A Visionary Hero
Heroes arise from every conceivable milieu. Some may seem like obvious candidates, while others are the unlikeliest of champions. But no matter what backgrounds these noble souls may hail from, once they come into their own, they’re forces to be reckoned with, for the impact they have in reshaping their worlds is formidable. One such hero provides the focus for what is undeniably one of the year’s best movies, the recently released biopic “Milk.”
This outstanding new film tells the life story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), a mild-mannered, discreet, somewhat unfocused gay New Yorker who moves to San Francisco with his lover Scott (James Franco) in the early ’70s in search of doing something constructive with his life. Little did he realize what would come of it.
Not long after opening a camera shop in San Francisco’s Castro district, a once-conservative neighborhood that was quickly becoming home to the city’s emerging gay population, Milk grew increasingly dissatisfied with the prejudice and injustice heaped upon his peers by everyone from local business owners to the police. But rather than become indignant and embittered about these patently discriminatory practices, Milk channeled his energy into politics, organizing his constituents into a voting bloc ready to exercise its power. For his efforts, Milk was elected to the San Francisco city council as the first openly gay politician to hold major public office in the country.
But Milk’s vision extended beyond the Bay Area. He looked outward across the nation, hoping to use his experience and that of his community to influence activities elsewhere. He was particularly troubled by initiatives launched to overturn gay rights ordinances in communities across the country, a movement spearheaded by former beauty queen Anita Bryant. To squelch the campaign, Milk ultimately brought the fight to California, an effort through which he was successful in stemming the tide on both the local and state level.
Despite his success, Milk made enemies along the way, most notably fellow councilman Dan White (Josh Brolin). Frustrated at his inability to achieve his own goals, White eventually resigned from the council but later regretted his decision. When his reinstatement was denied by Mayor George Moscone (Victor Garber), White took out his anger on Moscone and Milk, shooting and killing both of them in San Francisco City Hall.
But Milk’s impact did not die with his death. He became a symbol of the gay rights movement, inspiring countless initiatives at the state and local level across the country.
“Milk” is a top-notch picture from start to finish. Penn’s performance in the lead role is outstanding, as are the portrayals by Brolin as Milk’s troubled nemesis and by Emile Hirsch as Milk’s protégé Cleve Jones. Credit screenwriter Dustin Lance Black with giving an excellent script to the superb ensemble cast and director Gus Van Sant for pulling it all together into a riveting package.
The inspiration this film delivers is palpable. And that in itself is both heroic and visionary.
(“Milk” – 2008; Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, Denis O’Hare, Lucas Grabeel, Victor Garber, Howard Rosenman; Gus Van Sant, director; Dustin Lance Black, screenplay)
Hi, I'm Brent Marchant, author of Get the Picture, here to bring you movies that will inform, inspire, and fill you with optimism—because what we focus on matters! 
