Milk (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
After moving to San Francisco with his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco) in 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), a middle-aged New Yorker, became a gay rights activist & city politician in 'Milk', directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting). In 1977, on his 3rd attempt, he was finally elected to San Fran's Board of Supervisors, making him the 1st openly gay man to be elected to an American public office. The following year, both he & the city's mayor (Victor Garber), were shot to death by former city supervisor Dan White (Josh Brolin). The film chronicles Milk's unlikely rise to power, & his tragic end. Van Sant creates a kaleidoscope look into the man's life. Sean Penn delivers one of his finest performances. And it's a film you can at least respect, if not be entirely moved by.
The film begins with some startling 1950s/60s reel footage of homosexuals being arrested for basically ... being homosexuals. The next thing we see is the news clip announcement of Diane Feinstein announcing the 1978 assassination of Harvey Milk & Mayor George Moncone. And then the official movie starts with Penn reciting Milk's Last Will & Testament into a microphone; narrating large portions of his story as we watch it unfold. Harvey Milk & Scott Smith meet in NY in a subway station. Using effeminate wiles & the fact that it's his 40th birthday, he lures 'Scotty' back to his apartment for a good time. A relationship sparks. And years later, they drive cross-country to San Francisco; where Milk opens up a modest camera shop on Castro Street. Though the neighborhood is a gay hangout of sorts, many holdover businesses are hostile towards gays; as are the cops, of course.
Flamboyant (though not a 'screaming queen'), Harvey soon becomes an activist & attracts a small but devoted group of followers, including Cleve Jones (a solid Emile Hirsch); who would become one of Milk's most efficient & closest of confidantes. Though Harvey finally wins an election for Supervisor (after having run diligent, savvy campaigns), it comes at the price of his long-standing relationship with Scotty. Relegated to the 'housewife' role, Scott wanted Harvey to be home more often. But as much as he loved him, Harvey Milk's political aspirations could not be bridled. Milk soon becomes entangled in a struggle against Proposition 6 (a referendum designed to allow school boards to fire gay teachers). Milk wins the battle (against the likes of evangelical enemy, Anita Bryant) but is gunned down shortly thereafter at the age of 48 by fellow supervisor, Dan White; who blamed both Milk & Mayor Moscone for his own resignation from the Board.
The film's conclusion is emotional indeed; as thousands of people walked down Castro St. holding candles in Harvey's honor. Van Sant intercuts the actual reel footage of this event with the magnificent dramatized scene perfectly (as he does throughout the entire film). 'Milk' is one of those 'important' movies that are made to both highlight the career & life of a lesser-known, but brilliant human being, and to honor him in light of the recent political movement going on today involving both human & gay rights in America. Van Sant uses humor, heart, political provocation, & sexual promiscuity to highlight Milk's short life. But he does it with utmost respect & subtlety (more than you'd assume). Even though Harvey had quite the extravagant life, Van Sant creates a fairly conventional biopic for us to see.
Sean Penn is one of the best actors working because of the roles he chooses & how he executes them. This character 'could' be played BIG, but Penn uses just the right affectations of the real Harvey Milk: showcasing his brains, his humor, his playfulness, his courage, & the dignity in fighting for his cause. Penn's multi-dimensional portrayal is excellent. Nearly all the other characters brim with humanity & personality (with exception to Diego Luna as Penn's cloying 2nd lover; did not like him, at all). Josh Brolin is very good as the mentally imbalanced Dan White. But it's James Franco who got to me the most. His scenes with Penn felt both relaxed & real. And I'm just so pleased for him that his great talent is finally showing up in quality films (which has always been his drawback).
It takes quite a while for 'Milk' to really get going. But by its 2nd hour it's in full flight. For those who are dissuaded by homosexual subject matter (lots of sensual kissing/hugging), 'Milk' can be uncomfortable for some. And though I nearly teared-up in the end, I wasn't shaken to the core (it's more interesting than compelling). But overall, this really is a wonderful, stirring portrait of Harvey Milk & the thousands of people he energized. It's historically accurate (in both Milk's private life, & his public civil rights sagas), well-meaning, & beautiful to watch as a piece of cinematic art (Van Sant's unique craftwork). Harvey Milk was neither a hero nor a sycophant; just a flawed man who aimed for a better world. This is a great movie to reflect upon his (still timely) fight for equal rights; regardless of age, career, religion, race, or sexual orientation. He was silenced too soon. And who knows how high the ceiling of his accomplishments could have reached.
