the revolutionary story about millionaire nixon wrestling with his doubt about milk

I've been lucky enough to see a lot of movies via DVD screeners this holiday season. I would say that every one of these movies would be better viewed on the big screen but I couldn't wait for the weeks it would take me to get to the theater for all of these. Besides, my TV is pretty big. :) A few reviews before I forget everything...

Frost/Nixon
I went into this movie with pretty low expectations for a few reasons. One, I tend to think that Ron Howard is overrated as a director. Seems like a lovely nice guy, but I didn't care for A Beautiful Mind or The Da Vinci Code or Cinderella Man. But what he has here is a great screenwriter (Peter Morgan who wrote one of my favorite movies in recent years Last King of Scotland), and amazing actors. Two, I was surprised that they were able to make an interesting movie out of a very small subject matter that I didn't really care much about. But they inserted tension and life a series of interviews that took place over 30 years ago. I really enjoyed Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt in supporting roles. Frank Langella does a very good Nixon but I was even more impressed with Michael Sheen's Frost. Very charming.

Doubt
It was fascinating to see Doubt right after Frost/Nixon because it was interesting to compare two theatrical versions of highly acclaimed plays. I have to say that I thought, cinematically, Frost/Nixon was far better than Doubt. Doubt is adapted for the screen by the playwriter John Patrick Shanley and he also directs. The only other movie this guy has directed is Joe Vs. The Volcano. You heard me. The 1990 classic starring Tom Hanks. I'll admit I enjoy that movie when it's on TBS, but he certainly is not skilled enough to rise up to Best Director status with this movie. Amy Adams is good doing her usual naive innocent girl. And Meryl Streep is again amazing and doing an interesting NY accent. She is actually quite funny in some scenes which I didn't expect. I thought the standout was Philip Seymour Hoffman who was amazing. But this is really an actor's showcase. The film isn't that outstanding...from the production design to the direction to the cinematography. Go see for the performances but it's not at the top of my list.

Revolutionary Road
Based on a book, I'm not sure this is a movie for me. Or, I know it's not. I knew before I watched it that I would hate it and I did. Kate Winslet is one of my favorite actresses and she is awesome. Leo is also great. So is the direction. The music. The set design. The cinematography. But I am just not interested in watching 2 hours of a married couple fighting. They are miserable and the acting is so good that the emotional fights are just so...full of despair. I'll take a depressing movie but at least give me a character arc or a great story. Not just misery beginning to end.

The Wrestler
This movie is getting a lot of buzz for Mickey Rourke's "comeback" performance. I expected interesting things from director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) but I just didn't think it was that interesting. A small story about a washed up professional wrestler, Rourke was good but, then again, I thought he was just playing himself. Evan Rachel Wood was actually surprisingly great but there was nothing fantastic enough about this story to really hook me. If you want to see a lot of Marisa Tomei's tits though, I highly recommend it.

Milk
Great damn movie. I think biopics are always restricting in some ways...so much to fit in...but Gus Van Sant does an awesome job of constructing this movie. We get just enough of Milk's life but not too much so that it feels long. I can't praise Sean Penn enough so I'll leave it at that. But Emile Hirsch and James Franco are also awesome. And it's the only movie so far that has moved me to tears.

Slumdog Millionaire
F-ing awesome. I almost don't want to say that because then it'll be too built up and if you ever see it, your expectations will be too high and the movie will fall short. All that is definitely possible. I came in with medium expectations and they exceeded them. I think it is just such a refreshing and original movie... from the way it's structured, to the colors, to the music, to the tone. Just nice to see something different. The cinematography truly stands out and I was happy to see it's the same DP who did The Last King of Scotland which I loved the look of. And it's finally nice to see something with a bit of hope and optimism. Go see it!