James Franco rates Sean Penn as his top on-screen romance!

James Franco talked to "Entertainment Weekly" mostly about the upcoming comedy "Pineapple Express" but a few questions about his role as Harvey Milk's lover in "The Mayor of Castro Street" were snuck in there. The film stars Sean Penn and is directed by Gus Van Sant. Here is that part of the exchange:

Now, you've had a number of onscreen love interests: Kirsten Dunst, Neve Campbell, Catherine Keener. In Milk, which comes out in the fall, you play Sean Penn's lover. Where does he rate in terms of your onscreen romances?
JAMES: The top! He's a little hairier than those other ones, but oh well...

That film has an amazing cast: Penn, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, and, of course, Gus Van Sant, who directed.
JAMES: It's hard to think of a director or actor who I regard more highly than [Gus and Sean]. Gus has been a hero of mine since "Drugstore Cowboy" and "My Own Private Idaho." And of course Sean is probably the best actor around. It was great. Surprisingly kind of comfortable and easy. Gus has a very soft-spoken, soft-handed approach, so he just brings everybody together, the right elements together, and then he doesn't really have to do much. It just kind of happens. At least that's how it feels.

Well, I will not ask you what sort of intense, hands-on research you had to do for this film. I'll leave that to the other reporters.
JAMES: I know the two main questions I'm going to be asked in the next year are ''How much pot did you smoke?'' (for 'Pineapple Express') and ''What was it like to kiss Sean Penn?''

The entire interview with James can be found at EW.com