed too deeply into Pitt's baby blue eyes, and it was a turn off for the Oscar-nominated star?

By the way, did anyone see Jerry Lewis on the red carpet?

I understand that he was keeping a low profile (gee, I wonder why).

After he received the Jean Hersholt Award, he slunk back stage and wouldn't talk to reporters.

After his little stunt last night - not addressing the big "issue" that has been in the news of late - I am inclined to take the position that Mr. Lewis did not deserve the award.

Maybe that's why his appearance on stage was so awkward when he accepted the trinket.

Mr. Lewis was probably painfully aware of that!

Albert Schweitzer said it best:

"Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose."

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Oscar Nominations...few surprises! Nods to Button, Milk & Slumdog. Eastwood shut out, though...

There were few surprises when the Oscar nominees were announced bright and early this morning as the Nation struggled to survive an Obama hang-over from the night before.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" garnered 13 nominations - some worthy - others not.

If you recall, "Benjamin Button" snapped up a gaggle of nods at the Golden Globes Awards, but walked away empty-handed at the end of the glamorous day.

There was at least one oversight in the Oscar run, though.

Clint Eastwood failed to nab any respect from the Academy for his acting chops in the newly-released drama, Gran Torino.

Pity that; after all, the down-to-earth actor's actor was deserving of a nomination.

Gran Torino represents a crowning achievement in acting after at least fifty fruitful years in the business.
(review to follow)

Speaking of male leads, nominees for Best Actor are Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Sean Penn (Milk), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), and Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button).

Actresses nominted lead roles include Kate Winslet for a star-turn in "The Reader", fifteen-time nominee Meryl Streep for a stint in "Doubt", Ann Hathaway for her potrayal of an addict struggling with addiction in "Rachel Getting Married", Angelina Jolie as a distraught mother urging corrupt police to locate her missing boy in "The Changeling", and Melissa Leo as a desperate woman in "Frozen River".

The Academy is pinning their hopes on Hugh Jackman - sexist man of-the-hour - to inject new life into the Oscar celebration which is slated for broadcast next month on February 22nd at ground zero - the Kodak Theatre - in Hollywood, California.



Oscar Nominations

Best Picture

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

'Frost/Nixon'

'Milk'

'The Reader'

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Director

Danny Boyle, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Stephen Daldry, 'The Reader'

David Fincher, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Ron Howard, 'Frost/Nixon'

Gus Van Sant, 'Milk'

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins, 'The Visitor'

Frank Langella, 'Frost/Nixon'

Sean Penn, 'Milk'

Brad Pitt, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Mickey Rourke, 'The Wrestler'

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway, 'Rachel Getting Married'

Angelina Jolie, 'Changeling'

Melissa Leo, 'Frozen River'

Meryl Streep, 'Doubt'

Kate Winslet, 'The Reader'

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin, 'Milk'

Robert Downey Jr., 'Tropic Thunder'

Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Doubt'

Heath Ledger, 'The Dark Knight'

Michael Shannon, ' Revolutionary Road'

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, 'Doubt'

Penelope Cruz, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'

Viola Davis, 'Doubt'

Taraji P. Henson, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Marisa Tomei, 'The Wrestler'

Best Animated Feature Film

'Bolt'

'Kung Fu Panda'

'Wall-E'

Best Foreign Film

'The Baader Meinhof Complex' (Germany)

'The class' (France)

'Departures'(Japan)

'Revanche' (Austria)

'Waltz With Bashir' (Israel)

Best Original Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black, 'Milk'

Courtney Hunt, 'Frozen River'

Mike Leigh, 'Happy-Go-Lucky'

Martin McDonagh, 'In Bruges'

Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter, 'WALL-E'

Best Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

John Patrick Shanley, 'Doubt'

Peter Morgan, 'Frost/Nixon'

David Hare, 'The Reader'

Simon Beaufoy, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Documentary Feature

