MILK

MILK

Dir. Gus Van Sant

Screenplay - Dustin Lance Black

Starring - Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Lucas Grabeel, Eric Stoltz

Opens November 26, 2008 (limited)

Gus Van Sant was the perfect candidate to bring Milk, the story of historical gay politician Harvey Milk, to the big screen. And from the looks of things so far, Van Sant has hit his first home run since Good Will Hunting. I predict Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor Sean Penn, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Black.

This is a big one to watch out for, as Milk is poised to capture the gay rights movement in a way never before done in a major motion picture. If it's good, this film will go down in history. Check out the brand new trailer...

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Dir. Paul Haggis

Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, James Franco, Jason Patric, Josh Brolin, Frances Fisher

Release date: September 21, 2007

Despite the absolutely awful poster (see above), 'In the Valley of Elah' might make waves in the Oscar race this year. Directed by Hollywood darling Paul Haggis ('Crash', 'Million Dollar Baby'), the film centers around the father (Tommy Lee Jones) of an AWOL soldier who has just returned home from Iraq and the detective (Charlize Theron) who tries to help him find his son. With Susan Sarandon as the mother of the missing soldier and a supporting cast that includes James Franco, Frances Fisher, and Jason Patric, this film seems like it should be cemented into the Oscar race come January. But the buzz is quite mixed. On one hand, The Daily Variety says the film "is too self-serious to work as a straight-ahead whodunit and too lacking in imagination to realize its art-film aspiration." While The Hollywood Reporter praises the film, calling it "a powerful work that is as timely as it is moving."

It should become apparent very soon if this one has the guns to make the long haul to January, as it opens wide on September 21st.

Oscar Potential - I think 'Elah' is a longshot, though I keep waiting for the day that Sarandon will return to form with a solid role. Tommy Lee Jones has a good chance at a Best Actor nomination.