Of Human Kindness

The film opens on the eve of Harvey Milk’s 40th Birthday. It is the early 1970s and Milk is a white collar executive in New York who picks up a fuzzy haired pretty boy, Scott Smith (James Franco) from the subway. They end up being partners and soon Milk moves to San Francisco with Smith. He opens a camera shop in a relatively quiet neighbourhood,deals with homophobic neighbours with a mix of easy charm and admonishment,and eventually becomes a prominent gay activist. He starts off as a community organizer,moves on to being a political candidate and ultimately becomes a San Francisco City Supervisor in 1977. A year later,in 1978,another supervisor,Dan White (Josh Brolin) goes on a rampage and shoots down Mayor George Moscone and Milk,bringing a brilliant political career to an abrupt end.

Van Sant must have deliberated a lot on the film’s format,because Milk ends up being a study in precision. Those who found his earlier biopic,Last Days (based on Kurt Cobain’s last days) too dreamy and self indulgent,will revel in Milk’s spartan,concise and succinct storytelling. Van Sant chooses to ignore the temptation to create drama out of crying-out-for-larger-than-life-treatment situations,Milk’s first public speech for instance,instead he draws attention to the quieter scenes where the story is carried forward (the swimming pool scene with James Franco).

Much has been said about Sean Penn’s performance,but lets focus on the physicality of the performance. From a closeted 40-year-old kissing a pick up in a subway station,who casts furtive glances around to ensure that they are not being watched,to a confident,assured leader who is more than comfortable in his skin,Penn’s transformation is remarkable to say the least. Also impressive is the supporting cast— Franco as the lover boy who respects Milk enough to keeping caring for him even after they break up and Brolin as the adversary whose insecurities are wisely established to make him much more than just the man who killed Milk.