Movie Month

For the first time in quite a while, it seems like December is gonna be quite a good month for movies. Most importantly, I’ve been anticipating Milk for a long time.

Milk. After moving to San Francisco, Harvey Milk, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977, making him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the USA. The following year, both he and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White. I’ve read books and books on gay history and although there have been documentaries and small independent films, this is the first major film with a major star.

Cadillac Records. 1950s Chicago, “Cadillac Records” follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

Frost/Nixon. For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency.

The Wrestler. Mickey Rourke stars as an aging Hulk Hogan-inspired professional wrestler, desperately trying to hold onto his larger-then-life glory days of the 80s. In a parallel plot line, Marisa Tomei costars as an aging stripper, also holding onto her youth as long as she can. Remember when Mickey Rourke was one of the hottest, sexiest men on earth? It seems he had a bunch of botched plastic surgery.

Doubt. Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx, it centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in the life of a young black student. In my book, Meryl Streep can do no wrong.

Slumdog Millionaire. The story of Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, the girl he loved and lost. Slumdog Millionaire was released earlier but is due out to a larger number of theaters later this month…oscar maybe?

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