01 January 2009

Movie: Milk (2008)

After watching Milk, last night and again today after getting home from work, I felt a profound sense of oddness on how the film sort of paralleled the Prop 8 issue here in California. And whether it got made and released before the historic vote here this past November 4 and some how effected its course, one will never know. Thirty years ago, when then Prop 6 was on the ballot -one said to protect the children from homosexual teachers and their supporters - it failed to pass because (with help from Harvey Milk no doubt) even the people who were straight and maybe Republican (such as former Governor Ronald Reagan) felt there was plenty of laws to protect the children already on the books.

When the conservatives toted out the same reason for passing Prop 8 in 2008, it now seems that it’s the only weapon they have, some meaningless talking point about protecting the children.

Anyways, Gus Van Sant’s biographical film on the life of Harvey Milk is exceptional film, and I say that with extreme prejudice, as it effects me personally. While Sean Penn has run hot and cold with since Fast Times at Ridgemont High, his work here will surely grab him an Oscar nod for best actor. But what surprises me more, is how the film treats Dan White (played by an extraordinary Josh Brolin, who deserves a best supporting nod), the man who murdered Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. He could’ve been portrayed as some wild-eyed conservative who believed he was doing God’s work, but his fall from grace is told in a very humanized way.

The location work and the archival footage -much taken from the 1984 Academy Award winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk - add to films message that -as Harvey often said - “you’ve got to give them hope.”

Van Sant’s usual fanciful direction is more linear (as it should, of course) here and the camera work and style almost makes the film look more a real documentary. Dustin Lance Black’s screenplay lights up the screen, and is another part of the film that should score with the Oscar voters.

Beyond Penn and Brolin, there is some more good performances from Emile Hirsch as Milk protégée Cleve Jones and the extraordinary handsome James Franco as Milk’s boyfriend Scott Smith. Equally handsome Diego Luna plays the unstable love interest Jack Lira later in the film, if I want to complain, after he was gone, the film petered a bit -but that’s a small quibble, really. Rounding out the cast is some up and coming actors such as Walt Disney mainstay (the High School Musical franchise) Lucas Grabeel (who perhaps can now finally come out the closet himself?), Running with Scissors actor Joseph Cross and Alison Pill (from the short-lived NBC series The Book of Daniel).

I cannot say this is the film of the year, but it certainly deserves to up there with the top five of 2008. It’s a moving, often thought provoking film that shows that the gay movement of today needs a leader such as Harvey Milk to end this destructive schism between us all so we can give hope to all.

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