Recreating real lives and events is risky and difficult, although filmmakers insist on trying. So when they succeed as splendidly as they do here, it’s especially gratifying. Milk refuses to pull punches or feel embarrassed by either its politics or by sexuality, which is frank for a studio movie. This is, of course, the only sane way to approach the subject, and if some straight audiences stay away as a result, it’s their loss. We can hope that won’t happen, and that people will see it in large numbers. It’s one of the year’s very best movies.
Harvey Milk held office for less than a year. Yet his importance to the gay rights movement is enormous. This circumstance has often made him seem more like a symbol than a real person, and while there may have been some attempts here in the script and performances to correct that, the net effect is more likely to be to reinforce his status as a mythical hero, especially to younger members of the audience. The resemblance between Harvey Milk’s battle against the teacher ban (known as Proposition 6) and this year’s Proposition 8 gay marriage ban wasn’t planned by the filmmakers — yet it’s unavoidable. And few audience members will fail to note the painful fact that, unlike this year’s anti-Prop 8 campaign, Harvey won.
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Article comments
1 - Arlo J. Wiley
An excellent review of an excellent film.
I just saw Milk this morning, and was bowled over by it. Terrific on pretty much every level.
2 - handyguy
I neglected to mention some of the very fine contributions to the film's success: the cinematography by Harris Savides [who also shot Zodiac and Elephant], the music by Danny Elfman, and the performance by the always deft Emile Hirsch as longtime Milk associate Cleve Jones.
3 - Arlo J. Wiley
I was really surprised to learn that Danny Elfman was behind the score. Most of his scores usually feel descended from his Batman score, but this one was totally different than anything else I'd ever heard by him. Really impressive work.
4 - handyguy
Elfman has worked with Van Sant more often than with any other director besides Tim Burton and Sam Raimi: To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Psycho. He also did A Simple Plan and A Civil Action, so it's not all bombast. I think the score for Sleepy Hollow is very beautiful as well.
5 - Arlo J. Wiley
I honestly didn't know that Elfman had worked with Van Sant so many times.
And you're right, he did do the score for A Simple Plan, which is one of my favorite films.
6 - Thomas Vlacich
I recently saw Milk. I throughly enjoyed the movie.I was expecting to see the young boy in the wheelchair from Minnesota in the candlelight procession. I thought it would have added a tremendous emotional impact at that point in the movie. great film.