Milk

Milk (2009), Focus Features Cert: 15

Dir: Gus Van Sant
Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch


Van Sant takes on the compelling story of, Harvey Milk (Penn) an outwardly gay political activist who changed the face of politics in America. The film is of the years between his 40th birthday and his death, the most prominent in Milk attaining the stature to which he reached. After moving from New York in 1972, Milk goes to San Francisco where he begins his campaign for gay rights from his quaint camera shop in the Castro district. The shop in time becomes the hub of his campaign and subsequently the gay community. With his lover and campaign manager Scott Smith (Franco), they battle for political status. The plot follows Milks’ journey from successive defeats on the political stage, until it finally pays off in 1977 seeing him win a supervisor seat. Milk continues to battle on, but is faced with problems from fellow supervisor Dan White (Brolin) - a strong social conservative, as well as battles in his personal life. The story reaches its climax, as Milk is assassinated and the subsequently how far the consequences rippled.


After a break from the business of motion pictures, Van Sant puts himself back on the map with this provoking and poignant film. Being openly gay himself it seems only right that he take on the role of transferring such a moving story onto the big screen. The screenplay is also written by a young gay man - Dustin Lance Black, and so ensures the subject is dealt with the absolute accuracy. The film doesn’t just concentrate on “the struggles of a gay man in an intolerant society”, but looks at who Harvey Milk was and why he took on such a tough challenge. The good and bad are shown: his mistakes, failures, loves, friendships and ultimately his passion. The story is not just a celebration of Milks achievements but a view into the man himself.


Sean Penn is bang on in his interpretation of Harvey Milk, getting the voice and mannerisms right, without the stereotypical gestures of which Harvey himself did possess. His awards are justified as the role sees Penn re-emerge as a quality actor that is versatile. The on screen chemistry between Penn and Franco is good and grips you hoping it will last. However, it is fact that Franco is dwarfed by the performance of his counterpart. Franco leaves you wanting more emotion and more passion. The relationship required a maturity and Franco gave this, but it also needed a spark that overall seemed missing and so drew you to Penn whenever both were on screen. The film is incredible in capturing the last years of Milks life and also of depicting the real Harvey Milk. The casting of Penn in lead role is smart but at first could be questionable nevertheless he shows he is more than capable. The gruffness and strong physical presence in Josh Brolin as the opposition of Dan White is a lovely contrast that becomes a metaphor of Milk’s struggle - the big brash American man of Dan White versus the growing confidence of the American gay community personified by Harvey Milk.