'Gay Agenda' Flick MILK is Lock for Best Picture

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 10:25pm

http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2008/10/milk_does_a_cri.html

Here's an entry from Hollywood blogger David Poland:

"October 28, 2008

Milk Does A Critic Good

This is a quickie between films, but...

For the first time in my memory, we have a major Oscar movie that actually is a gay agenda movie. But on the making, it is so much more. It is a brilliant, powerfully humane piece of work that reaches well beyond the issue of gay rights or any idea that this is a gay-only film.

Sean Penn gives an Oscar lock performance of power and subtlety that ranks with the best of his career.

Great work by Franco, Hirsch, and Josh Brolin, who may not have enough screen time or empathy for awards, but got the mixed emotions of a murderer so right that I felt my blood go cold watching a shot of him walking a fateful hallway.

And the mixture of doc footage and this drama is amazing, pushing the bar farther and racking up another great piece by Harris Savides.

More later..."

[dalefully]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 10:42pm

Let's hope so. After all, the academy still owes us.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:19pm

If it is indeed a "gay agenda" movie, then I don't see how it is possibly a "lock" for Best Picture. Remember the Academy members who refused to watch Brokeback Mountain?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:25pm

Please refrain from the conspiracy theories until after you see the film. It might be great (the trailer gave me chills), but it also might be kind of crappy. So if it does NOT get nominated for every award it might be because of THAT reason and not homophobia.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:27pm

After all, the academy still owes us.

Ahahahahahahahaha!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:56pm

My thought exactly, Phyllis. Might be wonderful, or might be very Logo meets Lifetime. I fear its inherent earnestness could prove sticky (crossed my mind watching the rather too by the numbers version of EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, a blistering play, a tepid tv film). On the other hand, has there ever been a leaner year? Wall-E is the only contendor at this point. Usually by Halloween we have a couple of premonitions.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:22pm

Tuesday night was crazy in the Castro. I wish I had a camera to take a picture of the theater. It's incredible.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:40pm

Sueleen - I was just musing about the thread title. I'm really looking forward to seeing the film. I hope it doesn't suck or fall victim to homophobia or become the source of unrelenting ridicule, but after Brokeback, I admit I'm a little jaded.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:47pm

BROKEBACK didn't win the Oscar because it was a pedestrian, tired movie slathered with a lot of "class". This looks like it has a little fire in its belly...and Van Sant is a much better director than Ang Lee.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:49pm

"Wall-E is the only contendor at this point."

I think RACHEL GETTING MARRIED is a very worthy contender, also.

And are we really getting into the BROKEBACK debates again??

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:50pm

I'm not getting the "agenda" part here.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:54pm

After the election, I fear BROKEBACK vs. MILK will be the new seeth-a-thon here. Frankly, it may prove a welcome change of pace.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:54pm

Silly Doodle!

Anything gay has an agenda! Where's yours??

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:59pm

My gay agenda usually consists of bjs and reruns of Designing Women.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:59pm

Matt, my comment was not specifically to you. I just had a flash back to the inane arguments about Brokeback and thought, "Oh, no, not again."

I did see Happy-Go-Lucky, however, and it is not one of Leigh's best. I did not see an Oscar in anyone's future in that film. All were excellent, but I expected more after the high praise Hawkins is receiving.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:07pm

After ther election, MILK wilkl be something new for the right wing talk show idiots to complain about.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:34pm

I certainly don't want to start another Brokeback debate. It's just sort of hard to see "gay agenda" and "best picture" in the same sentence without stirring up the memory of those rather controversial events. But I would like to say that I'd be happy to see an increase in frequency of gay-themed films receiving Best Picture noms.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:13pm

Ahh... remember the old "Broeback vs. Crash" arguments?

Reminscent of the 1997 "Are you a Forrest Gump person or a Pulp Fiction person?" arguments - as if you could not like both equally.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:43pm

"My gay agenda usually consists of bjs and reruns of Designing Women."

Doodle, I knew there was a reason I am so fond of you. We are kindred spirits.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:47pm

I'm not sure we arent in the majority here, Tom! BTW, I meant to clarify...not at the same time!

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 4:19pm

I recall another film with Sean Penn that was supposed to rack up awards too--remember the remake of ALL THE KING'S MEN?

And Borstal, you REALLY think Van Sant is a better director than Ang Lee?! Wow....

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 4:27pm

I saw the trailer for this also and imo, Sean Penn gives out creepy vibes. While I think he is a talented actor, he's almost too over the top in these types of pictures. Of course, I'll still go see it because it's an important story to be retold to a new generation, but sometimes a more subtle approach delivers the message more effectively.

[KathyGriffinLovesYou]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 8:00pm

OMG I absoloutely have to see that!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:22pm

Apparently, Milk is an excellent film from the buzz I'm seeing.

And it's currently the front runner on http://www.awardsdaily.com as well as director, screenplay and actor (behind Mickey Rourke)

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/6/08 at 8:51pm

I wonder if they had released it a couple of months ago if it would have had an affect on Prop. 8?