BOTTOM
LINE:
A moving, realistic,
and fitting tribute to the late Harvey Milk, an American gay activist
who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly
gay official, with a very humanistic and pitch perfect performance
by Sean Penn in the lead role.
THE
GOOD: The story
of Harvey Milk’s rise to prominence in the 1970s as a champion
for gay rights is a very moving one indeed, as told here with the
utmost care by director Gus Van Sant. The central character upon
which this film is based was a larger-than-life, positive and uplifting
individual who debated fairly and ethically against those opposed
to gay rights, and as portrayed here by Sean Penn, he is a deeply
sympathetic character than you cannot help but like. Penn’s
performance sets the tone for the whole movie as his very human,
yet pitch-perfect performance is a sight to behold and is worthy
of an Oscar win. Through him, we learn and understand the plight
of gay people as it stood back in the 70s and the ultra-religious
fervour that attempted to crush its existence. Gus Van Sant likewise
deserves much credit for creating characters and a world that are
completely believable, three-dimensional and likeable, even Josh
Brolin’s Dan White who can never come to terms with Milk’s
success at the expense of his own as a State Supervisor. Milk’s
supporters are also given a lot of room to develop and grow as characters,
particularly Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch) and Scott Smith (James Franco).
Gus Van Sant uses a very documentary-like style in staging all the
sequences, and at times, you feel as if you are watching the real
thing. The Hollywood-esque filming techniques blend in seamlessly
with archival footage (and staged archival footage) to give a truly
authentic experience. Although clocking in at just over two hours,
the film flies by in a flurry as you are swept in to Milk’s
heart-felt journey, from his quieter beginnings, to the trials and
tribulations of his eventual success, and ultimately his tragic
assassination.
