Profile
Photos
Comments
"Milk" is so far the best movie I have seen this year and Sean Penn certainly
gives the best performance by an actor which is just two reasons for seeing this
film.
Gus Van Sant takes the excellent screenplay
by Dustin Lance Black and not only tells/shows Harvey Milk's story but San
Francisco in the 1970s, the gay rights movement at
that time and Anita Bryant's anti-gay movement , along with Senator John Briggs
and Prop 6. There are real news stories inter-cut within the film while the
music, production design and photography are all first rate.
The acting is first rate from Penn on down to the
extras. Josh Brolin continues on his
smart movie and acting choices standing out in each scene he is in, while Diego
Luna takes a role that could have been over the edge by hamming it up, keeps it
real. From Emile Hirsch, Alison Pill, Denis O'Hare to Victor Garber, Stephen Spinella and James Franco this is acting at
its best.
Sean Penn throws himself into the role without holding back whether it is in
same sex scenes or being both the unpolished and polished politician. Milk was a
martyred gay activist who was the first gay man elected to office and was a San
Francisco supervisor on his way who was killed before the story could be played
out. He was far from an angel and who knows if he would have gone higher in
politics or, quite possibly died from AIDS in the 1980s. Penn doesn't hide any
aspect that the screenplay tells about the man but he, also, by using his face
and body shows more than is written.
Dan White (Josh Brolin) is as complex a character as Milk
and affect each other like oil and water with Dan going crazier with each
accomplishment Milk makes.
This is an important part of American history, of political history, of gay
history, of social and civil history but is not preachy and should be seen by
every American, especially those in their teens to 40s but, as important, this
is an excellent film that holds your interest, tells an important story that
shows people at their best and worst. It shows how much has changed and how
little has changed in over 25 years. It is a film about American and family
values.
I hope at least half the audience that went to see
"Brokeback Mountain" will see
this.
An aside--this is the second movie that I heard Judy Garland sing "Over The
Rainbow"--in this movie recognized as one of the gay anthems and in "Australia"
in relation to the world of Oz.
THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE WITH A MUST SEE PERFORMANCE BY SEAN
PENN!!