'The Betrayal'

'Encounters at the End of the World'

'The Garden'

'Man on Wire'

'Trouble the Water'

Best Original Score

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

'Defiance'

'Milk'

'Slumdog Millionaire'

'WALL-E'

Best Original Song

'Down to Earth,' WALL-E

'Jai Ho,' 'Slumdog Millionaire'

'O Saya,' 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Film Editing

Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Lee Smith, 'The Dark Knight'

Mike Hill, Dan Hanley, 'Frost/Nixon'

Elliot Graham, 'Milk'

Chris Dickens, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

'The Conscience of Nhem En,' Steven Okazaki

'The Final Inch,' Irene Taylor Brodsky, Tom Grant

'Smile Pinki,' Megan Mylan

'The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306,' Adam Pertofsky, Margaret Hyde

Best Cinematography

Tom Stern, 'Changeling'

Claudio Miranda, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Wally Pfister, 'The Dark Knight'

Chris Menges, Roger Deakins, 'The Reader'

Anthony Dod Mantle, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Costume Design

Catherine Martin, 'Australia'

Jacqueline West, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Michael O'Connor, 'The Duchess'

Danny Glicker, 'Milk'

Albert Wolsky, 'Revolutionary Road'

Best Sound Mixing

David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten, 'Benjamin Button'

Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick, 'The Dark Knight'

Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt, 'WALL-E'

Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt, 'Wanted'

Best Sound Editing

Richard King, 'The Dark Knight'

Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes, 'Iron Man'

Tom Sayers, 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood, 'WALL-E'

Wylie Stateman, 'Wanted'

Best Live Action Short Film

'Auf der Strecke (On the Line),' Reto Caffi

'Manon on the Asphalt,' Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont

'New Boy,' Steph Green, Tamara Anghie

'The Pig,' Tivi Magnusson, Dorte Høgh

'Spielzeugland (Toyland),' Jochen Alexander Freydank

Best Animated Short Film

'La Maison de Petits Cubes,' Kunio Kato

'Lavatory - Lovestory,' Konstantin Bronzit

'Oktapodi,' Emud Mokhberi, Thierry Marchand

'Presto,' Doug Sweetland

'This Way Up,' Alan Smith, Adam Foulkes

Best Makeup

Greg Cannom, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

John Caglione, Jr., Conor O'Sullivan, 'The Dark Knight'

Mike Elizalde, Thom Flout, 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army'

Best Art Direction

James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis, 'Changeling'

Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando, 'The Dark Knight'

Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway, 'The Duchess'

Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt, 'Revolutionary Road'

Best Visual Effects

Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin, 'The Dark Knight'

John Nelson, Ben

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Palm Springs International Film Festival...cultural waste in the desert. Writer Susan King clueless...

I laughed out loud when I read the caption for Susan King's feature in the Los Angeles Times for the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

"The world flocks to indie oasis."

Hardly.

If she thinks so, she's deluding herself.

To paraphrase Samuel Goldwyn:

"They'll probably stay away in droves."

Ms. King must have lost her artistic sensibilities.

Either that - or she's on "the take" - maybe even friends with festival organizers and filmmakers screening their projects out in the boonies.

Come to think of it - in view of recent features she's penned - I'd have to conjecture she never had any worthwhile sensibilities to begin with.

Surely - she doesn't expect that on her "say so" - filmgoers are going to flock to the 9th Hole in Palm Springs to plunk down hard-earned cash for the piffle they're offering up in that cultural wasteland?

I expect that there is a self-serving motive behind King's gushing report.

Like the Richard Raddon /Los Angeles Film Festival fiasco - I expect a closer behind-the-scenes investigation just might ferret out Los Angeles Times newspaper ties to the annual event - politically, socially, financially.

Whatever!

After all, they're a scurrilous lot at the morning daily.

Ms. King started off by enticing readers with "Last Chance Harry" bait.

