As I sat down into a broken recliner to watch Milk, I was more than a little cautious. Not due to the space shuttle launch position my chair often put me in. No, I just didn't think I would like this film.  I’d had it for over two weeks and for several reasons never got around to putting it in the player.  Strike one was this cast.  My annoyance with Sean Penn the man is only equal to the respect I have for his talent as an artist.  He comes off as a humorless boob with no grasp of reality. But, damn if isn’t an acting genius! His protégée, Emil Hirsch, is well on his way to becoming just as pretentious and off-putting as his mentor, and may be even more talented. James Franco, who stole Pineapple Express from Seth Rogan, still reeks of the stench that was his performance in Spider-Man 3, unfortunately. And while I always enjoy Josh Brolin, I knew he wasn’t in the first half of the film.   Strike 2 came in the form of director Gus Van Sant. He is a filmmaker that I often find more self-important than inspired.  That’s not to say that the man hasn’t made any good films; he has made a couple great ones.  Good Will Hunting and Elephant were both thought provoking and visually interesting films.  But these successes pale in comparison to his abysmal remake of Psycho, the ever boring Last Days and who can forget a Ebonics-spouting Sean Connery in Finding Forrester.   There was little reason for me to want to see this film, but there it sat on my end table, waiting.  But with only two strikes and a mile long Netflix Queue, I decided to give it a shot. As the credits rolled, I was glad I did.
    The film tells the story of Gay activist Harvey Milk, who went on to become the first openly homosexual to be elected to a major public office.  If there is a negative to this film, it is that Van Sant uses stock bio-pic motifs to propel the story.  If the gay rights movement were replaced with being African American and blind, you’d have Ray. Same with alcoholism and country music; we’d be watching Walk The Line.  But where Milk exceeds these films is that its background story is so much more important. Yes, Milk seems to have been an incredible motivator and accomplished much, but he found himself at the crux of a revolution that propelled him to power as much as he gained it for himself.  I hadn’t been born when the events depicted in this film took place, so I have zero first hand knowledge.  I can say that I was shocked and disappointed that men were rounded up in Paddy Wagon’s and taken to jail for the “crime” of being gay!  And then, I’m reminded that in today’s society, we are still persecuting the homosexual population. Sure, we’re not rounding them up and throwing them in jail, but they are denied basic rights that I, as a strait, married man enjoy.  It is this subtle nudging the film gives that makes it so powerful.  I was moved by Harvey Milk’s story.  And that’s not something I can say about most movies I see these days.
    Technically, the film is well made.  The use of news footage from that era is very smart and adds a feeling of authenticity to the entire project.  Another smart move was to begin the film when Harvey is 40, as opposed to showing his entire life, as in most bio-pic’s. This heightens the feelings expressed by Harvey himself in the film. “I’m 40 years old, and I’ve never done anything I’m proud of.” It was at this point that he really began living, and the perfect place to begin his story. The sets and costuming are beautifully drab and grungy.  The editing is solid and effective in moving the story forward, while still allowing for character building for Milk and his lover, Scott.  Two other principal characters, Emile Hirsch’s Cleve Jones and Diego Luna’s Jack are left lacking, however.  Neither is given enough screen time nor strong enough back-story to make their presence resonate the way the rest of the cast does. 
    Milk is an entertaining, compelling film with a powerful message and an important story.  Sean Penn gives us a sweetness and warmth through Milk that he never seems capable of in his real life.  Van Sant’s in Good Will Hunting form here, delivering perhaps the best film of his career.  I truly enjoyed it and could not recommend it more.


    If you’re looking for more gay-centric cinema, I’ve got a few suggestions for you.

1.    Hedwig and The Angry Inch: My absolute favorite musical!  Too out there for words with a soundtrack as catch as it is hilarious.  And surprisingly moving. 
2.    But I’m a Cheerleader: Funny take on a high school girl dealing with coming out of the closet to her parents.
3.    Brokeback Mountain:  While not a perfect film, the beautiful backgrounds alone make it worth watching.  The acting is amazing in this. If you’ve not seen it, do.
4.    Heavenly Creatures: Beautifully strange tale of obsession and murder.  A young Kate Winslet is amazing here.

Next time, I hope to have snuck away to the theatre and caught Wolverine, Star Trek and Angels & Demons. If not, I’m sure we’ll find something to talk about.  Until then, that’s a wrap from the Director’s Chair!