Directed by Gus Van Zant. Starring:Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin.Historical/Drama Biography. SYNOPSIS: A biopic of the first openly homosexual politician in San Francisco focusing on his personal life and entry into politics in the '70's through his assassination in 1978.
If you're making your own personal list of the best living actors, it is getting harder and harder, if you define "acting" as the ability (or artistic talent) to bring characters to life to the point where you might forget you are watching a movie and feel as if you're viewing the real thing, well....its getting harder and harder to leave Sean Penn (Carlito's Way, Mystic River) off of your short list. Really hard. This is an amazing actor.
Milk is a biopic of the real life San Francisco politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay politician elected to office-Board of City Supervisors- in California and one of the first in the nation.
The film starts out with Milk in New York and quickly encapsulates his transformation from careful and closeted homosexual businessman (in my day he would have been called a "yuppie") into the quintessential long haired hippie of the '70's to respected middle age politician in one of the most combustible hot spots of the 70s.Its really something when we look back at history. In full disclosure, I'm old enough to remember the times of Harvey Milk, which came on the heels of the Jim Jones tragedy which also was directly tied to San Francisco.
I was too young to understand the full impact of the events then and did not become familiar with San Francisco and its unique vibe until years later, but I do think I have a pretty good idea of the feel of the city as well as that late 70's feel and Milk captures it very well.
As for what I thought of Penn in this movie, well, what can you say? Though Messrs. Pacino, DeNiro, Freeman, Washington, Nicholson, Ms. Streep and a couple of others certainly have a claim, we might be looking at the best living actor. The man just transforms onscreen. My knowledge of Harvey Milk is certainly not as much as many other historical and/or political figures, but I have seen more than one documentary on the man. I know this sounds like a cliché, but every so often, you forget you're watching an actor play Harvey Milk and think you're watching Harvey Milk. Penn is that good here.
Lest you think the other actors disappear next to Penn, let me assure you that they do not. Special kudos have to go to James Franco (Flyboys, Annapolis) as Milk's long time lover and Josh Brolin (Planet Terror, W) as Dan White, Milk's fellow council member, political opponent, and ultimately his assasin.
To those of you who might be hesitant to give this one a look due to the fact that it might be "pushing" or "encouraging" the homosexual agenda or lifestyle, you needn't fret. And, don't think I'm endorsing the legitimacy of that concern. Personally, I think its silly, but to each his own.
Milk is a compelling flick, whether you have familiarity with the story or not, whatever your politics. If you're a fan of great acting, you almost owe it to yourself to see Sean Penn.
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