Milk
Milk came to Fresno yesterday on my birthday. Who could ask for a better present than that?
First off, I have to say, I am extremely impressed with how graphic some of the love scenes were. Now, don't get me wrong, they were no Queer as Folk, but they weren't Brokeback either. It was the perfect balance. If you're going to see this film solely for hot kiss action, you will not be disappointed.
Gus Van Sant did an excellent job depicting the last eight years of Harvey's life. He focussed more on the story and the characters more than his cliche/artsy cinematography. Which is probably a first for him. I can only recall one shot that made me roll my eyes, when Harvey and Scott (Penn and Franco) are in bed together for the first time.
If you're going to see this film because you are interested in Harvey's life/story or the gay civil rights fight, you will not be disappointed. Like I said, it starts in 1970, when Harvey is in the closet and working in NYC, meets Scott, and moves to San Francisco. The next eight years are his progression from activist to city supervisor and just how much of a difference he made. I know a fair amount about the queer civil rights issues of the 70s and 80s (probably more than your average 25 year old queer person these days), but even I learned some new things.
The acting? Flawless. Of everyone. I haven't seen such an awesome cast in a very long time. Everyone's buzzing about an oscar for Sean Penn, and rightfully so. I mean, he deserves it for his acting, but I have a theory that any actor who portrays a gay character that listens to opera he will win the academy award.
So, basically what this poorly drawn together series of words is saying is, Milk is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The first major motion film that is about a gay person that wasn't boring, wasn't devoid of gay action, wasn't pretentious, and wasn't jampacked with stereotypes. Milk is a piece of cinematic brilliance and I recommend every single person on the planet see this film.
I think the number one thing I left the movie theatre thinking was, Harvey Milk was the catalyst for all of the basic equal rights an openly gay person these days is not deprived of. I am an openly gay employee at a children's hospital who is not discriminated against or have to fear losing my job because of Harvey Milk. I guess I never realized just how significant that is.
We might not have the right to marry, but we have come so far. We no longer have to fear being persecuted for being queer. Losing our job or being refused service at a shop because of being gay. This world is a lot more tolerant and understanding. So, thank you, Harvey.
First off, I have to say, I am extremely impressed with how graphic some of the love scenes were. Now, don't get me wrong, they were no Queer as Folk, but they weren't Brokeback either. It was the perfect balance. If you're going to see this film solely for hot kiss action, you will not be disappointed.
Gus Van Sant did an excellent job depicting the last eight years of Harvey's life. He focussed more on the story and the characters more than his cliche/artsy cinematography. Which is probably a first for him. I can only recall one shot that made me roll my eyes, when Harvey and Scott (Penn and Franco) are in bed together for the first time.
If you're going to see this film because you are interested in Harvey's life/story or the gay civil rights fight, you will not be disappointed. Like I said, it starts in 1970, when Harvey is in the closet and working in NYC, meets Scott, and moves to San Francisco. The next eight years are his progression from activist to city supervisor and just how much of a difference he made. I know a fair amount about the queer civil rights issues of the 70s and 80s (probably more than your average 25 year old queer person these days), but even I learned some new things.
The acting? Flawless. Of everyone. I haven't seen such an awesome cast in a very long time. Everyone's buzzing about an oscar for Sean Penn, and rightfully so. I mean, he deserves it for his acting, but I have a theory that any actor who portrays a gay character that listens to opera he will win the academy award.
So, basically what this poorly drawn together series of words is saying is, Milk is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The first major motion film that is about a gay person that wasn't boring, wasn't devoid of gay action, wasn't pretentious, and wasn't jampacked with stereotypes. Milk is a piece of cinematic brilliance and I recommend every single person on the planet see this film.
I think the number one thing I left the movie theatre thinking was, Harvey Milk was the catalyst for all of the basic equal rights an openly gay person these days is not deprived of. I am an openly gay employee at a children's hospital who is not discriminated against or have to fear losing my job because of Harvey Milk. I guess I never realized just how significant that is.
We might not have the right to marry, but we have come so far. We no longer have to fear being persecuted for being queer. Losing our job or being refused service at a shop because of being gay. This world is a lot more tolerant and understanding. So, thank you, Harvey.