Throughout the 1970's, Harvey Milk was a relentless activist and campaigner for gay rights. This biopic depicts his rise to prominence in San Francisco, how he helped rally and unite the gay community, and how he became the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.
Who's in it?
Sean Penn leads the cast as Harvey Milk, proving himself worthy of the praise he's attracted for being one of the best actors of his generation, whatever he may do in his real life. It's a challenge for anyone to play a historical figure, but Penn makes Milk seem completely and genuinely human, allowing us to experience the triumphs and tragedies of his life as he rises from a closeted 40-year-old to an icon and leader of the national gay rights movement. James Franco is Milk's lover, Scott Smith, who moves with him to San Francisco and helps him open the camera shop that becomes the center of the gay community. Franco plays Scott as a more domestic individual than Milk, tiring of Milk's seemingly endless campaigns for the office of city supervisor. Josh Brolin is Milk's opposition, troubled city supervisor Dan White, who eventually ends Milk's life. Brolin's performance is notable for the subtlety with which he portrays White's gradual slide from confident politician to depression and disgrace.
How's the production?
Gus van Sant conveys a definite seventies atmosphere, with the characters' dress capturing the period and the gay environment perfectly. Van Sant also makes use of video filters and cameras to shoot footage that looks as though it was shot on an old seventies camcorder. Actual historical TV reports and footage of gay rights protests, as well as footage from the documentary The Life and Times of Harvey Milk lend some historical authenticity to the film, which is framed by an audio recording Milk made before his death in which he recounted his rise and present situation.
The Greatest Scene:
While waiting for the results of the vote on Prop 6 (which would ban gays from holding jobs in public schools), Milk is contacted by a young gay man who had called him a year earlier on the verge of committing suicide. The young man tells Milk that he has become involved the gay community in Los Angeles and that the gays have won the vote in LA county. Soon after, voting results begin to pour in, showing a massive, unexpected support for the gay movement. It's the films most joyous moment, representing both a victory for the gay community and a personal victory for the young man.
Personal Impressions:
Gay rights is one of the hottest issues in America right now, and this film helps in highlighting the origins of the gay rights movement. It seems odd today that, as recently as the 1970's, religious dogma was still used as a foundation for legal process. It also shows how far the gay community has come since then in terms of widespread acceptance, even though their battle is far from over. This film manages to successfully spotlight both Harvey Milk's personal struggles and the larger struggle of the gay community. Even though the world lost Harvey Milk in 1978, his legacy lives on to the present day, making this film both a look into the past and a timely story for the present day.
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