| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
w22dheartlivie 
"Kitty Lover"
|
 Posted - 05/24/2010 : 00:21:33
|
| As you know, I've been waiting patiently for years to be approved for Disability coverage and finally was approved. When I got my first couple checks, after paying back extended family debts, I rejoined Netflix and also hit a few pawn shops and DVD rental places to buy up old DVDs that I wanted to see. So I got Milk. I don't pretend to be a deep thinker or film analyst, but I can say quite frankly that this is the best film I've ever seen that starred Sean Penn. Penn gave a thoughtful, sensitive interpretation of Harvey Milk and made him very human, believable and honest. This was the surprise of the year for me. I tend to think it was hard to believe out of someone who did Mystic River, every over-acting second of it. I exchanged email with a Wikipedia friend who works in film and he said that "It was hard to believe that quality of a performance came from the actor who also gave us Shanghai Surprise. I can testify that we have good scripts and bad scripts and do what we can with them professionally. A lot of what we do is at the director's instruction. And if the director pushes for overly large performances, they get 'em. But just as with Penn, as an actor matures and his strengths become more obvious, smart directors will let the actor bring a character to life through the actor's own interpretation... and we are then less likely to be cast against type or be encouraged to give a dishonest performance." Which brings me back to Mystic River. I generally like Clint Eastwood's directorial work, but I was disappointed with the uncontrolled atmosphere that some of the performances carried in that film. Penn made me decidedly uncomfortable. But comparing and contrasting it with the performance that Gus Van Zant got from him for Milk, I was surprised at the tenderness and depth that Penn brought to Harvey Milk. One of my criteria for a good performance is whether I tend to forget who the actor is when I'm watching the characterization. That is my main criticism of nearly everything that Tom Cruise has done (The Last Samurai being a very strong exception) and Milk met that criteria exceedingly well. I paused at one point to remind myself this was big, bad Sean. There was a gentleness coupled with a strength of purpose that had to be difficult to capture. And in looking at the DVD extras, I was sort of surprised at how carefully the other roles were cast. Each actor involved looked similarly enough to his real-life counterparts, I would imagine it was a little off-putting to those who knew them. Now I understand why Sean Penn was considered a bit of a lock for the Oscar. Had I seen it before the Oscar broadcast, I would have bet real money on his winning. It made me like Penn again, which I'd kind of lost after Dead Man Walking. Bravo. |
|
|
ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
|
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 09:22:41
|
I haven't seen this film yet, but kudos to Penn and the director for pulling this off. I haven't seen anything of his since Dead Man Walking. I do want to see this but I also find it hard to believe that you forget its him on the screen.
No matter - I'll give it a try and see for myself. Nice review.
|
 |
|
|
Salopian
"Four ever European"
|
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 12:14:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
As you know, I've been waiting patiently for years to be approved for Disability coverage and finally was approved.
Great news! 
Glad you liked Milk. Here is the main thread. |
|
|
|
w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
|
Posted - 05/25/2010 : 03:34:57
|
quote:
Originally posted by Cracovian
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
As you know, I've been waiting patiently for years to be approved for Disability coverage and finally was approved.
Great news!
The funny thing is that I made of list of "absolutely need this" items and the first thing I bought was a pair of tweezers. Lost mine and was not pleased with being unable to tweeze those two hairs on my chin. :)
Glad you liked Milk. Here is the main thread.
Thanks, I searched for but couldn't find it. |
|
|
|
w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
|
Posted - 05/25/2010 : 03:40:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
I haven't seen this film yet, but kudos to Penn and the director for pulling this off. I haven't seen anything of his since Dead Man Walking. I do want to see this but I also find it hard to believe that you forget its him on the screen.
No matter - I'll give it a try and see for myself. Nice review.
There were times when I was watching that I caught myself thinking "he doesn't even look like Sean Penn right now". To me, it was a huge step outside the boundaries for him. |
Edited by - w22dheartlivie on 05/25/2010 03:52:29 |
|
|
|
ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
|
Posted - 05/25/2010 : 07:26:41
|
Well, I noticed it was on TV the other day, so I set it up for recording in the middle of the night. I've wanted to watch it for some time - especially after what Bafta wrote about it (and I always listen to her advice, but this time in particular because she knew Harvey Milk personally).
Well, after I and my husband get back from our various trips and assignments, I'll have it ready to watch.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
My Slightly Behind the Times Milk review
