Milk

Welcome to another episode of The "D" List.

Today's review is Milk directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black.

The film is based on the late Harvey Milk's journey from a camera shop owner to the 1st openly gay member of political office.

Upon moving to San Francisco from New York City in 1972, forty year old Harvey Milk played by the amazing Sean Penn gains focus in his life as a gay activist in the city's Castro district. Gay rights activism turns to political activism as Milk decides he can be a more effective voice for the gay community as a politician, elected or not.

Through several elections and losses both for a city seat and a state assembly seat, Milk does not give up. And in 1977 becomes the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected to political office when he wins a San Francisco supervisor seat. His many political battlefronts include one with the national anti-gay "Save the Children" crusade, which intended to repeal a law that protected gay civil rights from discrimination called Proposition 6.

The movement was led and fronted by singer and religious zealot Anita Bryant and later supported by California State Senator John Briggs. Closer to home, Milk had a continuing struggle with his fellow supervisor, Dan White, a staunch social conservative. That confrontation with ultimately lead to his tragic assassination at the hands of White in 1978.

That is the bare bones plot of Milk. But there is so much else behind this unbelievable film that like other movies I have reviewed, they MUST be experienced rather than explained.

Milk was for me a very emotional film. You are transported back to a time when gay's were not accepted in society and branded as an abomination to humanity. And to see people in positions of power abuse that power to harass and belittle the gay community inspired a tremendous amount of hate within me. I wanted to as the cliche goes, jump into the screen and open up a can of whoop ass on those ignorant, self righteous bigots. 

Which I'm sure was Van Sant's the intention. There is no payoff if you aren't seeing and experiencing what Milk and his supporters had to go through. You are supposed to feel the same way the gay community felt at the time so you can feel the same sense of victory when Milk gets elected to office and ultimately defeats Prop 6.

What Milk accomplished by defeating the bigots by the bay did more than just unite the gay community in the face of political tyranny. It showed that the established order can be upset by peaceful and political means. The gays were persecuted throughout this film and it would be more than understandable if they retaliated through violence. Instead Milk used another tactic that started with a "V". He used his VOICE. And that voice carried throughout the country and made you proud of what he achieved.

And that sense of pride is a direct result of the performance of Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. I can't give any better compliment than this. There is NO MOVIE without him. Penn is the heart and soul of Milk. There is so much emotion that drives his portrayal of Harvey Milk that while watching the film you believe in him and his ideas for equality. You get the sense that Milk was destined to be a driving force for the gay community only now to be forced to live with the fact that a GREAT MAN is no longer with us. He is a big time challenger for Mickey Rourke in the Best Actor race.

The rest of the cast is equally impressive headlined not by Academy Award Nominee Josh Brolin for his portrayal of Dan White but by James Franco as Milk's former lover and campaign manager Scott Smith. In my opinion, I didn't see anything in Brolin's performance that warranted the nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Don't get me wrong, Brolin like everyone else was great but I just wasn't convinced.

It doesn't really matter anyway because that award is a 1 horse race. The Joker's got that one in the bag. Bet the house on it!

Bottom line, Milk is a tremendous film that honestly can and may give Slumdog Millionaire a serious fight for Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscar's in 2 weeks.

Milk did more to me than create indecision before I make my picks for this year's oscars. Thanks a lot Gus. This goes back to what I said before about the impact that movies can have on an audience.

Milk educated me on what happened back in 1978 and told the story of an amazing man and his crusade for equality which should remind us all that equality is a RIGHT not a privilege. When a film inspires that kind of emotion, it becomes more than a form of entertainment it becomes something special which should make all of us proud be to around to witness it.

On the 5 star scale. Milk gets the full house, 5 stars and a resounding "Worth Every Penny" recommendation. I am so glad I saw this film and I encourage everyone of you to do the same if you haven't already.

Well that takes care of the 5 Best Picture nominated films and I must say that this has been a pretty good "Best Picture" year. With the exception of Ben Button which I feel is an ABSOLUTE JOKE that it's nominated for Best Picture. The other films were a joy to watch and worth their recognition.

I'm not sure what's on tap for The "D" List now but you never know. I do plan to make my Oscar picks before the awards show on Feb 23rd so look out for that and feel free to debate my choices of you wish.

Until Next Episode....I'll Save You a Seat!