Movie Review - Milk

Director extraordinaire Gus Van Sant brings light to one of the darkest chapters in San Francisco history in this perfect pairing of film and filmmaker. Since I was living in San Francisco at the time this story takes place and personally remember the events depicted in the movie, my response to "Milk" is a particularly emotional one.

A great character in a city full of characters, Harvey Milk once again comes alive in an astounding performance by the ultimate chameleon actor Sean Penn, giving us a full blooded portrait of the guy who made history by becoming the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Milk arrives in the city by the bay as a transplanted New Yorker, opens a small camera shop in the Castro District of the city and proceeds to make neighborhood connections as well as create a safe haven for the many gay citizens who are closeted or discriminated against. Eventually Milk becomes known as The Mayor of Castro Street and begins a long series of attempts to win public office, finally succeeding to become a City Supervisor. Lovers (Scott Smith played by James Franco, Jack Lira played by Diego Luna), supporters (Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, Alison Pill as campaign manager Anne Kronenberg) and fellow politicians (Victor Garber portrays Mayor George Moscone and Josh Brolin is City Supervisor Dan White) all figure into the mix. The reconfiguration of the city's districts and a vile proposition by John Briggs to prevent gays from teaching in public schools align to bring Milk into the forefront. A lethal dynamic develops between the outrageous Milk and the ex-cop turned fellow supervisor White as they try to negotiate their clashing approaches to governing the city. We know where this will end, of course, but the way the film delineates the growing antagonism between the two makes the outcome extremely disturbing just the same.

Filmed on location in San Francisco, the period is well captured by Van Sant and his superb cast. Documentary footage of Supervisor Dianne Feinstein announcing the murders of Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Milk are chilling, along with actual scenes from the candlelight vigil that took place following the assassinations. It was also interesting to see clips of the infamous Anita Bryant making heinous, homophobic remarks which have branded her name as synonymous with rampant prejudice forever. Thankfully Milk isn't shown in a noble light but becomes all the more compelling with his ambitions and complicated personal relationships present along with his courage. Here is an American hero who truly gave his all to further the cause of equality for every citizen. I'm sure somewhere Harvey must be smiling.

Things to love about this movie: Classic Van Sant touches, such as the ever expanding photos of contacts that fill the screen as Cleve Jones works a phone bank; James Franco's performance (sexy and refreshingly free of "gay" mannerisms); photos at the end of the film showing the real people on whom the movie characterizations are based; the always phenomenal Sean Penn disappearing once again, this time into the flamboyant character of Milk
Things to hate about this movie: The fact that 30 years later the same battles fought by Harvey Milk are still being waged today
Pleasant surprises: Josh Brolin brings surprising nuance to Dan White (the "villain" of the story); gay men are allowed to kiss on screen (what a concept)
Unpleasant surprises: Would have liked to see a little more of San Francisco as a character in the film; Jack Lira is shown in an unflattering, one dimensional way despite Luna's good performance