A heavy double-feature

The Smelmooo and I had an all-too-rare day with no social plans, so, despite my being completely behind on my holiday shopping, we decided to go to the movies. Two movies, in fact, with a quick dinner at Cosi in between. Why do I love Cosi so? We didn't even have time for the S'mores, but there is something about their sandwiches that tastes like heaven to me.

First, we saw Rachel Getting Married, which I'd been wanting to see for ages. I secretly like Anne Hathaway, and even though I didn't realize she'd been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, I'd heard good things about her and about the movie itself. Someone at work described it to me as a four-star movie, but acknowledged that he'd have liked it better if it were a three-star movie. I'm not entirely sure I agree with that, but maybe: perhaps if there'd been a few more moments of levity, it'd have been a less perfect, but more enjoyable film. It was heavy and uncomfortable (at one point, the Smelmooo, who has a strict no-talking policy in the movies, leaned over as Anne Hathaway's character started her toast at the rehearsal dinner and whispered, "I don't think I can sit through this part.") and painful; there were parts that felt heartbreakingly real and true.

It felt too long; there were lots of group shots, and it felt like we heard from every single person at the wedding, and I could've done without that. I think it was probably a creative decision to set the mood, to bring the audience in and make us really feel like we were part of this crowd, but it didn't quite work for me. But on the whole, I thought it was really well-acted and a good movie. Debra Winger was barely in it, but she kind of stole it for me, although I understand the love for Anne Hathaway in this role.

After dinner, we went back to the same theater to see Milk. I have had a bizarre pseudo-obsession with Harvey Milk since I took an AIDS class in college. It was one of the best classes I ever took, and it kind of changed my life; I don't think I'd be in the job I'm in today if I hadn't taken it. It was a mix of science and public health and politics and policy and media, and early on we watched a movie about Harvey Milk, and I was completely fascinated by him. So I was excited to hear about the new Milk movie, even though I'm fairly adamantly anti-Sean Penn.

But, boy, was he good in this role. I hope he wins the Golden Globe and the Oscar, even though I have no idea who the competition might be. James Franco, who apparently was nominated for Pineapple Express, which I think is ridiculous, was also quite good here.

Even though I pretty much knew the story, I was riveted during the movie (although I was completely annoyed by the Diego Luna character, who I thought added nothing, and I don't understand why Milk would've put up with him, although the Smelmooo disagrees), and I got completely swept up in it; by turns, my heart soared and my eyes filled up and I felt really, really angry. Not only for what happened in the movie, but because of how much is still the same 30 years later. Some of the rhetoric has shifted, the bigotry is not always as blatant, but here we are with Prop 8 and persistent discrimination and ignorance, and it's troubling.

A few weeks ago, I was listening to a story on NPR about the movie, and they interviewed a bunch of young people who are advocates in the LGBT community, and almost all of them said they sort of knew who Milk was, or they knew the story because of the Twinkie Defense, but that they didn't think that Milk was so relevant today, because there are now plenty of out politicians, and it's not such a big deal. But you watch this movie, and as bad as things still are today, you can imagine how much worse they'd be if it weren't for Harvey Milk.

So, a good night at the movies, but exhausting. I am spent, and enjoying that we're now watching Robot Chicken. I need a break from serious fare.