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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2008)
56 lUStlOUt <?-//</ NOVEMBER 21, 2008 * film A Political Firebrand Milk reaffirms Gus Van Sant's gifts as a filmmaker by Gary Morris w moved to San Fran cisco in 1988, too late to have met Harvey Milk, “The Mayor of Castro Street,” who was assassinated in 1978 at age 48. But 1 felt his activist legacy every where, from the pleasure and ease of simply walk- ing through the flourishing Castro district to wit nessing the community’s toughness and resilience in dealing with homophobia wherever it appeared. When it was announced that Gus Van Sant was going to direct the biopic of this seminal gay leader, some of us were worried. The Portlander’s career has been a checkered one; for every high point (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho), there’s been a corresponding low (Gerry, Psycho), with some films (Even Cowgirls Get the Blues) so low that they regularly make the “worst movies ever” lists. But the recent, excellent Paranoid Park was an encouraging sign, and Milk in fact reaffirms Van Sant’s gifts. This film, which opens Nov. 26, ranks alongside Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Pri vate Idaho as a powerful, beautifully realized work. Milk opens with grainy real-life footage of busts in gay bars in New York and Los Angeles in the 1950s and ’60s, setting both the style and the political tone for the story to follow. But Van Sant balances the political (via actual news clips) with the personal throughout, just as Milk tried to do in his own life. Early on we see both his funny, hu man side and his drive to make a difference when he picks up a trick, Scott Smith, and wistfully tells him: “I’m 40 years old, and I haven’t done a thing I’m proud of.” The two move to San Francisco, and Milk, who spent years in the closet, begins the work that would at last make him proud. His arrival dovetails with a politicized post-Stonewall gay community, and no two bedfellows were ever happier as he becomes the dynamic leader and mother hen of a group of queer activists fighting for their rights. One of the film’s pleasures is the feeling of joy ful camaraderie among Milk and his merry band of queens and dykes, who seem to realize they’re making history while at the same time dancing, dishing and trying to get laid. Why shouldn’t the revolution be fun? Of course, the fun is tempered by what we know happened to Milk and by the film’s frequent insertions of authentic footage of hatemongers like Anita Bryant and John Briggs into the narrative. The film also lays out one of the more surprising obstacles Milk faced in the form of gay power brokers like David Goodstein, publisher of The Advocate, who were terrified of the interloper’s fiery version of gay liberation. Sean Penn delivers an alternately whimsical and self-effacing Milk’s romances with the performance in the title role of Milk. dreamy Smith and unhinged Jack Lira offer fascinating glimpses into his per James Franco nicely sketch their smaller roles as, sonality, but it was his relationship with his future respectively, Cleve Jones and Smith, while Diego killer, Dan White, that resonates the most here. Luna is both appalling and enthralling as dizzy, The film subtly portrays unexpected similarities maniacal queen Lira. between the two men, both community-minded A curious side note: There’s a scene in the and both outsiders, while also airing Milk’s sus film where Milk explains to some of the timid gay picion that White’s inner demons may have been power brokers that putting out a flier demanding the result of being a closet case, something Milk gay rights without using the word “gay” is pathetic felt he could recognize. and counterproductive. According to a produc Van Sant expertly conjures 1970s San Francis tion insider for Milk, quoted on Yahoo Films, co, aided by Dustin Lance Black’s superior script. distributor Focus Features might also be trying to And the film gains simply by timing: It’s impossi “erase rhe gay” from its marketing campaign: “The ble not to equate Milk and the queer community’s best way to help this film win over a mainstream struggle then with the present bruising fight for audience is to avoid partisanship, and the best same-sex marriage. way to avoid partisanship is to let people find out But what really makes Milk are the about the film from the film itself.” performances. Sean Penn is simply stunning in the Avoid partisanship? In 2008? Harvey Milk, we need you! © title role, alternately whimsical and self-effacing, a political firebrand and a hopeless romantic always looking for love. The versatile Josh Brolin also registers strongly as the tormented White—is there any role he can’t play? Emile Hirsch and 1 G ary M orris edits and publishes Bright Lights Film Journal, located online at www. brightlightsfHm.com. F? PASSADORE||PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE SERVICES GROUP 503.292.8595 www.passadoreproperties.com PROPERTY MANAGERS I REAL ESTATE BROKERS BUY. SELL. RFNT
