Passing Judgment: James Franco

Photo: Getty Images

James Franco's pretty face graces the new cover of Out magazine, in which he talks about his role in the upcoming Harvey Milk biopic, Milk.

Franco's character research into Scott Smith, Milk's longtime boyfriend, even got into 1970s San Francisco fashion trends, he told us: "The 'Castro clone' was a style of dress that was pretty common -- a lot of flannels and construction boots and jeans. I remember reading someone complaining that the guys were actually trying to be too butch." (None of those are present in this gallery of photos from the magazine.)

While we like Franco in, well, anything, that got us thinking about his personal style, which thankfully is a little more contemporary with a classic edge. On the far right, above, on a recent TRL appearance to promote Pineapple Express with comparatively drab costars Seth Rogan and Danny McBride, Franco looks relaxed yet James Dean-ishly stylish in the dark denim and cropped motorcycle jacket (one of our fall favorites).

In the same vein, he was spotted roving in NYC looking equally put together, dressed dark again, with skinny jeans, a tee, another cropped jacket and great looking boots. We love how appropriately bunched his jeans are at the bottom, giving just enough break throughout the pant. While we would have preferred a plain tee shirt rather than something graphic, his dark hair (dyed perhaps for some new role?) and the gradient sun-shades are altogther cinematic.

-- SETH PLATTNER