Written by: Dustin Lance Black
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, Denis O'Hare
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
The story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist.
Verdict
Sean Penn does an amazing job, even to small mannerisms. It's an uncanny representation that can overshadow a movie that's not just the struggle of a gay man, but the struggle of a man trying to find his place. It's a story of perseverance, bolstered by political implications. Harvey is fighting people that see him less than human, and this movie easily proves that wrong, providing a glimpse at backwards thinking.
Watch it.
Review
I don't like movies that employ a framing device, but I get it in this case. The movie wants to let you know that Harvey does die so that it's not a shock. Framing is usually done as a cover, but this here it has a purpose.
We see the origin's of Harvey's political career. At forty years old, he's not happy, deciding to do something different. It's easy to fall into complacency. Harvey upsets everything and moves to San Francisco. He opens a camera shop and becomes an activist, mainly by accident, mobilizing his people to ensure acceptance. While he's accept in the area, there's still police violence and harassment.
Harvey is gripped with a relentless pursuit to enact change. He runs for political office, but is undeterred against a city that's against him, and numerous death threats. For all he's endured, he's faced with a proposition to remove gay teachers, besieged by conservatives that refuse to have any empathy.
Sean Penn is really good in this, completely engrossing. Everything he does builds this character. It's a stand out performance, and even Josh Brolin's character has a lot of nuance.
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