Milk Does A Body Good

I haven't been out to the movies in ages, probably because there's been so little playing that's worthy of shelling out $15 for the privilege. Today however I did schlep down to Chelsea to see "Milk," Gas Van Sant's latest film highlighting the life of the late gay activist and San Francisco supervisor, Harvey Milk.

There were two key reasons I was keen to see this film.

I clearly remember that period of time in California when Anita Bryant launched her anti-gay rights campaign and the milestone of Mr. Milk's election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I remember the shock of Milk and Mayor George's Moscone's assassinations in City Hall and the memorial march in the streets of the city that followed in its wake. I especially remember the riots that erupted in the wake of Dan White's slap-on-the-wrist sentence under the most absurd of defenses (the Twinkie defense, it was called). It was an explosive time in San Francisco and I moved to the Bay Area at the culmination these events (and just prior to the advent of the AIDS crisis and a new era of activism that sprung from it).

My interest was renewed in Harvey Milk in 1988 when I met San Francisco journalist Randy Shilts at a book signing for his brilliant work on the discovery and spread of HIV and AIDS, "And The Band Played On." I had a friend who worked for The San Francisco Chronicle where Shilts was a contributor so I had the good fortune to meet him. He was an engaging, erudite, passionate journalist. We talked about gay activism in San Francisco and the conversation naturally turned to Milk. He mentioned his book, "The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk," so I immediately went out and bought it. Scrupulously researched and incredibly engaging, my admiration for Milk was reignited. He was a compassionate, idealistic, realistic and fearless man. It's no wonder that his legacy continues today.

When I heard filmmaker Van Sant was making a film about Milk, I hoped it would portray these characteristics honestly. It's far too easy to make a biopic about a deceased person that can digress into mawkish sentiment or hero worship or conversely, character assassination. Van Sant has been making some thoughtful little films lately so I was optimistic. When I read that Sean Penn was playing Milk, I was elated.

Sean Penn is the second reason I wanted to see this film.

Love him or hate him, you can not deny that Penn is one of the most talented actors of our generation. I first saw the breadth of his talent when I saw him in "The Falcon & The Snowman" in the mid-1980s. Then I saw "At Close Range." His intensity was profound (to say nothing of Penn's ability to hold his own with an equally intense Christopher Walken). Since then, he's created fascinating and indelible characters in a series of profound films: "Carlito's Way," "21 Grams," "Dead Man Walking," "Mystic River," and my very favorite "Sweet and Lowdown." I'm hardly a Woody Allen devotee, but this film is so incredibly thoughtful and gentle. If you haven't seen it, please rent it.

What I admire most about Penn is this: As an actor, he's clearly full of craft. What separates him from a larger-than-life actor persona is this--he understands the importance of the non-verbal. He conveys emotion through the subtle nuance of gesture and the thoughtfulness of expression. He exercises the medium sized emotions which I imagine is the greatest challenge an actor must face. With Penn, it seems effortless and it's believable. You forgot that you're watching a well known actor and you begin to invest in the character who has engaged you onscreen.

So how did this ability translate to the character of Harvey Milk? Honestly? Brilliantly. Penn brought the story to life and infused the character with all the humility, passion and honesty that were true to Milk's character. It wasn't what one would characterize as a "gay film." It wasn't a straight-forward, simple biopic. It was a thoughtful look into a charged period of time and a man whose idealism drive him to a national stage.

The film was moving and the performances, sublime. At the film's end, Fang and I were teary. If you have a chance, please see this film.