Real, true and convincing

Rating: 7/10 (4 March 2009)

If you are strongly prejudiced against gays don't go to watch this movie because it will do you no good at all. But if you are unprejudiced or think you can overcome your prejudice you'll find this movie a good one. It was based on real events that took place in San Francisco's public and political life in the seventies of last century when an assumed gay after a few previous defeats, ran successfully for the post of municipal supervisor in the city, protesting to defend not only gays but all the other discriminated minorities rights. The whole story is well balanced in the sense that we are confronted with all the usual arguments for and against gays rights but showing anyway gays as normal human beings and not freaks. Sean Penn does a remarkable role as the protagonist and his acting is really strong and convincing. The only weak part of the movie seems to me to be the character of Dan White (done by Josh Brolin) another municipal supervisor which is not very well and clearly characterized particularly in what concerns his tragic actions in the end of the movie whose motives don't appear as strong enough to explain such tragic deeds. Nevertheless this is a good,true and well told story (both in images and dialogues), well acted and well directed in terms of form and content.