K-PAX

MOVIE REVIEW OF K-PAX (2001) PG-13

Cast
Director:	iain softley	Runtime: 2 hrs ( 120 min)
prot	.....	kevin spacey
dr. mark powell	.....	jeff bridges
rachel powell	.....	mary mcCormick
dr. claudia villars	.....	alfre woodard
howie	.....	david patrick kelly
ernie	.....	saul williams
sal	.....	peter gerety
doris archer	.....	celia weston
dr. chakraborty	.....	ajay naidu
maria	.....	tracy vilar
bess	.....	melanee murray
russell	.....	john toles - bay
joyce trexler	.....	kimberly scott
betty mcAllister	.....	conchata ferrell
navarro	.....	vincent laresca
simms	.....	mark christopher
steve	.....	brian howe
abby	.....	mary mara
natalie powell (age 6)	.....	tess mcCarthy
gabby powell (age 9)	.....	natasha dorfhuber
josh (age 10)	.....	brandon michael dePaul
michael powell (age 21)	.....	aaron paul
sheriff	.....	william lucking
walter fleen	.....	kelly connell
duncan flynn	.....	peter maloney
david patel	.....	lance nichols
stuart hessler	.....	paul linke
danny trexler	.....	christopher jason brown
dominic mcAllister	.....	greg lewis
homeless veteran	.....	clarke peters
sara porter	.....	kateri walker
rebecca porter	.....	katya abelski
babbling man	.....	norman alden
jennifer	.....	moet meira

WHAT I KNOW

A mysterious man (Kevin Spacey) appears in a crowded train terminal out of nowhwere…literally. He has no luggage, and seems to be awed at absolutely everything and everyone around him. He clearly has no intention of harming anyone, and seems to be very happy to be where he is.

So, naturally, the authorities haul him off to the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan. Initially, he is escorted to the office of Dr. Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges), Chief of Clinical Psychiatry.

This man, who calls himself Prot(long o vowel), is far from threatening. He obviously has a sense of humor, but no physical expressions or reactions to signify it.

He claims to come from a planet named K-PAX, which, says Prot, is about 1,000 light years away from Earth, in a constellation we call Lyra.

At first, he is the only one of his collegues who accepts the vague possibility that Prot is actually who he says he is, and is, in fact, from a planet called K-PAX. The institute is managed more in the fashion of a community rather than a hospital, so everyone is on a semi-formal basis with the residents and the staff.

As Dr. Powell spends the duration of the movie trying to analyze and figure out Prot, Prot himself is observing the residents of the Institute as they characterize themselves through incident and reaction.

In some cases, Prot changes the residents' attitude toward being ‘locked up.’

Dr. Powell takes Prot to meet some of the collegues of his astrophysicist friend (Brian Howe), who also takes an interest in him.

We learn that Prot does have past history involving tragedy. However, Prot describes it as having happened to a friend who is a native of Earth. This is where everyone's stories, because they are all so believable and apparently undebatable, begin to revive the wonder and doubt of the movie and it's several angles.

WHAT I THINK

Talk about twisting the towel dry (but still getting wet)!

That might be the wrong way to start this review. It sounds as if I believe this topic to have run its course. On the contrary. Let me start a few paragraphs back, at the actual beginning of my thoughts…

Mainly, this movie is an insight into the lack of logical thinking, but also how two different cultures may develop completely different lifestyles and sets of values, each maintaining their respective cultures as the only logical way to live.

When Prot first encounters Dr. Powell, the expected conversation ensues, whereas the alien seems to have all the answers to the problems of the domestic inhabitants. This seems to be a common theme among many horror/sci-fi-alien movies.

On the other hand, Prot comes to Earth to study and learn the ways of the people of this planet. Of course he learns, observes, and criticizes our ways and customs, but he also teaches the residents of the hospital (and Dr. Powell himself) that there is a world beyond the social norm, and to be labeled mentally deficiant may show some insight into the labeler.

While (as anyone who has ever seen an alien/other species movie knows) the superior species of the universe has developed a slew of horrendous flaws. The alien race, which is, of course, perfect and technologically advanced beyond all imagination may not have developed lifestyles that any sane person from Earth would choose voluntarily.

