Emile Hirsch should've played the lead role in Taking Woodstock

Its odd, looking back I don't feel like anything very memorable came of yesterday, but I sure was without free time for some reason. Lame. Anywho, I saw Taking Woodstock last night. I've been pretty excited to see this because this year is the 40th anniversary of Woodstock in '69 and even though its kind of lame, I have an unexplainably high appreciation for this music. I firmly believe that there hasn't been musical talent to that degree since the 70's. Its beautiful. Its heartfelt. It wasn't money or fame-driven. It was art in its truest form. Just raw talent. And today, we're left with Green Day haha. The Brett Favre of the music industry. Give it up guys!
Anyway, Ang Lee kind of let me down. Emile Hirsch gave the only performance worth mentioning in the entire film and he was most definiely not a main character like presented in the trailers and advertisements. Can you believe that in a film about Woodstock does not include one single musical performance? Its so disappointing. Martin Luther McCoy is so great at playing Jimi, we couldn't have seen him play a song or two? Where's Janis? They mention her on the line up but don't seem to think it's necessary to include her in the movie? Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, CCR, The Who, Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Joan Baez, ughh there were so many opportunities to show off what Woodstock was and they failed. The entire movie is just an exaggerated portrayal of what Woodstock was. Yes, there was a VERY large amount of dirty "dazed and confused" hippies running around, they were high, not idiots. They had enough sense to organize a show of that magnitude.
Basically they turned a movie about 3 days of peace and music into a movie about the money behind the 3 days of peace and music...and they kind of threw in a few moments where we got to know the main character a little...played oh-so-awkwardly by Demitri Martin. Who the hell is Demitri Martin?
Anyway, this movie had amazing potential. Way to screw it up Ang Lee.
C-
Best song: I should have a huge list here. But since this movie is gay as hell...
Why are The Doors even on this soundtrack? They declined their invitation to play the show.
Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) - Janis Joplin

Suggestions welcome.
345 to go.

Got Milk?

You know, I knew basic facts of the gay-rights movement in general but I'll honestly admit I've never really looked into it. This movie was eye-opening to the struggles that these people have had to face and probably somewhere, some still do. I feel offended on behalf of the gay community after watching this movie that there were and apparently still are these individual like Anita Bryant. I mean honestly, and this is directed at you Miss California, what right is it of a beauty pageant contestant to make comments and actually actively speak out against a group of people. First of all, I believe these women need a harsh reality check. Apparently years of reinforcement has led them to believe they are in some way important people. Important to their friends and family maybe...but honestly beauty contests have no clout haha. Give me a break. That's what happens when idealistic people get a tiny taste of fame I suppose. Honestly, shame on her. The bottom line is that whatever prejudgements anybody in this country may have against the gay community is, in essense, useless and unimportant haha. There is no argument against homosexuals just like there's no argument against a family of Asians moving to Portland. (yeah, random example.) But its true. Back in the 1970's I'm sure people were still under the impression that they could avoid the fact that homosexuality exists and with force and strong-arming, they could rid their country of it. Well, back in the 1970's people were naive, not to say we don't have our share of that today.
This movie is the epitome of what people need to be aware of when it comes to this issue...that it shouldn't be an issue in the first place!
In this film, you see a man, Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn), and his partner (played by James Franco), move into a new city (San Francisco) and do more than their share of work creating a safe-haven (or what should have been) for people who just wanted to live their lives like everybody else.
I ask you, what are valued qualities in individuals? Love, care, honesty, compassion, selflessness?
Harvey Milk posessed all of these and more. He was a great man. This is a great tribute to his memory.
A+. I love it.
Best song of the movie: Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone

Suggestions welcome.
359 to go.

Emile Hirsch goes Into the Wild

NetFlix is so amazing. Really. I hope none of you have witnessed The Happening. It's a dreadful movie. Just stupid from the DVD menu screen to the end credits. BUT now I own it. Would you like to know why I own one of the top 5 worst movies of all time?

Because BLOCKBUSTER! Block Buster is a horrible place. Think of all the money they really make from their $5 dollar rentals. One DVD costs us about $20, and you can count on the fact that they get deals from whichever production company that puts out those DVDs. So maybe they pay $10-15...and that's paid for the first 2 to 3 times somebody rents that single DVD. Sounds like a sweet deal for you guys, way to gouge the customer.

So anyway, thank goodness we have NetFlix now or I probably never would have paid $5 to see this movie. I only heard from one or two people that they liked it and everybody else told me it was long and drug out and blahdiblahdiblahhh.
I don't want to call this movie wonderful...it's not really a wonderful story. I guess I'll just say the character's journey is more important than his destination.
This film, written and directed by Sean Penn and also based on a true story, is about a young, quite intelligent man who is unhappy with his life in modern "society". He's unhappy with his parents. He's unhappy with the education system and large institutions...unhappy with the way the world is I guess.
I'm not sure what is perfect fact about the true events the movie is based on and what is kind of stretched for Hollywood's benefit, but from the story it tells, if I could go back and give that kid some advice, you should have learned a thing or two from your experiences. He broke away from society to find that there were, in fact, people worth knowing out there. He changed each and every life just as they should have changed his but he didn't let them. In the end he forgave everybody. The whole time he spoke of honesty and living in the moment but he was the one not being truthful and he was the one that was living somewhere else in his mind.
Everything is executed beautifully in this film. The acting, the cinemetography, the screenplay...Kudos to you Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch, you guys are amazing.
Its a big long, but worth watching. You guys should see it. A- from me.
Also, if you are a fan, see Milk. It stars Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch with James Franco and Josh Brolin as well. Now THAT'S a great film.
Best song from the movie: Hard Sun - Eddie Vedder

Suggestions always welcome.
360 to go.