Milk - Cineworld, Edinburgh 25/1/09

The story of Harvey Milk the first, openly, gay politician elected to public office in the USA.

With Kirby Dicks next project, "Outrage", due to expose a number of anti-gay yet gay politicians in office in contemporary America, this film acts as a powerful reminder of how intolerant many people can be over an "issue" which is, at worst, a decision over where one man decides to place his penis or where a woman decides not to place the same!

Milk was an important figure in American politics...he was a barrier breaker and an inspiration to thousands of other gay men at a time when life in the closet was not a choice but a necessity. Here Sean Penn portrays him sensitively and accurately.

To see Milk simply as an important gay figure would be to do him and his legacy a great disservice. He was an inspiration to people of whatever "creed" who feel the oppressive nature of society bearing down on them. Get up, stand up...stand up for your rights.

Josh Brolin also gives an excellent performance as Milks eventual assassin, Dan White...a mass of contradictions and inner-demons. His ultimate decision to shoot Milk is portrayed with incredible tension and delicacy.

It's a cliche but this is an inspirational film. What makes that more impressive is that director Gus Van Sant isn't known for the inspirational nature of his work ("Elephant" and his icy "remake" of "Psycho" being good examples) but here he makes something that while tragic is also uplifting and, at times, very funny. A real triumph.

Love and Honour - Filmhouse, Edinburgh 23/1/09

Yoji Yamada presents us with the story of Mimura, a young samurai who has the less than glamorous life of a "taster" for his master. Each day Mimura and some of his comrades must sample the food prepared in the kitchens to ensure that it has not been poisoned by enemies. One day Mimuras life unravels when, rather than poison, an inadequately prepared piece of seafood leaves him blind. This leaves him devastated, depressed and on the brink of poverty.

To alleviate the financial worries Mimuras beautiful young wife is duped into sleeping with a local politician who promises to help ensure financial aid from his master. What she doesn't know is that that assistance is already promised as thanks for Mimura ensuring that his master did not eat the poisonous fish!

This third in Yamadas samurai trilogy ("Twilight Samurai" and the "Hidden Blade" being the first parts) was equally beautiful. Historical detail and reverence for the story ensure that you are never less than completely involved in the film. It looks marvellous too...costumes and sets are simply stunning.

This is not the samurai of Hollywood but the reality of life for these most complex of warriors and, as such, is much more compelling than any swords and stunts fare served up by the big studios.