MIlk

I'm a big fan of Gus Van Sant's movies. Always interesting and sensual.

'Milk' is Van Sant's biopic of Harvey Milk, the gay San Francisco politician who campaigned for gay rights, and was eventually assassinated. I think for a lot of people, particularly my generation, Van Sant has brought a public figure to life who they weren't familiar with. I'd heard the name mentioned on occasion (there's even a band named Harvey Milk), but wasn't that knowledgeable about his story.

Dustin Lance Black's script begins with Milk's (Sean Penn) chance meeting with longtime lover Scotty (James Franco). Although we have generally accepted gay culture into society, there are still much less depictions of gay relationships on screen. In a few intimate scenes, we see Milk as a human being and a romantic, rather than a public figure. Here we can see what he is fighting for in the first place.

Van Sant moves onto the politics fairly quickly. Police brutality and attacks on homosexuals lead Milk onto the path of city supervisor. Assembling a small team of disillusioned gay males, they start picketing the locals and organising mass marches. It's stirring stuff, especially when Milk cries to the baying crowd "I know you're angry.....I'M ANGRY!!". Penn's turn as Milk is superb, giving the audience a figure who is passionate, humorous and courageous.

The final scenes hit home the hardest, leaving me a bit shaken heading out of the cinema. One of the final shots, of a parade of candles shining in a city street, in tribute to Milk, is quite stunning. In fact, the whole film is as visually immaculate as you might expect from Van Sant. The film has a slightly bleached out, grainy feel in tune with the 70's films it is replicating. The score by Danny Elfman is delicate and evocative, while Van Sant gives proceedings a dramatic air with carefully chosen opera songs.

Excellent acting, a sharp script and evocative cinematography. Van Sant also has to be complimented for the tricky task of balancing his artistic, experimental tendencies with the importance of the story. While Milk satisfies on a visual and sensual level, it is perhaps more importantly a great depiction of the era and the man.

8/10