For the entire movie, you (and Dr. Powell) are challenged to decide who Prot really is, where he is really from, and what really is his history.

Movie stereotypes such as these are exploited shamelessly in K-PAX, and the theme has been used over and over in the past (e.g. Cocoon, Batteries Not Included, E.T.). They are themes, though, that survive without becoming redundant. For some strange reason, we seem to enjoy the exploitation of our own flaws. By the same token, we enjoy redeeming ourselves by creating other superior beings with little, often social disturbances that tremendously outweigh our piddly frustrations.

As an added aspect, you just cannot write a story such as this, without having the characters described as crazy (pardon my lack of political savvy) as being the only ones who see beyond what is generally accepted.

As long as writers and actors keep the individual stories fresh (i.e. This isn't your father's Oldsmobile.), this type of movie will always make you think.

And speaking of thinking…from where do you think Prot comes? What exactly is his true story?

REMARKABLE DIALOGUE
Finally, a short list of quotes and verbal exchanges I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some if you've seen the movie, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:

• Prot : I've been here many times before. But what brought me here first? I don't know. Pure curiosity, I guess. I'd never been to a Class BA-3 planet before.
  Dr. Powell : Class BA-3?
  Prot : Early stage of evolution. Future uncertain.
• Dr. Powell :[Ignoring Rachel] Oh, look. They've published my letter.
  Rachel : I spoke with Natalie about going into the after-school program next year…in case I go back to teaching. And this morning my head fell off, but I was able to sew it back on with dental floss. Waxed, of course.
  Dr. Powell : Dental floss? Sorry, I wasn't listening.
• Dr. Powell : You were born, right? K-PAXians have babies?
  Prot : Oh, yes, much like on Earth. But unlike you humans, the reproductive process is quite unpleasant for us.
  Dr. Powell : Could you compare the effect to something that I might understand? Like a toothache?
  Prot : It's more like having your nuts in a vice, except we feel it all over. And to make matters worse, the sensation is associated with something like your nausea, accompanied by a very bad smell. The moment of climax is like being kicked in the stomach and then falling into a pool of mod droppings.
• Dr. Powell : How do you know right from wrong?
  Prot : Every being in the universe knows right from wrong, Mark.
• Prot : You humans. Sometimes it's hard to imagine how you've made it this far.
• Dr. Powell : Prot, it's one thing to take an interest in your fellow patients. It's quite another to make them think that you can cure them.
  Prot : You seem overly upset, Mark. To borrow a phrase from Navarro, ‘you need to chill.’ For your information, all beings have the capacity to heal themselves, Mark. This is something we've known on K-PAX for millions of years.
  Dr. Powell : Listen to me. On this planet, I'm a doctor, you're a patient.
  Prot : Doctor. Patient. Curious human distinction.
  Dr. Powell : It's not your job to cure Howie…or Ernie…or Marie or anyone else. It's mine.
  Prot : Then why haven't you cured them yet?
• Dr. Becker : It's a pleasure to meet you, Prot. I'm Doctor Becker. This is Doctor Flynn, Doctors Papel and Hessler.
  Prot :[shaking hands with and nodding at each one in turn.] Doctor. Doctor. Doctor. Doctor…How many doctors are there on this planet?
• Prot : Kids. Come here. [has barking conversation with Shasta, the dog] Okay. [to the kids] She says she doesn't like it when you hide her favorite tennis shoe. And she doesn't hear so well in her left side so…
  [Shasta barks again]
  Prot : …so don't sneak up on her anymore.
  Natalie : No way.
• Prot : I believe I mentioned my taking a trip up north, Mark…in this very garden.
  Dr. Powell : ‘Taking a trip?’ You're a patient here. You don't leave here without a discharge. And don't give me this ‘beam of light’ shit, because I don't buy it. What would you say if I told you that I don't believe you took any trip at all, to Iceland or Greenland, or anywhere? That I don't believe you're from K-PAX? I believe you're as human as I am.
  Prot : I would say you're in need of a Thorazine drip, Doctor.
• Dr. Powell : Let's hope extra-terrestrials qualify for Medicaid.
• Prot : Why is a soap bubble round?
  Dr. Powell: Why is a soap bubble round.
  Prot: You know, for an educated Man, Mark, you repeat things quite a bit. Are you aware of that?

