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February 6, 2009
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Movie Reviewers
This week’s double feature includes “Milk, which is a best picture nominee, and “Taken,” which will win no awards . . . ever. One inspires and the other simply entertains.
‘Milk’
Come out, come out, wherever you are! Sean Penn (“Mystic River”) turns in yet another stellar performance as our nation’s first openly gay public official. This is an important story that has inspired many for their own respective causes. For all the industry praise, it is a good, but not great docudrama that, at times, is difficult to watch.
The Milkman cometh! Penn is such an incredibly serious actor, so personally intimidating and yet so vulnerable, happy and gay in this role. You might say he milks it for all it’s worth. “Milk” has something for everybody, but does not attempt to dissuade you from your sexual preference. The theme is to respect those whose lifestyles differ from yours.
And, this is where the empathy factor loses steam. Milk was a New Yorker transplanted to San Francisco just after the height of Haight-Ashbury. With his partner, this bi-coastal couple sets up a camera shop on Castro Street, which is filled with sex, drugs and teen runaways. This setting is mighty strange, bizarre and queer to most Americans.
The shock factor of the “Brokeback sexcapades” is so dreadfully high that this homogenized Milk could easily assume the name of Ben Stiller’s character from “Meet the Parents.” It’s understandable and clearly acceptable to reject this entire lifestyle, but utterly intolerable in today’s world to not fully support an individual’s basic human rights.
As their spokesperson, Milk is dubbed the unofficial “Mayor of Castro Street.” He begins his remarks, “My fellow degenerates . . . ” But, after several defeats for public office, he learns his broader constituency is less interested in what he is against than what he is for. His new mantra of hope begins, “I’m Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you.”
“Milk” is 128 min and rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence. As with so many leaders, Milk’s legacy becomes immortalized when he faces the lactose intolerant, Twinkie chomping Dan White (Josh Brolin). For Milk and his followers, the effect of the movement was a dream come true. You might call it a political fairy tale.
Ron’s Rating: C Leigh’s Rating: D
‘Taken’
“Taken” is not spectacular but is full of spectacle. In this exceedingly violent and intense action thriller, Liam Neeson (“Batman Begins”) aptly displays his particular set of skills as a retired international operative. A group of Albanian traffickers of human flesh quickly learn they messed with the wrong man’s teenage daughter.
Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel, this French team provides just enough script to keep the non-stop action from slowing for even a minute. Thankfully, computer generated special effects are used sparingly while they entertain with old fashion fists, knives, guns and, of course, the obligatory car chase.
The 6 ft. 4 in. Neeson brings credibility to his role. If you remember, his prior characters taught Bruce Wayne to become Batman and Obi-Wan Kenobi to become a Jedi Knight. Now, a divorced Brian Mills (Neeson) is simply trying to make up to his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace, “Suburban Girl”) for time lost defending his country from terrorists.
At this time, Kim is more interested in traveling abroad. When she is abducted, Dad goes back into action; and this time, it’s more than just for God and country. Sure, Neeson deserves a better movie than this preposterous and outrageous storyline, but thankfully, he makes the role believable on several levels, which makes the whole movie work.
“Taken” is 93 minutes and rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language. Maybe Dick Cheney wasn’t so wrong about selectively ignoring the rule of law. But, if this is what it takes for a Dad to get his teenage daughter’s attention, the bar is set rather high. Fortunately, Brian won’t ever again have to ask, “Who’s your Daddy?”
Ron’s Rating: A- Leigh’s Rating: C+
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