FILM: Milk (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Recorded this one sometime ago on the back of Sean Penn's Academy Award for Best Actor. Didn't know too much else of the film's story.

What's it all about?
Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, a gay 40-something who moves to a progressively gay-friendly neighbourhood of San Francisco and  becomes an activist for gay rights leading him to run for the elected position of City Supervisor. James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Josh Brolin support as fellow campaigners and rival city officials.







The Good:

• Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk is brilliant
• Supporting cast is also excellent
• The film's use of real life footage interspersed throughout gives gravitas to the cause and gives the story a grounding 
• Sensibly handled subject matter 

The Bad:

• Didn't end up having the emotional punch I was expecting despite focusing on Milk the whole film

Favourite line:

'My name is Harvey Milk and I'm here to recruit you' - Harvey Milk

Stand-out moment:

The moment Milk gets elected 

Like the director? Watch: Good Will Hunting
Like the acting? Watch: Mystic River

What my wife would say: Watched it and I think she enjoyed it.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 94%

Metacritic - 84/100

Twitter -

Denzel in "Training Day", Heath Ledger as The Joker and Sean Penn in "Milk" are still the 3 greatest performances by an actor I've ever seen
— Admiral Ackbar (@NILEstyle_) December 24, 2013

FILM: J. Edgar (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

J. Edgar Hoover is a historical figure I've always wanted to know more about. I enjoy American crime-based history and after reading James Ellroys's fantastic Underworld USA trilogy, which although fictional certainly suggested that Hoover was a very interesting character in American crime fighting.

What's it all about?

A biopic of John Edgar Hoover, the FBI's first Director, Clint Eastwood's film finds Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) recounting his career for his memoirs and reliving his beginnings at the Department of Justice before becoming Director of the department's Bureau of Investigation. The film touches on his war against communism, interest in scientific investigation, the G-men era and his relationship with close friend Clyde Tolson (Armies Hammer).

Should you watch it?
J. Edgar is a strange film. While I wouldn't go as far as saying I really enjoyed sitting through it's two hours plus running time, I found the subject matter incredibly interesting and DiCaprio's powerhouse performance as Hoover kept me glued to the screen. The film is certainly not lacking for strong performances as DiCaprio is well supported by Armie Hammer and Naomi Watts.

I think writer Dustin Black struggled to balance the elements of character study with the events taking place around Hoover. The film is definitely at it's most interesting when Hoover is leading the FBI through the pursuit of Dillinger, investigating the Lindbergh kidnapping and plotting against Martin Luther King. When the film remembers it's a biopic it turns to Hoover's personal life and time is spent analysing his relationships with close friend Clyde and his mother, played by Judi Dench. This narrative, from various times in Hoover's past, both professional and private life, to the current day, does jump around without too much coherence but I didn't find it as troubling as many critics seem too have.

J. Edgar will not appeal to those with no interest in American history yet for those keen to understand Hoover's dogged role in the creation of the FBI and some of the major political events of the twentieth century, and willing to forgive it it's flaws, it offers a fascinating look at the achievements and legacy of the man while touching on his character, all told through the great performances.


Oh and yes, some of the make-up and prosthetics used on DiCaprio and Hammer during the later years are distractingly laughable.

BOOK: 127 Hours, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Aron Ralston (7/10)

The inspiring story from which Danny Boyle produced the Oscar nominated film 127 Hours is a fantastic read and having seen the film, provides Aron Ralston to narrate the sequence of events from his own perspective.


Ralston tells his story in a methodical, clear and intelligent manner in many ways similar to the way in which he approached his horrific situation.


For the majority of the book Ralston alternates the chapters between the infamous accident and stories from his earlier climbing experiences. While these older anecdotes provide an insight into Ralston's experiences, and allow him to explain how his adventurous life took him to that canyon on that fateful day, the detail into which he provides, specific dates, locations and names, does become slightly monotonous. Midway through the book, these chapters became nothing more than a distraction from the main event and I found myself longing for the next update from the canyon and the grisly details of the accident. 


Several chapters are also dedicated to the actions of Ralston's parents, friends and rescuers and how, in parallel to Ralston's entrapment, come to realise that something is amiss when he fails to return and begin to raise the alarm. The book converges this side story with that of Ralston's own perspective when he frees himself and finds help. Being deliberately excluded from the film, I enjoyed discovering the actions of the other parties involved. 


The final chapters of the book, describing the amputation and escape were an excellent, inspiring read and more than made up for any previously mentioned flaws.