Milk
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Movie Reviews of Milk
Movie Review: Milk Delivered Fresh To Your Front Doorstep Again!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have ever found yourself saying, "They just don't make good movies anymore." this is a film for you. Watching Milk is like sitting down to Thanksgiving Day dinner with all the trimmings. It left me feeling grateful and satisfied. Sean Penn expertly transforms into Harvey Milk and captures your heart while captivating your attention from the opening scene to the final credit. Shot on location mainly in San Francisco's Castro district, the producers and director expertly take the viewer back to the mid 1970's, a time of hope and empowerment for gay, lesbian and transgender people.
During the course of this journey one appreciates the sense of richness and importance that interpersonal relationships provided during the austerity and uncertainty of these by and large pre-technological times. Here we see Harvey, a forty-something man, shuck it all and head to the west coast with his young lover in tow to fulfill a date with destiny. The film is historically significant in the fact that it explores the dynamics that occur between himself, the Castro community of the day, the national conservative movement at that time and the estranged relationship between himself and his assassin, Dan White. I found the archival footage of Anita Bryant to be particularly haunting and asked myself out loud, as I did back then, "Why is this orange juice lady doing this?!"
The DVD comes with a peppering of bonus features including deleted scenes and 3 documentaries of sensible length which explore the making of the film, the gay rights movement and Harvey Milk himself. You are not likely to find many copies of this film at the flea markets or in the bargain bin at the local shopping mart but fortunately you can pick it up here on Amazon.com for a reasonable price where you don't have to go to the movies to see a great flick, because they come to you. Enjoy!
Movie Review: The Hobo Philosopher
Summary: 5 Stars
Sean Penn went all the way on this one. This was quite a story and movie. I didn't expect the movie to be so graphic. Sean Penn plays a gay man and there is no denial in the portrayal or the man himself. This was no whitewash of gay living.
This is the tragic life and death of a gay male activist and radical. I think it pulled no punches. I am amazed at how Sean Penn was able to transform himself into a gay man - even the look it is eyes. It is amazing. The acting was superb. The story was difficult. I am not truly "liberated" on this subject and the movie confirmed many of my predjudices. But it did make me mull everything over and look at the subject more closely.
I had heard about Mr. Milk and his tragic death but I didn't know his story. It was something else to watch. I still don't know what to make of it. But I congratulate all those involved. They succeeded in giving me something to think about. Once it is all laid out on the screen and put before you visually and audibly, it is quite differnt than what we all have stored in our heads. I am in awe of Mr. Penn and his acting in this one.
The movie is an "in your face" type production. Here I am, a gay man, take it or leave it. The movie left me more informed, more thoughtful, and less bigoted. Very good job of "theater."
Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories
Movie Review: Does a Body Good
Summary: 5 Stars
When "Milk" came out in limited release, I had been looking forward to it for so long that I made sure I caught one of the very first screenings. For a Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving, the theater was half full. By the end of it, there was a symphony of sniffling and nose blowing. I knew by then that it was one of my favorite films I'd seen in some time and I'm glad that it's now on DVD where I can watch (and sniffle) in my own home.
There have been several very good biopics in the past several years such as "Frida" and "La Vie en Rose." Now we have "Milk" and it shines. There has been some criticism of the story here, that it's very by-the-numbers, weak and not compelling. I must have seen a different film because I found the movie to be captivating from the casting, to period detail to Van Sant's directorial style which makes the movie feel like a 70s film, not just set in the 70s. (Blending actual 70s footage with the movie was a good choice.) Sure, some liberties have been taken but when haven't liberties been taken with biopics? Milk lived 48 years; the film is two hours long.
Sean Penn - justly awarded the Oscar for his work here- disappears into his role as the first openly gay man elected to public office, and it's the best performance I've seen him give. I thought Penn was fine in "Mystic River" but the "Is that my daughter in there?" scene was a bit over the top but in "Milk," Penn is restrained, humble and believable. The rest of the cast is just as good, notably Josh Brolin as Dan White and Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones. This film- despite Milk's fate- is uplifting and relevant. I rarely give films a letter grade but "Milk" deserves an "A."
Movie Review: An eye-opening account of the early Gay Rights Movement
Summary: 5 Stars
Watching "Milk," with its historical footage mixed with acted scenes, made me realize just how far we've come since the 1970s and 1980s regarding gay rights and tolerance. Director Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black provide this context through their telling of the life of Harvey Milk, a gay man who moved to the Castro in San Francisco during the time when its gay population was first exploding. Even viewers not familiar with Milk's story will know within the first few minutes that Milk will be killed; however, the suspense in this film is not how that will happen, but how Milk will manage to transcend it through his decade of activism.
Sean Penn plays Milk so convincingly and lovingly that it's easy to forget that the role is acted. Penn's Milk is never stereotyped and instead comes across as a passionate, courageous man who has decided that he has no choice but to fight. Other standout performances include James Franco as Scott, Milk's true love; Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien) as wacko, flamboyant, needy Jack; Josh Brolin as repressed and lonely Dan White; Emile Hirsch, as Cleve Jones; and Alison Pill, as Anne Kronenberg. Anita Bryant, in news clips that seem laughable today, comes across as a dangerous force of her time.
Although both gays and lesbians continue to face obstacles on a daily basis, this film drives home just how difficult it was in the years following the otherwise liberating sixties and seventies. The characters in "Milk" yearn to be treated like equal members of society, and their actors imbibe them with such humanity that I would be surprised if their performances don't open a few eyes.
-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann
Movie Review: Stellar biographical film of a great man.
Summary: 5 Stars
Harvey Milk was a hero, for both the gay and civil rights movements. As an African American lesbian, I thought that Harvey Milk's progressive political stance, was particularly relevant to those like me. He was willing to put everything on the line, to fight for all oppressed people. It seemed to me that when Milk was fighting for justice in the 70s and 80s, politicians were way more committed to their constituents, than they are today. This was certainly the case, with the political activism of Harvey Milk.
Harvey Milk let nothing stand in his way, in his pursuit of his ideals. We desperately need more politicians like him, in our very troubled era. Rights for minorities, gay and lesbians, women, working people, etc., have been under attack by the right-wing political machine, in recent years. The time is right, for another progressive leader, to take a serious stand on civil rights for all, like Harvey Milk had the courage to do when he was alive.
Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk, is a prime example of his superb talent as an actor. Penn shows a real finesse, for conveying Harvey Milk's mannerisms, passionate political convictions, and dedication to the cause for justice, for the underdogs in society.
Josh Brolin as Dan White, turns in a muted, yet deeply resonate performance. Though not as marvelously talented as Sean Penn, Brolin has a terse, brooding charisma, that can't be ignored.
Harvey Milk was a bold, brave man, who deserves to be remembered as such. This film does justice to Harvey Milk's memory, and to those that want to see the honorable man that Harvey Milk was, and what he stood for.