Scotch and Milk

Man. This was and is one of the most indulgent, poorly executed films I have seen. Yuck!!!

this movie gets ripped in reviews, but i have to say it's one of the most brillant movies i have ever seen. it's said to be a watery version of swingers, but in my mind there's not much similarity. every time i watch it it impresses me with such emotion, growth and sadness that i and many of my friends can relate to.

it's a love story first and about a guy who searches and finds himself. brilliant dialogue. interesting characters. beautiful cinematography. shot in black and white. makes LA look like a magnificent, multi dimensional city. it's got great jazz.

If you can get this movie WATCH it, but be prepared to put in some time. it's longer than the average hollywood movie.

I remember reading the somewhat positive review of this film

about a year and a half ago in Variety and seeing Adam Goldberg's

name attached to it, who I hold a place in my critical heart for his

appearance in Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused, I wanted to

see this film badly.

I wish I could dampen my enthusiasm a few notches in retrospect.

Scotch & Milk ultimately will remind many of the much better

Swingers, a film I still think was a better screenplay than film, but

even though Milk is more expressionistic and arty, this doesn't

mean its a better film in the long run.

I really do think this film was made for the sole fact to see if the

camera worked. The film rambles from one improvisational set

piece to another, further strengthens the argument against

smoking and drinking, and really doesn't say much that Swingers

or even more to the point, Barbet Schroeder's Barfly, didn't say

better.

I caught this film recently on the Sundance channel and I do agree

with the American Cinematography writer's laudable comments

regarding Milk's look but even some trash manages to look pretty

that doesn't mean it's better. I hope Goldberg has a better film in

him in the years to come.

Those who don't know what they are saying shouldn't open their mouths... Phil Maturano a world recognized and respected JAZZ drummer happened to have graced this film with his presence..

Not to mention this is one of Goldberg's first "lower" budget independent films which aided in putting him on the path to becoming a working actor and the opportunity to direct more films.. Come now lets not be so angry and cynical. This film came out around the time of swingers not because of it. I assure you that there are plenty of other films out there about trying to get laid and male "studliness" so lets not compare. This film is shot beautifully. Makes LA look like a hip swinging town( which it's pretty much not). Like most blood, sweat, tears and a LOT of sacrifice evidently went into making this film project. Every piece of art deserves a kind gesture. Watch it for yourself.

It would be easy to call this film self-indulgent, pretentious and egocentric but it saves itself from such allegations with some really engaging and witty dialogue - very dry and dark. It is beautifully shot but lacks some pace to what I reluctantly call the story, which is in fact rambling existential angst. I think it is self-conscious enough to know that the under-world of jazz , chain-smoking and greasy hair is instantly cliche ridden and manages, though not all the time, to be inventive enough to avoid inducing embarrassing grimaces or worse, laughs in the wrong places. The lead character you may recognise as Chandler's sinister flatmate in Friends some time ago. I sense him wanting to go down the same path as Vincent Gallo - dying to be an auteur!