MILK

"My name is Harvey Milk, and I'm here to recruite you!" Those are the words oten spoken by Harvey Milk, an openly gay politician & activist in San Francisco, as he spoke to people back in the 1970's. The new film by Gus Van Sant, "Milk", is his story. Sean Penn stars as Milk, along with a great supporting cast (Emile Hirsh, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Victor Garber and others). I'm not revealing much by saying that this biopic, unfortunately, has a tragic ending. Milk was assassinated on November 27, 2008. This was 30 years ago to the date that this movie was released. The movie explores the life, the courage, the determination, the faith, the love...the man that was and forever will live on...Harvey Milk.

I must admit, despite being a gay man myself, I wasn't actually aware of who Milk really was. So this film really opened my eyes to the life of a person that I never really knew about. I've never been a big activist, never studied up too much on the gay movements and our histories. Which yeah, I know it's kinda bad of me. But I guess a movie like this means even more to someone like me that otherwise probably wouldn't have known more about this extraordinary person. Someone whose actions would affect my life, even if I didnt realize it. Seeing this movie reminded me so much of all the protests and community actions that have taken place in the recent weeks after prop 8 passed (the ban on gay marriages). It reminded me of how fortunate we are now, compared to the past, in that so many things have changed. We've gotten more equality...but not yet completely. We still have a ways to go, for us to finally be able to open up the eyes of those that refuse to accept us.

I'm not good at really doing a movie justice in my reviews. Especially when it's one that has such a historical and important topic as this film did. All I can say is that it really moved me. Seeing the scenes of all the people coming together to fight back, it gave me chills...a rush of pride, excitement and other feelings came over me. If that's what it felt like sitting in a theater watching recreations, I can only imagine what it must've felt like for people that were actually there. People that knew Milk personally or even just through his public appearances.

The movie was a mix of news footage (some seemed genuinely real, others probably slight recreations) along with regular movie footage. So I enjoyed the way it was put together, and I thought all the cast was great. I admit, it did take a bit of getting used to the crazy hairstyles and whatnot. hehe But that's the 70's for you!

The film, from what I read online, was only playing in 36 theaters here in the U.S., yet it managed to make the top 10 films of the weekend, at #10! It grossed over $1.9 million since it came out last Wednesday. Pretty damn impressive for a limited engagment film!

I loved how our theater was pretty much full of gay people. hehe I felt so at home. lol But of course this isn't just a movie for gay people...it's something that I feel everyone should see. Especially with all that's been going on lately.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

It's a sensational opening," Focus distribution topper Jack Foley said. "It's a record opening for a film opening in this many theaters, and there were lots of sellouts wherever it was playing."

The "Milk" debut represented the best per-venue average of any film opened with 30-40 engagements, Foley said. Its bow outpaced the December 2007 opening for "Atonement," which Focus unspooled with $784,145 from 32 playdates or a then-record $24,505 per engagement.

"Milk" pours into 60 theaters in 32 markets on Friday. Foley said he believes Focus' marketing campaign has dovetailed well with nationwide publicity over California's Proposition 8, the recently passed anti-gay marriage ballot initiative.

"Milk" will likely remain one of the awards season's most closely watched releases, with Sean Penn's performance in the title role generating early plaudits. James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna are also featured in supporting roles.

For more information on the film, check out the official site at http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/

Also, be sure to show your support for the film. Leave your name, age and state over at http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/mosaic/supportMilk.php. I already did.

Gay Marriages

There was a time in my life when I saw myself getting married. Living that so-called American Dream. Having a happy wife, a few smiling kids, a hyper dog running around the yard, which is surrounded by a white picket fence and situated behind a big house, with the sun shining bright in the distance, birds chirping in the trees, and two cars parked in the garage. Hmmm...well ok, maybe that wasn't exactly my dream. lol But I did believe I'd end up married with children. *cue theme song*

I always knew I had these "strange" feelings for other guys. Those thoughts I secretly carried about certain neighbors or classmates or just random people. They would always be just that, my secret thoughts. I'd grow up, move on past them, and finally realize how crazy I was to think such things. But oh how wrong I was. lol Call it confusion, denial or just a plain self-discovery process. In the end, I grew up to learn who I truly was and that there was nothing wrong with it. I discovered so many new people just like me, whereas before I felt like I was the only one that felt this way. I never would've imagined that in my city there were probably thousands that felt this way. Hell, I didn't even have to look too far. My own neighborhoods had others like me.

Now I'm grown up. I've gotten through most of those stages of confusion. I know who I am, no ifs ands or buts about it. But then new thoughts and questions arise. One of them being the big M word. Marriage. Some of us want it or need it, others don't really care, and the rest just don't want it at all. I think I probably fall in the middle somewhere. I wouldn't say that I don't want it at all, but I also wouldn't say that I "need" it. There's so much debate about all this, I really won't get into that. My thoughts on this are usually more on a personal level. Do I really need a piece of paper, a certificate, to prove my love? Yes, if legal, it would carry with it some legal "rights". But I'm not even talking about that. I guess the way I see it, if I truly love someone, that person knows it. My friends will know it. My family (if I can ever get the courage to tell them) will know it. That's all that would matter to me. So on that level, a marriage wouldn't matter as much. Still, I guess I can see why the whole ceremony itself is something people like. It is nice, it's special and memorable to share that moment with your friends and loved ones. But then there are all those issues of planning it, paying for it and dealing with all the dramas leading up to it. lol I'd much rather just do something quick and simple with a small group instead of a big event. I'm a romantic...but I like to keep it simple. hehe It's the little things that count.

So if gay marriages ever become equal with straight marriages, who knows where I'll stand. Will that change my feelings toward getting married? Maybe the new "rights" would convince me. hehe In the end, my love for him wouldn't change. I'd still love and cherish, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, just as much as I did before any "I Do".