Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Ghoulish Delight]

We also watch Burn After Reading last night.

Meh. It was clever, and I got a little more onboard after the mid-movie debriefing scene, that helped. But the characters, while on some level were fun and well performed, were all pretty flat, too one-dimensional. It helped if I tried to think of it like we were watching a novel written by someone like Malkovich's character, but even in that context it just doesn't have enough to make it more than a little amusing.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

We finally saw Milk, and I have to say that I didn't like it nearly as much as the documentary. Way too much romantic storyline, meh.

Hahaha, I finally saw the documentary this week, and have to say I didn't like it nearly as much as the film.

The documentary COMMENTARY was very interesting. Apparently, and this is borne out by the film, it's NOT a biography of Harvey Milk. In fact, the title is often mistaken, even in print advertising, and that's why I - and apparently so many others - think it is called "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" when, in fact, the title is "The Times of Harvey Milk" - - and so the subject matter is the politics and not the man.

The subject of the theatrical film is the man, and that's why his LIFE is more central to the story. I think the balance is better in the movie ... and it turns out to be so much more based on fact that I at first dramatic-licentiously assumed, that I find it a better document of Harvey Milk than "The Times of Harvey Milk."

Both films are important, and moving, but the Oscar-winning movie is - imo - more entertaining and far more moving (I think I cried at 4 or 5 points, while I shed narry a tear during the docu.).



Obviously the subject matter has become very important to me in the last few months. Watching both films this week, it struck me that I had lived in California but 3 months when Harvey Milk was assassinated. And though I was aghast at the news, it meant relatively little to me. It's so odd to realize I never could have known at 18 in '78 how central to my life the tale of Harvey Milk would become 30 years later.

Ironically, I also started a complete cold-turkey withdrawal from gay activism this week, and will remain on hiatus until the Supreme Court decision is handed down. Work in the activist community is completely focused on losing, and it's been badly affecting my perhaps naive optimism re the outcome.


Of course Harvey Milk remains a rather inspirational figure to me. The documentary filmmakers remark that Harvey's story was already fading into the mists of history when they started their work, and hoped the film would cement the story for posterity. I rather think the Sean Penn movie accomplishes that worthy task far better and with much more lasting concrete. But each film offers a unique angle on an important chapter in the American story of civil rights struggle.

Great Double Feature.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Funny, I bawled while watching the doc, and barely teared up during the film. Perhaps it's because I purposely didn't look up the history so I would be surprised (and shocked and appalled), and once the surprise was gone the emotion was too.

I should have saved the doc for afterwards. Oh well.

[flippyshark]

I plan to go in film/doc order, and very soon at that.

[Not Afraid]

I tear up every time I remember the story. It was a tragedy I'll never forget.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Came home and re-watched the documentary after seeing the movie. Hadn't seen it in about 15 years. Sobbed.

[Snowflake]

The documentary is one of my all tie favorites, I never cease to weep all over again. Moved me far more than the film, and the film was very moving.

[CoasterMatt]

I watched the Jiggidy Johnson's Jammin' DVD Volume 2 tonight- I can't wait for June.

[Andrew]

We watched Desk Set (1957) tonight. Hepburn/Tracy. Classic.

My phone buzzed with text messages a few times, prompting me to reflect that it probably has ten or a hundred times the supposed computing power of EMERAC.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Point Break! Finally!

I had never seen this film. The reason being that I was so hot and bothered for Keanu but I was totally uncomfortable watching such a film with my family in the room. My dad has seen it countless times, but I'd only seen snippets.

I have to say I loved this movie. It's an early 90's encapsulation that was like traveling back in time. There are some pretty large leaps in story (read: holes) and ridiculous circumstances, but the pace is great, the story is fun and involving, and the direction is awesome (James Cameron? I had no idea). Who doesn't love Busey going nuts, and Lori Petty? I've never been a huge Swayze fan but he did a good job. Yeah, Keanu is a piece of wood, but I love him anyway (or maybe because of it).


Admittedly the only reason we watched it is because our DVD player is getting cranky in its old age and giving us sh.t over Netflix discs. Nope, not Slumdog Millionaire, we watched Point Break (on Netflix direct download to Tivo).