Ho Hum!

Dustin Hoffman's new release was premiered at the AFI Film Festival last month to tepid reviews.

And a scant few weeks later is - um - savoring less-than-full houses.

Who wants to drive down to P.S. to nibble at crumbs left-over from more prestigious film festivals around the country?

Unless up-close vistas of commercial buildings that hug a highway are your cup of tea - the ninety-minute trek down a bumpy two-lane highway sounds a tad pointless - don't you think?

Of course, if a fest enthusiast hankers for images of dizzying (!) tiers of highway overpasses (like those scraping the sky at the turnpike in San Bernardino) or getting their rocks off in truck-stop johns along the route- then, this jaunt is for you - Bud!

King proceeded to gush - like some infernal groupie or school-girl with a first crush - that the desert oasis horse & pony show was drawing "star" power this year.

Whoa nellie!

Excuse me, Ms. King, but the cast of "Revolutionary Road" doesn't fit the bill.

Isn't that little stinker languishing in movie houses currently and on its way to bombing big time?

Sean Penn, a draw?

Although many will concede Mr. Penn is a fine actor, I don't recall anyone ever chomping at the bit to catch a glimpse of him in person at a premiere, in the men's room, or acting naughty on the street.

If anything, the cautious are more inclined to avoid the man in person - and his political tirades - sure to put a blight on any upbeat social, cultural, or newsworthy event.

And - here's is a chance to catch a handful of indie films you won't encounter elsewhere on the circuit - she teases.

Frankly, my dear, the obscure ditties you referred to aren't of much interest to any discerning film buff.

In this instant case, in the event of a curiosity factor, I just betcha they'll wait until the celluloid oddities end up on their last legs at a $4 matinee screening at the Regency in West Hollywood.

King was also inclined to rave about a "Black Tie" gala event scheduled to kick off the festival first night.

Golly, nothing sounds more exciting than a function filled to the rafters with a gaggle of puffed-up Lounge Lizards in stuffy formal attire waxing incoherently about a medium they know nothing about.

Speaking of desert creatures, they left no stone unturned in this regard.

King and the Festival folks - cross my heart - dragged out the ghost of Sonny Bono to hammer home the point that the festival erupted on the circuit initially with a smattering of glitz and glamour.

Why, an opening night celebration was once held at Bono's fancy digs, by golly!

What happened???

Truth of the matter is, the venue is downright creaky.

Laid-back, Ms. King?

How about sleepy and out-of-touch?

I give it a two "liver-warted" thumbs down".

Dinosaur exhibit down the highway has more appeal!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Screen Actors Guild...announces nominees! Doubt & Curious Button lead pack...

In spite of a potential strike on the horizon and contract negotiations feverishly underway, the Screen Actors Guild took a breather to underscore that it's business as usual at the guild.

Yesterday, with little fuss or ado, reps announced nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards which are given out annually to recognize excellence in the Film and Television medium.

"Doubt", a film which recently premiered at the AFI Film Fest in Hollywood amid much praise, garnered the most nods.

In addition to being nominated for best ensemble cast, the drama - adapted for the screen from an award-winning play of the same name - captured kudos for Meryl Streep (Best Actress/lead role), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Best Actor/supporting role), Viola Davis (Best Actress/supporting role), and Amy Adams (Best Actress/supporting role).

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Milk" were tied for runner-up, so-to-speak.

Each received three nominations - which included best actor (lead role) bows for Brad Pitt in "Button" and Sean Penn in "Milk".

Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), rounded out the roster.


Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) and Leonardo DiCaprio were passed over for some inexplicable reason.

Maybe the films were released a little too late in the season to receive due consideration by the voting membership?


In the best supporting actor category, Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) compete (with previously-mentioned Phillip Seymour Hoffman) for the coveted prize.





The category for best performance by an actress in a lead role looks to be one of the toughest races in the run for a prestigous SAG award.



