Milk (2008)

dir. Gus Van Sant
writ. Dustin Lance Black
feat. Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco

While Penn convincingly immerses himself into the character of Harvey Milk, pulling off a faultless portrayal, one that certainly deserves the nomination he received for Best Actor, the film as a whole fails to achieve similar greatness. This is largely a result of the conceit of the biopic, the presumption that an important person with a life of dramatic moments and a tragic end warrants a movie.

This isn't to say there aren't some rousing cinematic turns in Milk. The simple concept of one fighting for his freedom, to live life as he chooses, is inspirational and well executed in the turbulent protest scenes. As Milk attempts to wrangle this crowd into a positive force, one that serves the cause without ruining their chance for legitimate gains with an easily threatened public, his skill and commitment is best showcased.

But outside of those scenes, the film feels like a string of vignettes, barely elevated above the level of a history channel reenactment, the supporting players prancing around, "being gay" for the duration (except Franco who maybe wore out all his gayness in the Spider-Man films). I suspect a lack of depth to the story as it is told is accountable, always a risk as one cuts a life down to filmable scenes. This also explains why Brolin's Dan White is so much more fascinating than the rest of the crowd, a true mystery, a character we don't understand but who's strange actions and reactions stir up earnest curiosity. His scenes, particularly near the end of the film completely change the feel of the film, suddenly far more engaging and compelling than before.

Sadly, we must return to a typical finale, heartbreaking metaphor jammed into the frame to alert the audience of the great loss being witnessed. I'd contest that Milk's love for opera doesn't make him a more sophisticated person, nor does his view of that house of overwrought tragedy as he dies make his story any more tragic.