Though succumbing to biopic perils, Milk still engrosses

Rating: 8/10 (1 January 2009)

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office. The word "openly" is key to the film and Harvey's story. Living a closeted life as an insurance man in New York City, Harvey's world is changed after an encounter with Scott Smith (James Franco). Milk's relationship with the man is galvanizing and, with Scott's encouragement, the two move out to San Francisco's Castro Street where Harvey begins to live more openly and soon becomes a civil rights activist. He transforms Castro Street, San Francisco, and impacts the nation. Milk's key message, and one that will continue to resonate with modern audiences, is that by living openly more people will come to know gay men and women. Once knowing their friends, relatives, and neighbors are gay, they will be more apt to support civil rights for them.
Director Gus Van Sant establishes an electric atmosphere in the early going of "Milk" moving the film along at a brisk pace. For the director of the recent languid "Paranoid Park" and "Last Days", this is quite startling. There is a real urgency to the film in both subject matter--in light of California's recent Prop 8 voting--and tone. The film cuts masterfully between actual documentary footage and staged material while Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) narrates his own life. Through the use of narration, Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black are able to compress large chunks of history into the two hour running time. But this compression also gives the characters short shrift as we lose out on watching their evolution due to the need for exposition. Such are the perils of the biopic.
But the film is nonetheless engrossing. Sean Penn melts into the role and is surrounded by strong supporting players including Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, and Joseph Cross. Josh Brolin, in the midst of a career renaissance, delivers an exceptional performance as a troubled politician. It was also nice to see "High School Musical" co-star Lucas Grabeel moving beyond the peppy Disney franchise and giving a small, but convincing performance. The film attempts to cover a great deal in two hours and its ambition ultimately undermines its dramatic impact. Nonetheless the film is solidly crafted, expertly acted, and it tells a story still very relevant.