Sean Penn requested it

James Franco wants you to know that the sex scene between him and Sean Penn in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming Oscar contender, Milk, existed only because Penn suggested it. Franco said in this month’s Elle:

“A month after [director] Gus [Van Sant] asked me to do it, they sent me another script, and on Page 5 there was a full-on love scene. And I was like, ‘Gus, what the heck?’ He says, ‘Well, it was Sean’s idea.’ “

In Sean Penn’s defense, James Franco does have piercing brown eyes and a charming smile. Also in Sean Penn’s defense, a gay sex scene boosts your chances for an Oscar by almost 137%. Suck on that Benicio Del Toro, you bearded freak.