Out & About in Leeds

Milk

So who was Harvey Milk? Once you've watched Sean Penn's oscar-winning depiction of the late gay rights activist, you'll know the answer. Director Gus Van Sant pulls the strings in this intricate biopic, detailing the life of California's first openly gay elected official.

The story has been told on screen before in The Times Of Harvey Milk, a 1984 Oscar-winning documentary by Rob Epstein. However, Van Sant and scriptwriter Dustin Lance Black have fleshed out the details, adding humour, passion and a political edge to intensify the impact of the lead character's life.

Milk opens with 39-year-old Harvey, a New York investment banker living a closeted life, embarking on a chance encounter with Scott Smith (James Franco). They become a couple, venture to San Francisco, openly express their sexuality and open a camera shop in the city's gay area.

Harvey's positive impact is evident as the shop becomes a hub for the city's gay population along with black people, Latinos and others, who divulge in the issues and discrimination they suffer. It's not long before he decides the best way to make a difference is in public office.

milk sean penn oscar nominated film review cinema

Aided by Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch) and other gay activists, Harvey twice attempts to reach his political goal but without success. As he pushes for a third try, it's at the expense of his relationship with Scott. However, with lesbian campaign manager Anne Kronenberg (Alison Pill) joining the team, Harvey finally gets elected to the board. Here, he finds an important ally in Mayor George Moscone (Victor Garber) to challenge Proposition 6 – a law stating gay teachers should be fired from public schools.

But it's the impact of fellow board member Dan White (Josh Brolin), the polar opposite of Harvey, that carves a chasm of tension towards the latter stages. As the two characters interact, Dan is repulsed by and attracted to Harvey, which intensifies the film's climax.

Milk is a powerful piece of work. Harvey's speeches are influencial and Penn delivers them with panache. Van Sant's use of archival footage enhances the film's importance and is framed well by the performances of a strong cast, Penn, Brolin, Franco and Hirsch in particular. Harvey's relationship with Jack Lira (Diego Luna) may lack gravitas and the latter scenes could have been explored further, especially in terms of Dan's actions, but Milk will stay with you long after the end credits stop rolling.

128 mins
Dir: Gus van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin

Stacey McIntosh

Email to a friend