Top notch performance from Penn in a stirring biopic

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2010)

Gus Van Sant's "Milk" is a biopic of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office. The movie follows him from his arrival in San Francisco to his ascension to office and, ultimately, to his untimely demise.
Sean Penn won an Oscar for his portrayal of the title character with a performance that ranks as one of the best (perhaps the best) of his career. Josh Brolin also lends quality support with a performance that garnered an Oscar nomination. The rest of the cast is solid, though James Franco seems a bit out of place.
The Oscar winning script by Dustin Lance Black does a good job of capturing the vibe of the times and the character of Harvey Milk. The story takes a little while to get going and some of the shifts in time-frame feel a bit arbitrary but, on the whole, the story is told with ample flair.
Van Sant's direction was nominated for an Oscar and it's hard to argue with that distinction. The film's successful recreation of the period is shown by the Oscar nomination for costume design while the editing also landed a nomination. On the musical front, Danny Elfman's score was also recognized with an Oscar nomination.
Although "Milk" is a film about gay rights I think that the film-makers did a good job of widening the appeal by presenting it as a civil rights story. So, don't get the impression that the film is only relatable to those with a personal investment in gay rights. "Milk" is a worthwhile film for anyone and is worthy of its Best Picture Oscar nomination.