10) Milk

Milk (2008)

Director: Gus Van Sant

Starring: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, Alison Pill


Based on actual events, Milk tells the inspiring story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to major public office, and his quest to inspire hope for equal rights.

The film was really beautifully structured. Having Harvey tell his own story (through the device of recording a cassette to be listened to in the event that he is assassinated) allows for an extra level of insight into his thoughts and emotions as the events unfold. Dustin Lance Black won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his work on Milk.

The performances from the cast were tremendous. Brolin's Oscar nomination was well deserved for his awkwardly insecure portrayal of conservative Supervisor Dan White. Hirsch and particularly Franco provided great supporting performances. But this was the Sean Penn show. He cemented his place as one of the greatest actors of his generation with this role. I was a bit surprised when Mickey Rourke didn’t win the Best Actor Oscar last year for his role in The Wrestler, but having now seen both films I’m content that as brilliant as Rourke’s performance was, Sean Penn’s performance as Harvey Milk was inspired.

It was so refreshing to watch a biopic and actually respect the main character. Too often you go to see a biopic on someone you quite liked only to see them get the “sad-clown / tragic-story-behind...” treatment and you come out of it thinking they’re a massive jerk (prime example being The Life and Death of Peter Sellers). Obviously this film had an entirely different purpose and motive in how it presented Harvey Milk, it wanted to send a pro-gay rights message and thus aimed to present him as a hero, but nonetheless it was still nice to like him.

I did, unfairly, find myself thinking why on earth did they introduce that ghastly character Jack (Diego Luna). He was frightfully annoying and I have no idea what Harvey saw in him. But then given that it is based on a true story I guess he can’t really be blamed on the writers. The fact that he was actually a real person made me feel slightly guilty for being a little bit relieved when he dies.

Wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being one of the best films I see this year. It was simply brilliant.