Milk

3 out of 5 Stars
I was actually sort of disappointed by 'Milk'. Sean Penn gave a great performance but he always does, and I thought he didn't so much 'create' a character but instead emulated Harvey Milk's mannerisms and tone. It's sad to see how little has changed since 1978 -- prop 6 and now prop 8 -- obviously, I was already 'Team Harvey' going into the film. It's too bad that people in the red states aren't seeing this film, but even if they did I doubt it would change their minds. I was more moved by Matthew Shepard's story and the documentary about hate crimes in Wyoming. I also thought the PBS documentary on the Castro did a better job of depicting Milk's struggle.

An American Crime

4 out of 5 Stars
This was a very difficult film to watch. I appreciated it for being a well made true crime film -- for an entire two hours I was completely riveted, though at times queasy, by the subject matter. I wanted to take a shower immediately after the credits rolled. Catherine Keener nailed the role of Gertrude Baniszewski. Any other actress could have easily turned such a difficult role into 'camp' (a la Faye Dunaway in Mommy Dearest), but Keener stayed realistic, disturbing, brutal, and unsympathetic. Ellen Page was adequate as Sylvia, but it is Keener who allows me to give this film 4 out of 5 stars. It's a shocking and abhorrant crime, depicting the very worst of human nature.