MILK

RYAN: The most important gay film since “Brokeback Mountain” is “Milk” starring Sean Penn as the real-life politician and gay activist Harvey Milk.

CAROLINE: We’re a little late to the game with this review, and it’s totally my fault.

RYAN: Thank you. I saw this movie almost six weeks ago and have been dying to review it with you!

CAROLINE: I wasn’t able to go to that initial advanced screening with you, and then when all the Oscar movies started flooding into theaters, this one somehow fell by the wayside. But I’ve finally seen it, and I must say it’s easily one of my favorite movies of the year.

RYAN: Wow! As we all know, it’s about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California in the ’70s, who was assassinated. It’s a tragic and compelling story.

CAROLINE: The movie spans several years, and though it’s not epic per se, it shows Sean Penn during various stages of Harvey Milk’s life. The interesting thing is that Harvey Milk didn’t intend to be a politician. He moved to California to check out the new gay Castro district and had a camera store for a little while; but then he became such a figure in the neighborhood and in San Francisco, that he was compelled to run for office. I loved learning the history of all that, and how he never gave up despite losing several times before he was finally elected.

RYAN: Before I get to the brilliance of the performances, casting and writing, I must admit I had a couple problems with the movie. My expectations were really high, and I wanted it to be better than “Brokeback Mountain” and be of Best Picture caliber.

CAROLINE: And it was.

RYAN: I felt like the first half of it was too indie looking. The editing was funky and distracting.

CAROLINE: Well, hello; it’s a Gus Van Sant film. This is the guy who brought us “Paranoid Park,” a little indie movie that nobody saw, in the same year that he brought us “Milk.”

RYAN: Fine, but I really felt like there was a clear turning point in “Milk” about halfway through, and the second half was a lot more slick. I felt like there were two distinct parts to the movie, and I liked the second part better.

CAROLINE: I loved the whole thing. I’d put it in my Top 5 of the year. I was so into it. I could not even believe how good Sean Penn’s performance was. He’s one of those rare actors where you don’t feel like you’re watching Sean Penn; you feel like you’re watching Harvey Milk… or whatever character he’s playing. He just disappears into the role.

RYAN: I saw “The Times of Harvey Milk” documentary, and I couldn’t believe how much Sean Penn looks and sounds like him in this movie. He even walks like him. Kudos to the costume and hair and makeup people.

CAROLINE: How about kudos to Sean for giving the performance of the year? He so embodied the spirit of Harvey Milk in this role. I was in awe. James Franco was also great. I feel like he’s the breakout star of 2008, between this and his hilarious turn in “Pineapple Express.” Josh Brolin is incredible too, in a fantastic and hateable role.

RYAN: He’s such a star. I can’t believe he did this role in the same year he played W. It was also fun to see Denis O’Hare in small part, as well as Emile Hirsch and Victor Garber.

CAROLINE: There are some really detestable characters in this movie, which I won’t go into lest I ruin anything. But one of Harvey’s boyfriends really riled me up with hatred. His behavior was appalling and it infuriated me, but in a good way. This movie really made me feel something. Clearly, I was emotionally involved.

RYAN: I want to give a shout-out to the writer, Dustin Lance Black. I got to interview him on the red carpet and he’s gorge. I hope he gets nominated and wins for the Best Screenplay Oscar.

— BOTTOM LINE —

CAROLINE: I loved this movie. I’m still marveling at how incredible Sean Penn was. I think he should totally win the Best Actor Oscar even though the competition is very stiff this year. He literally became Harvey Milk in this movie, and it’s very powerful. The assassination scene is so devastating and so well done in its understatedness. I thought this movie was just amazing and I can’t recommend it enough.

RYAN: More than anything, this film is very important. Looking back at his life, Harvey Milk was to the gay community what Martin Luther King Jr. was to African Americans. For LGBT people, a diverse community of minorities within minorities, who are hard to rally for equality since many even fear coming out as gay… Harvey Milk rose as a leader worthy of remembrance. Though this movie is not perfect, it perfectly heralds a true American hero.

— RATING —