His life changed history. His courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk's life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones, Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk's actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White. But as White and Milk's political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge. Milk's platform was and is one of hope--a hero's legacy that resonates in the here and now.

The best part about Milk is that it doesn’t try and convince you of anything. It doesn’t try and sway you to see one point or the other it tells its story and unfolds its tale and lets you decide how you feel about it. That’s the best way for a film to tell its story when a story is very politically charged and even thirty years later it could have easily tried to force people to take sides. It leaves it up to you as the audience member to decide what is right and wrong and doesn’t try and force its opinions on you. Sure they favor the side of Harvey Milk over Rita Baker but the film is about Harvey Milk after all and they tell the story in a non partisan way that isn’t meant to offend those who might have been on the side of the Bakers then and now. You can tell the film is making Milk a hero, a martyr of sorts but it still doesn’t make you take sides and that is a very fine line to walk and one of the things that makes the film so great because it does walk that line and does so masterfully.

Even though its been thirty years since Milk was assassinated the film still feels fresh. Sure times have changed, gays and homosexuals aren’t so greatly feared as they once were but there is still that sense that we are not so far removed from the past events. Just last year California passed Proposition 8 that re-outlawed same sex marriages just six short months after they were legalized. The Anita Bakers of the world, those who try and make people fear things they don’t understand are still in the world and still waging a war against those they see as threats. So while the movie doesn’t make you take sides it does show you sympathy for Milk’s side and a little hatred for Anita Baker who was clearly in the wrong. The idea that there is something in the water or the fear that having one’s child taught by a homosexual will make them homosexual is far fetched and outrageous to me but the film doesn’t discredit the idea just the people who support the idea. Its hard to like Anita Baker watching the film and rightfully so because she is one of those left wing religious nuts that persecute anyone that is different. The gays and homosexual’s should have rights and be allowed to be free and if you take one right away from certain people it becomes easier and easier to start taking the rights away from everyone. All men are created equal and I find myself in the corner of the Harvey Milk’s of the world and that’s what the film would like to see, equality and fairness.

The funny thing or maybe its the ironic thing is that Harvey Milk wasn’t assassinated because he was gay but because of a personal grudge that was held against him. He was so political and he pushed you one way or the other so much so that eventually he ended up wronging the wrong person who took it heart and sought vengeance against him. Milk did himself no favors with Dan White though because he always felt like he was in a fight because he was gay and that made him pursue Dan White with a little bit of his own vengeance. The film has so many sides of human drama whether it’s the desire to be free and live ones life without persecution or vengeance against someone for wrongs perceived or done against oneself the film explores all these elements. Milk who was so likeable to most people could also be down right aggravating to others and the film portrays that with a subtle hand. Sure they want you to take sympathize with Harvey Milk but you could just as easily decide to take Dan White’s side.

Sean Penn is one of the best actors in Hollywood and he gives the film every bit of greatness he has in him. For two hours he is Harvey Milk and that is what makes a great actor, they can get you to suspend disbelief and see them as someone other than themselves or other roles they have played in the past. James Franco is the perfect compliment to Sean Penn as Penn is over the top and exuberant, Franco is more subdued and peaceful. Milk want the world to know he is gay and he is proud of it and Scott Smith would just rather live his life in peace without persecution. One should be aware there are scenes of kissing and some homosexuality in the film and if one is offended by this you should stay away as the movie does not gloss over the fact that most of its main characters are gay and homosexual. Milk is a politically charged film that enthralls you from beginning to end, full of human drama and great performances and worth seeing.

Grade: B+