The film begins with some startling 1950s/60s reel footage of homosexuals being arrested for basically ... being homosexuals. The next thing we see is the news clip announcement of Diane Feinstein announcing the 1978 assassination of Harvey Milk & Mayor George Moncone. And then the official movie starts with Penn reciting Milk's Last Will & Testament into a microphone; narrating large portions of his story as we watch it unfold. Harvey Milk & Scott Smith meet in NY in a subway station. Using effeminate wiles & the fact that it's his 40th birthday, he lures 'Scotty' back to his apartment for a good time. A relationship sparks. And years later, they drive cross-country to San Francisco; where Milk opens up a modest camera shop on Castro Street. Though the neighborhood is a gay hangout of sorts, many holdover businesses are hostile towards gays; as are the cops, of course.
Flamboyant (though not a 'screaming queen'), Harvey soon becomes an activist & attracts a small but devoted group of followers, including Cleve Jones (a solid Emile Hirsch); who would become one of Milk's most efficient & closest of confidantes. Though Harvey finally wins an election for Supervisor (after having run diligent, savvy campaigns), it comes at the price of his long-standing relationship with Scotty. Relegated to the 'housewife' role, Scott wanted Harvey to be home more often. But as much as he loved him, Harvey Milk's political aspirations could not be bridled. Milk soon becomes entangled in a struggle against Proposition 6 (a referendum designed to allow school boards to fire gay teachers). Milk wins the battle (against the likes of evangelical enemy, Anita Bryant) but is gunned down shortly thereafter at the age of 48 by fellow supervisor, Dan White; who blamed both Milk & Mayor Moscone for his own resignation from the Board.
The film's conclusion is emotional indeed; as thousands of people walked down Castro St. holding candles in Harvey's honor. Van Sant intercuts the actual reel footage of this event with the magnificent dramatized scene perfectly (as he does throughout the entire film). 'Milk' is one of those 'important' movies that are made to both highlight the career & life of a lesser-known, but brilliant human being, and to honor him in light of the recent political movement going on today involving both human & gay rights in America. Van Sant uses humor, heart, political provocation, & sexual promiscuity to highlight Milk's short life. But he does it with utmost respect & subtlety (more than you'd assume). Even though Harvey had quite the extravagant life, Van Sant creates a fairly conventional biopic for us to see.
Sean Penn is one of the best actors working because of the roles he chooses & how he executes them. This character 'could' be played BIG, but Penn uses just the right affectations of the real Harvey Milk: showcasing his brains, his humor, his playfulness, his courage, & the dignity in fighting for his cause. Penn's multi-dimensional portrayal is excellent. Nearly all the other characters brim with humanity & personality (with exception to Diego Luna as Penn's cloying 2nd lover; did not like him, at all). Josh Brolin is very good as the mentally imbalanced Dan White. But it's James Franco who got to me the most. His scenes with Penn felt both relaxed & real. And I'm just so pleased for him that his great talent is finally showing up in quality films (which has always been his drawback).
It takes quite a while for 'Milk' to really get going. But by its 2nd hour it's in full flight. For those who are dissuaded by homosexual subject matter (lots of sensual kissing/hugging), 'Milk' can be uncomfortable for some. And though I nearly teared-up in the end, I wasn't shaken to the core (it's more interesting than compelling). But overall, this really is a wonderful, stirring portrait of Harvey Milk & the thousands of people he energized. It's historically accurate (in both Milk's private life, & his public civil rights sagas), well-meaning, & beautiful to watch as a piece of cinematic art (Van Sant's unique craftwork). Harvey Milk was neither a hero nor a sycophant; just a flawed man who aimed for a better world. This is a great movie to reflect upon his (still timely) fight for equal rights; regardless of age, career, religion, race, or sexual orientation. He was silenced too soon. And who knows how high the ceiling of his accomplishments could have reached.