Milk (2008)

I admit I didn't know much about Harvey Milk prior to seeing this film, so I'm unable to comment on its accuracy. The story begins on the eve of closeted businessman Harvey's 40th birthday, when he picks up Scott Smith (James Franco) in a New York subway station, who soon moves with him to San Francisco, where they open a camera store and live a more "out" life. Harvey is soon established "the mayor of Castro Street", which had become a haven for homosexuals and various activists in the midst of frequent aggression against gay men and women. Motivated by this sense of community, Harvey decides to run for city supervisor. Defeated the first time, he runs again and again and loses by a little less each time. The crowd of aides and campaign supporters constantly surrounding Harvey makes it hard for Scott to spend time with him, and eventually he grows sick of the whole arrangement.

Harvey presses on with the help of new campaign manager Anne Kronenberg (Allison Pill) and the adorable Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), and finally secures a seat as supervisor opposite conservative family man Dan White (Josh Brolin). Harvey tries to get White's support for a gay rights ordinance, but their relationship becomes very tense. He also struggles against the homophobic spewings of zealot Anita Bryant and legislator John Briggs, who are trying to pass Proposition 6, a law banning openly gay teachers and their supporters from working in public schools. The film culminates in the final decision and ensuing assassination (this is not a spoiler; it's history).

I thought this was a really interesting portrayal of a larger-than-life political figure, dedicated and likable but flawed in many ways. It was a little stilted organizationally, as it tried to cover a lot of ground story-wise while weaving in a very large number of minor characters. But it's tough, I'm sure, to know which things to focus on and what to leave out while still feeling true to the historical subject. Penn's narration helped bridge gaps but also felt forced. I liked the performances, especially James Franco, Emile Hirsch, and Josh Brolin. I'd only ever seen Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (I know, weird right? Where have I been?), so I didn't really have any positive or negative expectations of him as I know a lot of people did for this role. I thought he did a good job with it; I wasn't blown away but I found Harvey relatable and sincere and I can only assume the characterization was fairly realistic, based on the amount of research Dustin Lance Black put in to write the script.

Overall the film proved to be moving and engaging, treating its subject with respect and care. The focus on Prop 6 and religious zealots' homophobia felt all too topical after Prop 8's downfall last month. I'm glad a man like Harvey Milk can receive a fitting tribute that can reach so many people without the attention being moved away from his homosexuality or his politics. The other film adaptation in the works (maybe it's not anymore though), based on The Mayor of Castro Street, was more focused on White's trial and the so-called "Twinkie defense" that got him only manslaughter charges. Because Milk's actions as a politician were so entwined with who he was as a person, the film did well to combine his personal relationships and campaign/legislative work into one story. Even though most viewers will know the ending going in, Milk will still inspire and captivate them on the strength of an admirable and unique public figure.

4/5