In addition to Streep, Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) will be standing in the wings ready to dash on stage in the event actors' ballots tally their way.

The stars have obviously been shining on Ms. Winslet this year.

The Titanic star has also been singled out as Best Actress in a supporting role (The Reader) alongside Adams and Davis. The other two challengers are Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina) and Taraji P. Henson for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".

In the Television arena - "The Closer", "Mad Men", "The Rock", and "John Adams" - rustled up three nods apiece.

The Award's Ceremony is slated to broadcast on TBS and TNT on January 25th from the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.


Now, if only a talented individual or two could manage to craft a beautiful award worthy of the occasion to hand out to the winners.


The current actors' award - an ugly eyesore without any aesthetic appeal - sucks in my estimation!

Give me an Emmy any old day!
(pictured below)

Harvey Milk...screen bio powerful but flawed!

At the height of the Proposition 8 protests, the producers of "Milk" - the screen bio on gay activist Harvey Milk - released their much-anticipated film in local Theatres.

Needless to say - the issue of "gay rights" - ended up front row center all over the landscape in the past few weeks.

Although "Milk" is a captivating tale that sweeps the audience up into its open arms, respected Gus Vant Sant's attempt to score a commercial Hollywood-style hit ended up splintering the gem.

In the opening scenes, the lens focuses on a Harvey Milk that seems so foreign to us.

Milk is not only slaving away in a mundane job he detests in New York City, but still in the closet sexually, and living a sort-of double life.

In the subway one night - a handsome young man catches his approving eye (played by actor James Franco), and before you can say promiscuous pre-A.I.D.S. days - the strange bedfellows end up in the sack and musing about the future.

Shortly thereafter, the twosome head off to San Francisco to seek a better lifestyle as live-in lovers.

When Milk and his boyfriend set up shop in the Castro area, they suddenly encounter a prejudice against "gays" all around them.

So, out of necessity, Mr. Milk is forced to take action to not only assert his own rights, but those of others around him.

When people think of Milk, they undoubtedly recall that the charming persuasive activist was the first openly gay man to land a post in the public political arena.

However, many are probably unaware of the fact that when Milk first made a couple of bids to run for office, he lost.

In fact - it was not until there was a rezoning of San Francisco neighborhoods (with the specific intent of ensuring diverse communities would have the opportunity to elect one of their "own" to represent their interests in the city politics) that Milk finally won.

Gus Van Sant takes an insightful in-depth foray into that political adventure with great success.

Disturbing footage of Anita Bryant - culled from old news reports and TV Talk show - also dredges up disturbing memories of yesteryear as the drama unfolds on the screen.

The lament of the day from religious fundamentalists?

"Homos are sick and they need to be cured."

"Give them their rights" - and next - "rapists, prostitutes and murderers" will be demanding theirs, too.

Shortly after Milk is elected to the Board of Supervisor, he ends up locking horns with another Supervisor on the Board - Dan White (played with great sensitivity by Josh Brolin) - who is obviously homophobic.

In fact, Milk's win at the polls grates on White's nerves because the gay lifestyle goes against his family values.

During a struggle for power and dominance - a conflict arises - and White ends up murdering Milk and Mayor Moscone.

When films are made about gays, the characterizations are stereotypical; as a result, the performances on screen often end up being quite stilted.

Here, the acting is natural and believable.

In fact, Emile Hirsch and James Franco turn in the most remarkable characterizations of their careers to date.

On the other hand, I found that Sean Penn's acting was a little forced in a couple of scenes.

In one prominent conversation with another character during the course of the film, Penn appeared to be "acting" gay.

Maybe it was just a misguided attempt to capture a Milk mannerism that fell flat.

But, for those of you who have seen photographs of Milk - or news footage of the man - it's obvious that when it comes to physicality, Sean and Harvey were cast from different moulds.

Yet, Penn manages to overcome that obstacle (and for the most part) turns in a stellar performance.

