apart from him in the starring role gus van sant is directing
it's had almost unanimous rave reviews - penn's best film, etc
and is based on a true story about american politician harvey milk
he being the first homosexual to reach high office in the u s of a
high office in this case being a city administrator in san francisco
this happened in the mid 1970's so this film is a kind of period piece
centered on the events leading up to the murder of harvey milk in 1978
the film opens with harvey recording his memoirs should he be assassinated
and from that point on the film cuts between that and the events he describes
the starting point is harvey's 40th birthday which he is celebrating in new york
he meets robbie the love of his life and they decide to make a change and head west
san francisco is a magnet for homosexuals and so it is there that they settle
harvey has an interest in photography and they open a camera shop
centrally placed in the heart of the mainly gay district of castro
and before long a meeting place for the many gays flocking to san francisco
but there are straights out to spoil the fun including the local police
so before long harvey finds himself a spokesperson, activist and politician
my impression is that the director has very deliberately stuck to the truth
which means he can use archive footage to both augment and verify the story
quite often it's this footage that is slipped in that is the most impressive
actual scenes of tv interviews, police harrassment, protest marches, etc
the switching between documentary and drama very subtle and effective
sean penn as usual provides an exemplary performance as harvey milk
no fear of this actor over-acting his part or being miscast in the role
and no doubt inspiring those around him to also deliver the goods
josh brolin seems a little understated as the straight administrator
us and him it seems a little confused about where his mind is at most of the time
but enough lines worked into the script to suggest he is a ticking time-bomb
there seems to be genuine respect between him and harvey milk
and it is this relationship that is the foundation of the film
understandably so as there is no secret how this all ends up
which is another clever part of the film - there is no big unpredictable ending
several times throughout the film we are told what is going to happen
which has the effect of allowing us to concentrate on the facts behind the crime
and enjoy the ride as the film builds towards the inevitable finale
for me it was a bit of a nostalgia trip - fashions, music, attitudes of the 70's
cars, gadgets, furniture, etc all meticulously representative of that era
there's no argument that gay rights then (and now) is a big issue
in a way not much has changed with the attitude of some right-wingers
which had me thinking how disappointing it would have been for gay activists
knowing that their struggle then in a way has gained so little in the u s at least
but putting that aside this film is very educational and entertaining
sean penn does it again - not forgetting gus van sant - nice one
