Review of Milk (2008) by Rood T — 21 Apr 2013

If you're uncomfortable with gay people in any way, you're going to know it in the first five minutes of Milk. Known for epic controversies like Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho, Director Gus Van Sant tells the story of a forgotten American hero, Harvey Milk, whose political courage inspired a talented army of followers which became the country's top advocates for homosexual rights. By remaining unashamed of the mainstream misunderstanding of gay lifestyle, Van Sant assumes his character's relationships as common and normal, never graphic or obscene. Every touch is done with genuine care, and helps to create a feeling of legitimacy propelled by the wonderful talent of the main cast. This is not a gay man with S&M fetishes, nor one who giggles and likes pink. Harvey Milk was a tough motherfucker, and Sean Penn's portrayal of him thankfully defies the typical homosexual stereotype that should've died with the rumor of that NKOTB kid who had semen pumped out of his stomach.

Leading up the cast is Emile Hirsch, who proves his acting abilities as the young, energetic activist Cleve Jones. If Hirsch can steer away from the Speed Racer-ish movie choices, and gradually move closer towards the more introspective films like Into the Wild, he will confirm his status as a desired and respected lead. James Franco surprisingly breaks his lady-killer typecast as Scott Smith, Milk's lover, who helped create the Gay Rights Movement primarily from their Castro Street store. What's most interesting is how Franco doesn't portray Smith with the feminine characteristics expected for gay characters in cinema by most close minded viewers, which forces the audience to identify the most with a character they could've easily seen as different. It's extremely refreshing to no longer have the effeminate trait blinding your immersion into a film, and about fucking time.

Still it's Sean Penn who dominates the screen, and once again embodies his subject by having every movement and gesture appear conditioned and instinctive. His style is dead on to Harvey's, and Penn carries his character throughout the film with respectful charisma. Josh Brolin rounds up the cast as the All-American, but mentally damaged Dan White, a fellow City Supervisor who proves to be ashamed and more damaged than his Colgate-smile lifestyle portrays.

By focusing on the dominating political proponent of Civil Rights, and ignoring with what viewers will deem acceptable, Milk stands impressively equal to classic activist films such as Spike Lee's Malcolm X and Richard Attenborough's Ghandi. It's sad that the school books negate such a strong pioneer of American liberties, particularly one whose stringent fight is just now seeing the effects in our current political conscious. Van Sant's Milk is a brilliant movie, and one that should be watched and understood by anyone that considers themselves 'free and equal'.