Gus Van Sant's approach was pretty much on the money, too.

Some may criticize the director's bold-faced recreation of a handful of events (and the subsequent "imagined" dialogue to breathe life into those scenes) that there were no eyewitnesses to.

For this reason, Van Sant wisely chose to incorporate shots of Milk recording a "journal" of his thoughts, if only to suggest the screenplay was loosely-based on some of that historic material.

However, I found the ending quite objectionable.

Just prior to the closing scenes - before the murder takes place - Van Sant shot a scene of "Milk" in conversation with his ex-lover on the telephone in which he chats about attending the Opera that night.

A few minutes later - when Dan White storms into Milk's office and shoots him down in cold blood - Van Sant proceeds to take wild artistic license.

For example, Van Sant's lens captures Milk falling forward towards an open window after he's been hit - at which point - a shot of a poster advertising the tragic Opera fills the screen for a split second or two.

Then, there is a close-up on Milk.

Now, it appears from the expression on Penn's face, that last thoughts are flashing through Milk's mind (what was/what could have been) before the supervisor finally succumbs to the wounds and drops to the floor.

Here, Mr. Van Sant has chosen to heighten the drama of the murder - interject some editorial comment of his own - and in the process has managed to deliver up a Hollywood-style ending to please the studios.

Shameful!

The Milk story has stood on its own as a great American tragedy for decades.

No sly maneuvering or fake props were ever needed to "milk" it along.

In my mind's eye, Van Sant's "poetic license" amounted to overkill.

"Overkill means pouring another pail of gasoline on a baby that's already burning nicely."

(unknown author)

Franco the ideal lover?

Features & Shopping

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Harvey Milk Day...Nov. 26th! Win prizes at the Milk shop...

Starting bright and early at 8:00 a.m. on November 26th, the Milk Shop will celebrate Harvey Milk Day.

There will be an enter-to-win box for MILK prize packs, a chance to win passes for the "run" of the film engagement locally, and special Harvey Milk Apple Pie Shakes for sale.


Take in a milk "ticket stub" and you'll receive a free scoop of ice cream.

Promotion: November 26th thru November 30th.

The Milk Shop
7290 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
90036
323.939.MILK (6455)

Post: Harvey Milk (Gus Van Sant screen bio) 01/22/08

Info: The Milk Shop

Owner Bret Thompson was born and raised in Los Angeles and is a gifted chef with natural culinary talents.

Recognizing his passion for food at 15, after graduation, he enrolled in the culinary program at the California Culinary Academy in the San Francisco Bay area, while working for Aqua Restaurant.

Thompson was employed with the Patina Group for ten years - during which time - he opened and managed many Patina Group Restaurants.

Thompson was named Orange County Chef of the Year in 2002 at Catal Restaurant in Downtown Disney (Anaheim).

On the heels of this accomplishment, Thompson jetted off to Europe to train under Michelin starred chefs such as Martin Beresetegui of his eponymous restaurant in Lasarte (Spain) , Alain Passard of L'Arpege in Paris (France) and Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu, (France) .

Bret left the Patina group to pursue his dream of opening his own business.

At the - MILK Café Ice Cream Parlor and Bakeshop - the exacting Thompson has displayed a keen eye towards quality of food product, uncompromised service, and a well-trained high-energy staff.

Since the opening of MILK in February 2007 - Thompson has won the hearts of Angelinos and critics alike with his innovative approach to homemade cooking - including simple seasonal cuisine, ice creams and baked goods.

MILK’s accolades include 4 Medals for ice cream at the (2008) Summer Los Angeles International Dairy Competition (2008), praises from the LA Times, Business Week, Town and Country, and recipes featured prominently in Bon Appetite magazine.

Most recently Thompson and MILK collaborated with the GOT MILK? team and provided recipes for the GOT MILK? 2008 summer and 2008 holiday marketing campaign.