Thanksgiving Movies

Since I was battling a bad cold this entire past weekend, I opted to see a few movies rather than drink lots of wine. Okay, I had lots of wine, too.

I saw Milk. This is the true story of Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay official elected to high office in the United States. Sean Penn delivers a performance unlike anything we've seen from him before. It's funny, happy and optimistic. The rest of the cast is equally great, especially James Franco and Emile Hirsch. I didn't even know it was Hirsch until the end credits. You may know how the movie ends, but probably wouldn't expect it to be a truly inspirational film and certainly more than a "gay movie." It's a movie about the human condition and equality.

Milk would've been my favorite movie of the year so far, except last night I saw Slumdog Millionaire. You may not have heard about this movie yet, but you will.

Slumdog is directed by Danny Boyle, who did Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. He also did the awful Sunshine and The Beach. This is his best movie. Jamal is on the Indian-version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and he knows the answer to every question on the show. But he doesn't know anything else, so he is accused of cheating. The movie is basically an explanation for how he has come to know these very specific answers. The filmmaking is colorful, kinetic and boasts beautiful performances - plus great music - the kind you'd hear in a Bollywood film! The movie is about doing the right thing and choosing the correct and honorable path. It is about coincidence. It is about violence and hate and revenge. And it is about love. This is the most entertaining movie of the year.