And the Oscar Goes To...

I've had the luxury to have seen both "Milk" and "The Wrestler" before they came out nationally. In my opinion, including many other film critics, the two top male acting performances have been Sean Penn in "Milk" and Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler". I have made up my own mind as to who I think did a better job acting and I would like to share with you my thoughts regarding this matter.

In "Milk", Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk; a homosexual male caught in the midst of a massive political movement striving for equal rights for homosexuals such as himself. During the course of the film we see Penn go from an insurance agent in a New York subway, to camera store-owning bearded hippy living on Castro Street in San Francisco, to a clean shaven, suit and tie wearing, oily haired politician. The acting by Mr. Penn is fantastic, if not, tantamount. However, there is one thing that is missing from this role: the movie could exist without Sean Penn playing Harvey Milk. The movie has a massively talented supporting cast, a fantastic directing job, and an uplifting story which, sad to say, far too many people allow to influence them when judging an actor's overall performance. However, this is not the kind of role that should land an actor an Oscar.

An Oscar should go to the actor that has overcome great emotional obstacles or has failed in this regard, holds the movie together simply by being in the movie, makes other actors/actresses around them better because of their screen presence, and displays their acting ability in the most humanistic form.

Mickey Rourke's role as Randy "the Ram" Robinson in "The Wrestler" is that actor. When the film starts the viewer starts off feeling a little negative towards Rourke's character and/or his occupation in the movie. We have seen time and time again, in film, what difficulties a politician faces and what challenges they must overcome. However, a washed up wrestler/lonely, neglectful father is one that has not been given the spotlight. Rourke's acting performance takes the viewer on a roller coaster ride and leaves the viewer changed from having watched it. Every emotion that Rourke experiences or displays, he pulls you into it as well. He never really become the likeable actor that you cheer for while watching it; he becomes the actor that you understand a little better and respect more for having watched the performance.

In this sense, it almost seems like "Milk" is making the viewer love, appreciate, and cheer for Penn's character. I call it pandering. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, that is the reason that a lot of people go to the movies. However, that is why roles, like the one that Penn plays in "Milk", are so played out. We've seen it before and it has become formulaic. Mickey Rouke's role as Randy "the Ram" Robinson is a character very few have the courage to attempt and one whom fewer ever pull-off successfully.

The movie "The Wrestler" is a gritty film and is not as enjoyable to watch as "Milk"; however, "The Wrestler" was brought to life by the sensational directing of Darren Aronofsky and the brilliant acting of Mickey Rourke. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates seeing phenomenal acting at its finest. This is why I feel that Mickey Rourke will be named the best actor of 2008.