Milk (2008)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

I'm not a Sean Penn fan by any stretch, but being objective, the guy did a pretty good job of portraying the title character in this biopic of Harvey Milk, one of the country's first elected gay politicians. If you were politically aware during the Seventies, you knew of Milk because his efforts made national headlines for the gay cause while Anita Bryant, also depicted in this film via archive footage, made her mark as a religious firebrand denouncing the lifestyle. The main thing about Milk that surprised me was how professional and courteous he remained as a political activist, even when confronted by hostile opponents. And his activism didn't solely focus on gays, but in a term he coined - 'us's' - he included Blacks, Asians, working stiffs and anyone else that might have been held back by intolerance or lack of understanding. With that as a frame of reference, the movie achieved a desirable objective.

In 60's San Francisco, the police are cracking down on gay men. In 1970 NYC, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) hooks up with Scott Smith (James Franco) but he's still on the down-lo. In 1972, they decide to go to San Francisco to start anew. They find an economically-depressed Haight. Harvey opens a camera shop and becomes an organizer on Castro Street. He gathers gay support and businesses supporting gays. He meets young Phoenix teen Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch) who dismisses Harvey at first. He runs for office but fails. Anita Bryant is on a country-wide crusade against homosexuals. In 1977, there is redistricting and Harvey runs for one of the supervisors with Anne Kronenberg (Alison Pill) as his campaign manager. He starts going out with Jack Lira (Diego Luna). He finally wins as one of the first openly gay politician. In 1978, he is put in office along with opponent Dan White (Josh Brolin) from the conservative Irish Catholic district and supportive Mayor Moscone (Victor Garber). It's a tumultuous year that ends in tragedy.Director Gus Van Sant keeps this biopic along the straight and narrow following a standard biopic formula. Certainly, Harvey Milk's life has a lot of sign posts to observe. Through it all, Sean Penn gives the character a caring humanity. The large cast is populated by great actors. I would have liked more from some of these supporting characters but the story has to keep moving. Overall, this is a solid biopic.

the fight of a man. for principle. for his credo. for a better world. a revolution. and a victory who reminds so many similar other success. short, an useful testimony about the force of hope and determination and courage. the great fact - Milk has the splendid gift to be an universal story. not only about the struggle of a sexual community for its rights. not about a simple man who becomes symbol of the desire to change social perception and to say the truth against each obstacle. and, maybe, not one of the most remarkable roles of Sean Penn. but something real profound.a message. a remind. a testimony. essential more than important. for understand the details who define the life. Milk is the portrait of a hero. and good support for not ignore the other. a powerful pledge for tolerance. and a great film.

Milk (2008): Dir: Gus Van Sant / Cast: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Alison Pill: Political drama that chronicles the life of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay individual to run for political power. Set in the 1970's where homosexuality is persecuted until Milk decides to speak on behalf of the gay community. Insightful film directed by Gus Van Sant with great visual appeal. Sant's career has been low brow in recent years but many recall his work in Good Will Hunting and To Die For among his best. Flawed only with stereotypical portrayal of homosexuals and very limited insight on lesbianism. Perhaps if the film conveyed homosexuals as virtually anyone then this stereotype would be avoided. Sean Penn is tremendous as Milk whose good cheer conceals the resentment of those whom do not share his views including gay activist Anita Bryant. Penn's powerful performance is backed with strong supporting work from James Franco as his younger lover whom he drifts away from when campaigning becomes too dominant. Emile Hirsch is featured as well as Josh Brolin who presents opposition in a much more fatal manner. Alison Pill is featured amongst the few females seen in the film. She works alongside Harvey in his campaign. It is a provocative film that showcases the hardship of gay rights placing it alongside racism. Score: 9 / 10