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Directed By: Gus Van Sant
Starring:
Sean Penn as Harvey Milk
Josh Brolin as Dan White
James Franco as Scott Smith
Harvey Milk is inspirational, not just because of what he fought for, but because of how he fought for it: with determination, grace, and respectfulness. His message of equality is an important one, one that is still timely and relevant even today. His tactics to achieve change, resembling the peaceful ones of Martin Luther King Jr., transcend religious or political ideologies. Many may look at him as being immoral because of his homosexuality and this film to be even more so because of its idealization of him. Putting my own religious beliefs aside, I believe that no one word can ever fully describe a man or a woman…not gay or straight, young or old, black or white, etc. It is the culmination of their beliefs and actions that defines them and, with all of the achievements Harvey Milk made in his lifetime (not just for homosexuals, but for all people), his story is one that deserves to be told.
And his story is told exceptionally well. Sean Penn is a masterful talent and his touching and endearing portrayal of the first openly-gay elected official in the United States is one of the best of his career. We meet Harvey as an unsatisfied man, a researcher for Bache & Co. who is slowly but surely coming out about his homosexuality. He encounters the handsome and younger Scott Smith (Franco) and their relationship blossoms quickly. They move together to San Francisco and open up a camera shop on the famed Castro Street. Initially excited to be a part of the largest and most well-known gay community in the country, they are soon disgusted to see the hatred directed towards their newfound friends by members of the San Francisco Police Department. Harvey eventually becomes an unelected leader and defender for the abused citizens, the self-proclaimed Mayor of Castro Street. When this proves to be not enough, he decided to run for office.
It is not an easy road for Harvey to finally get a position on the Board of Supervisors. He loses the election three times and even loses Scott, tired of all of the politics, along the way…but he finally achieves his goal. Immediately heading into battle against such people as the infamous Anita Bryant, he desperately tries to stop the passing of Proposition 6, an act that would call for the dismissal of any gay public school teacher and any teachers that supported gay rights. In one of the most criminally-misguided efforts in American history, the supporters of Proposition 6 argued that these teachers would be teaching homosexuality to their students, something that they considered to be a form of child molestation. History tells us that Proposition 6 will not pass, but Gus Van Sant manages to build considerable suspense anyway…as he does in the film’s tragic climax.
Milk is a bittersweet story because, even though it is encouraging and inspirational, we know how it must end: with the devastating assassination of Harvey Milk at the hands of Dan White (brilliantly played by Brolin), his former ally. Van Sant bravely does not shy away from this powerful scene, instead depicting it bluntly. Harvey’s assassination was, of course, part of his gripping journey, an integral part that has helped define his legacy, no matter how sad or heartbreaking it is. In order to stay true to his story, this scene must be shown. Gus Van Sant has made one of the most emotionally-touching films of the year, propelled by strong performances from every cast member and a firm grip on the story at hand. Though the screenplay does often try to canonize the politician and activist, it is Sean Penn’s brave and stirring performance that helps us break through our own belief systems and experience the life and message of Harvey Milk.
And his story is told exceptionally well. Sean Penn is a masterful talent and his touching and endearing portrayal of the first openly-gay elected official in the United States is one of the best of his career. We meet Harvey as an unsatisfied man, a researcher for Bache & Co. who is slowly but surely coming out about his homosexuality. He encounters the handsome and younger Scott Smith (Franco) and their relationship blossoms quickly. They move together to San Francisco and open up a camera shop on the famed Castro Street. Initially excited to be a part of the largest and most well-known gay community in the country, they are soon disgusted to see the hatred directed towards their newfound friends by members of the San Francisco Police Department. Harvey eventually becomes an unelected leader and defender for the abused citizens, the self-proclaimed Mayor of Castro Street. When this proves to be not enough, he decided to run for office.
It is not an easy road for Harvey to finally get a position on the Board of Supervisors. He loses the election three times and even loses Scott, tired of all of the politics, along the way…but he finally achieves his goal. Immediately heading into battle against such people as the infamous Anita Bryant, he desperately tries to stop the passing of Proposition 6, an act that would call for the dismissal of any gay public school teacher and any teachers that supported gay rights. In one of the most criminally-misguided efforts in American history, the supporters of Proposition 6 argued that these teachers would be teaching homosexuality to their students, something that they considered to be a form of child molestation. History tells us that Proposition 6 will not pass, but Gus Van Sant manages to build considerable suspense anyway…as he does in the film’s tragic climax.
Milk is a bittersweet story because, even though it is encouraging and inspirational, we know how it must end: with the devastating assassination of Harvey Milk at the hands of Dan White (brilliantly played by Brolin), his former ally. Van Sant bravely does not shy away from this powerful scene, instead depicting it bluntly. Harvey’s assassination was, of course, part of his gripping journey, an integral part that has helped define his legacy, no matter how sad or heartbreaking it is. In order to stay true to his story, this scene must be shown. Gus Van Sant has made one of the most emotionally-touching films of the year, propelled by strong performances from every cast member and a firm grip on the story at hand. Though the screenplay does often try to canonize the politician and activist, it is Sean Penn’s brave and stirring performance that helps us break through our own belief systems and experience the life and message of Harvey Milk.
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