RATING

Here is my personal rating of this movie. This rating is out of ten meows.
¹⁰ /₁₀

---

Thanks for Visiting!!!

Please comment below

Milk

MOVIE REVIEW OF Milk (2008) R

Cast
Director:	gus van sant	Runtime: 2 hrs 8 min ( 128 min)
harvey milk	.....	sean penn
cleve jones	.....	emile hirsch
dan white	.....	josh brolin
jack lira	.....	diego luna
scott smith	.....	james franco
anne kronenberg	.....	alison pill
mayor moscone	.....	victor garber
john briggs	.....	denis o' hare
dick pabich	.....	joseph cross
rick stokes	.....	stephen spinella
danny nicoletta	.....	lucas grabeel
jim rivaldo	.....	brandon boyce
david goodstein	.....	zvi howard rosenman
michael wong	.....	kelvin yu
art agnos	.....	jeff koons
dennis peron	.....	ted jan roberts
denton smith	.....	robert boyd holbrook
frank robinson	.....	frank robinson
allan baird	.....	allan baird
tom ammiano	.....	tom ammiano
thelma	.....	carol roth silver
mary ann white	.....	hope tuck
mcConnelly	.....	steven wiig
dianne feinstein	.....	ashlee temple
carol ruth silver	.....	wendy king
gordon lau	.....	kelvin han yee
phil burton	.....	robert chimento
lily	.....	ginabel mochado
morning show host	.....	velina brown
riot cop	.....	richard gross
medora paine	.....	camron palmer
assistant sheriff	.....	cully fredricksen
sylvester	.....	mark martinez
priest	.....	mark e. stanger
chamber clerk	.....	jesse caldwell
don amador	.....	cleve jones
pizza delivery man	.....	drew kuhse
robert hillsborough	.....	eric cook

WHAT I KNOW

This entire movie is an account of the short, but significant and effective political career of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Although the entire movie is not told as a narrative, the movie is supposed to be a portrayal of the recordings made by Milk as he reflected, in the movie, in solitude, into a tape recorder. The movie periodically flashes to this scene, with Harvey sitting at his kitchen table, speaking into a microphones.

The film begins with real archive news footage of police officers raiding public establishments such as restaurants and movie theatres. Included in this footage is the public announcement of the assassination of Mayor Moscone (Victor Garber) and supervisor Harvey Milk.

The first theatrical scene has Harvey meeting his soon-to-be friend and partner, Scott Smith (James Franco) at a train depot. They have a night together (which just happens to be Harvey's 40^th birthday) and become partners.

Harvey and Scott start a photography shop in a small (six blocks square) Irish-Catholic district in San Francisco called The Castro. The other shop owners are not happy about it, but they leave it alone, and eventually, the business is accepted.

When Harvey sees the violence all around his neighborhood, he decides to run for San Francisco Supervisor.

He finds that, even with a legitimate cause and backing, there are always those who will fight you and attempt to stand in your way. He learns the ins and outs of politics, often not agreeing with them. He learns how others in government often play ball with each other. Friends often takes on a different meaning.

Although, being California, and a highly Liberally populated state, the politics are some of the most ruthless (looks like the disease has done nothing but spread in 35 or so years). Among the opponents to Harvey's movement are Anita Bryant, a very out-spoken, religious, anti-gay activist, and her go-to guy, State Senator John Briggs.

Not only is Milk fighting the anti-gay movement (i.e. Proposition 6), but he is also fighting the idea of using politics to fight the issues rather than truly believing in the issues at hand.

Dan White (Josh Brolin) , another supervisor, asks for Harvey's help in keeping a mental health facility out of his district. Harvey votes against the bill, which puts this friendship on the rocks.

Harvey is a fighter with a strong following. Anita Bryant moves her cause throughout the nation, but Harvey moves his followers just as swiftly…causing riots in the streets. He is losing support, though, so it is suggested that he focus his political efforts somewhere else in addition to the gay rights movement. As it is sort of a comic relief to the serious tone of the story, I will not reveal here which cause he chooses, but I will say that it sure does beat the crap out of Anita Bryant's movement of the moment. (See the movie to find out why that's so funny.)

