Posts Tagged ‘Milk’

Short Take: Truthful or not, it's an interesting and compelling portraiture

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenwriter: Dustin Lance Black

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Josh Lucas

Length: 2h 17m

Synopsis: In 1919, as an eager young twenty-something looking to make an impression on the world, John Edgar Hoover tried ardently to devise and synergize crime-fighting tactics so as to better repress the presence of radicals in the United States via his newly appointed position as the head of the yet to be federalized Bureau of Investigation. A stickler for professionalism, Hoover built the Bureau into an entity to be reckoned with by criminals of all sorts, which even included politicians. But along the way Hoover faced struggles with his superiors, the public, and a personal life that could be described as emotionally acidic. His driving force was his dedication to his work, which through all of its practicable advancements actually did as much harm as good. His reputation became controversial and his love life suffered, but the Bureau always remained his top priority. Though never one to suffer a fool, we find that some of Hoover’s flaws and decisions made him every bit the fool himself, in more ways than one. Eventually leaving behind a reputation that continues to be judged in the court of public opinion, J. Edgar contributes to the discussion by providing a portrayal of the infamous dignitary that contests a number of well-established perceptions.

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Sidibe as Precious

The Producer’s Guild of America announced that it is going to award this year’s Precious with the Stanley Kramer Award, which it gives out to films that illuminate “provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion.” Kramer, whose films include High Noon, The Defiant Ones, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, was known for the provocative subjects of his films.

Past recipients of the award include Milk, An Inconvenient Truth, The Great Debaters, Good Night, and Good Luck, and Hotel Rwanda.

Precious, starring Gabourey Sidibe, is about a 16-year old African American girl growing up in Harlem in 1987 with an abusing mother and molesting father.

“Precious is a remarkable film that sends a powerful message of hope – brilliantly reminding us that we have the power to persevere regardless of life’s difficulties. Stanley Kramer’s legacy is ideally celebrated with the selection of this very worthy film,” said PGA Awards Co-Chairs David Friendly and Laurence Mark. – Variety

The film is expected to be a Best Picture contender at this year’s 82nd Academy Awards.

Source: Variety