Milk

Simply brilliant.

It’s difficult to find fault with Gus Van Sant’s biopic of Harvey Milk.

The director doesn’t let anything distract him from the story of how Milk became California’s first openly gay elected official- not even the man himself. The opening scene neatly side-steps Milk’s back story, presenting him as a man for whom, by his own admission, life began at just less than 40. The plot dips in and out of his life as he comes out, gets politics and tries to get elected, bringing him to life as a character while remaining focussed on his passion: gay rights.

Sean Penn thoroughly deserves his Oscar for a moving performance that avoids the stereotypes- his Harvey is exuberant rather than flamboyant, affectionate rather than predatory.

There is a surprising amount of chemistry between Penn and James Franco in the most convincing and compelling gay romance since Brokeback Mountain. Josh Brolin is another standout from the uniformly excellent supporting cast, striking just the right balance between edgy menace and repressed vulnerability as fellow-Supervisor-turned-assassin Dan White.

Harris Savides’ cinematography and Danny Elfman’s score give the film an off-beat tone and a 70s feel to complement the straight-forward storytelling.

Even the archive news footage is blended seamlessly, bringing home the reality and repugnance of anti-gay campaigner Anita Bryant’s views.

There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking or original about Milk, but there certainly was about Harvey Milk. Perhaps the most laudable thing about this near-flawless film is that it lets its subject and his issue shine through.

And shine they do.