Dan White retaliates against Harvey for not supporting his bill by voting No on Milk's gay rights bill. From this point on, White is vengeful against Milk, and does not support him in anything else. Harvey, however, does get the backing of the Mayor (Victor Garber) and most of those on the Board of Supervisors.

WHAT I THINK

Obviously, in reviewing a true story, there's not much room for criticizing the plot. Also, not being previously familiar with the story or the people involved previous to this viewing, I will not attempt to evaluate the validity or accuracy of facts.

As far as the movie in itself and the performances, they are superb. Though it was not intentional on my part, this does seem an appropriate movie on which attention is to be focused. (Don't you love my perfect sentence structure, Mrs. Holley?)

Although it might be hard to overwrite unpleasant memories of Sean Penn and his days with Madonna, as an actor, he is fantastic as Harvey Milk.

I also want to extend praise to Josh Brolin, playing the part of Dan White. Nothing in specific, which I believe is the best type of praise. His overall performance is unbelieveable..

I have not seen Sean Penn in many performances in quite some time. It's hard to imagine Harvey Milk being portrayed by the same actor who played Jeff in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. However, if you've seen I Am Sam,you can see how Sean Penn is very talented at portraying several varied types of characters.

As I have said before, spoiler is not in my cache. If you know the real story, watch this movie to compare it to the history books. If you are not familiar with that part of political history, this is a terrific movie from which you may learn something.

Critics's personal note: I am very disappointed that some 30+ years after this movement, conservatives and the tea party are rallying up the same issues that were fought for so hard in the '70s.

REMARKABLE DIALOGUE
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some of you've seen the movie, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:

• Harvey : My name is Harvey Milk, and I wanna recruit you.
• Anita : I believe that, more than ever before, that there are evil forces, roundabouts, even perhaps disguised as something good, that would want to tear it down, the very foundation of family unit that holds America together.
• Briggs : Sir, my bill has procedures for identifying homosexuals.
  [Further heckling]
  Briggs : You can argue with me. You cannot argue with God.
• Harvey : Privacy. In this movement, at this time…I'm not saying this as a supervisor…privacy is the enemy. And if you want real political power…if that's what you want…try telling the truth for a change.
• Harvey : A powder blue pen to sign the city's first gay rights law.
• Scott : Congratulations to you. Looks like you're part of "The Machine" now.
• Scott : Happy 48! Looks like you're going to make it to 50 after all, Mr. Milk.
• Harvey : This is not just jobs or issues, this is our lives were fighting for.
• Harvey : And how do you teach homosexuality? Is it like French?
• Harvey : Dan, even Ronald Reagan is against Proposition 6.
• [After Jack's suicide.]
  Scott : Harvey, look at me. You did everything that you could.
  Harvey : No, I didn't.
  Scott : So, what more could you have done?
  Harvey : I could've come back at 6:00 or 6:15.
• Harvey : I like that. A Homosexual with power. That's scary!.
• Harvey : Any witnesses?.
  Cop : Yeah. Just a trick. Jerry Keller.
  Harvey : Jerry's not his trick. He's his lover.
  Cop : Hey, call it what you will. All I know is, he's our only witness. He said he can't identify the attacker.
  Harvey : You'd have a dozen witnesses if they thought you boys had any interest in protecting them.
• Briggs : My proposition promises to protect our children from these gay perverts and…these gay perverts and pedophiles who recruit our children to participate in their deviant lifestyle, including the ones who do it in our public schools. The time has come for us to root them out.
  [Gets booed off the stage.]
• Dan :[drunk] Hey, I gotcha a little somethin'.
  Harvey :[under his breath] You didn't have to…
  Dan : ‘You didn't have to’ I knew you were gonna say that. Why do people always say that? ‘ You didn't have to.’ I mean, of course, right? But that's what they always say. They always say things like that…Always.

RATING

Here is my personal rating of this movie. This rating is out of ten meows.
¹⁰ /₁₀

---

Thanks for Visiting!!!

Please comment below