Major Update 3

Now that the new semester has settled in, you can expect me to finish what I started around Christmas.

Milk

Director:
Gus Van Sant

Writer:
Dustin Lance Black

Cast:
Sean Penn as Harvey Milk
James Franco as Scott Smith
Josh Brolin as Dan White
Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones

Released: 2008
Studio: Focus Features
Box Office: $31,841,299

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
IMDB Score: 7.9

Format: HBO

I had no intention of ever seeing this movie because films about the struggles of homosexuals are just not my thing. But alas, I came across it on HBO. I was pleasantly surpsised. I knew it had been nominated for the best picture Oscar and that Sean Penn had won Best Actor. The reason that I don’t like this movie more than I do is (I’m just going to right out and say it) this movie is very gay. Sean Penn and James Franco making out is not something I ever want to see again.

Favorite Performance:
Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

Favorite Quote:
Harvey Milk: How do you teach homosexuality? Is it like French?

Grade:
B+

Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire

Director:
Lee Daniels

Writer:
Geoffrey Fletcher

Cast:
Gabourey Sidibe as Precious
Mo’Nique as Mary
Mariah Carey as Ms. Weiss
Paula Patton as Ms. Rain

Released: 2009
Studio: Lionsgate
Box Office:

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
IMDB Score: 7.6

Format: Theater

Its about a 16 year old girl pregnant with her second child by her own father. She is physically, emotionally, verbally, and sexually abused by her mother. She can’t read or write. She gets kicked out of school. Her family is on welfare. But she finds a glimmer of hope and clings to that and tries to get out of her situation. Precious is a very difficult film to watch. Its not for everybody. It impeccably acted and it would be the biggest travesty in Oscar history if Mo’Nique doesn’t win.

Favorite Performance:
Mo’Nique as Mary

Favorite Quote:
Mrs. Lichtenstein: You’re 16; you’re still in Junior High School; and you’re pregnant with your second child. Is that correct?
[No reply]
Mrs. Lichtenstein: Are you pregnant, again?
[Mrs. Lichtenstein huffs, exacerbated]
Mrs. Lichtenstein: What happened Clareese?
Clareece ‘Precious’ Jones: I had sex, Mrs. Lichtenstein.

Grade:
A-

Moon

Director:
Duncan Jones

Writers:
Duncan Jones and Nathan Parker

Cast:
Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell
Kevin Spacey as GERTY (voice)

Released: 2009
Studio: Sony Classics
Box Office: $5,010,163

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
IMDB Score: 8.0

Format: Blu-ray

I was slightly disappointed by this movie. I thought I was going to like it a little better. Its still pretty good though. It about a man stationed on the moon at a mining outpost alone for 3 years with nothing but a talking computer for company. I’m not going to give away the plot because this is not one of those films that even if you know how its going to end the journey is still fun. This is another difficult film to watch because Sam Bell is the only character on screen for 99% of the movie.

Favorite Performance:
Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell (by default)

Favorite Quote:
Sam Bell: You look like a radioactive tampon.

Grade:
B