Milk – FRANK'S FILM REVIEW

Frank’s Film Review: Milk
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Gus Van Sant’s Milk isn’t just a movie—it’s a powerful story about bravery, love, and the fight for equality. It tells the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, and it’s both inspiring and heartbreaking. Sean Penn’s incredible performance as Milk brings this story to life, showing us the struggles and triumphs of a man who became a symbol of hope during a time when the LGBTQ+ community faced unimaginable challenges.

The movie follows Harvey Milk’s journey from a closeted insurance salesman in New York to a passionate activist in San Francisco’s Castro District. It shows his rise in politics, his fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and his tragic assassination in 1978 by fellow city supervisor Dan White, played by Josh Brolin. The story is gripping, emotional, and deeply moving, blending Milk’s personal life with the larger fight for justice.

Sean Penn is absolutely phenomenal in this role. He doesn’t just play Harvey Milk—he becomes him. You feel every ounce of Milk’s passion, his struggles, and his joy. It’s no surprise Penn won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance. He truly brought Harvey Milk’s spirit to the screen.

James Franco, who plays Milk’s partner Scott Smith, also delivers a heartfelt performance. He brings warmth and tenderness to the story, showing the emotional side of being in a relationship with someone constantly in the public eye and under threat. The connection between Penn and Franco feels real and genuine, adding a layer of intimacy that makes the story even more relatable.

The 1970s were a tough time for the LGBTQ+ community, and the movie doesn’t sugarcoat it. Police brutality, harassment, and discrimination were everywhere. One scene that really sticks with you is when police raid a gay bar, violently attacking people just for being there. It’s hard to watch, but it’s an essential reminder of how much courage it took for people like Harvey Milk to stand up and fight back.

The film also shows how isolating it was to be LGBTQ+ during that time. Coming out wasn’t just a personal decision—it was a considerable risk. People could lose their jobs, their families, or even their lives. Milk’s belief that visibility was key—that coming out was a revolutionary act—hits hard, especially when you see how much fear people lived with.

At its core, Milk is about hope. It’s about a man who refused to stay silent and inspired others to do the same. It’s a tribute to Harvey Milk and to everyone who fought—and still fights—for equality. Even though it’s set in the past, the message is just as important today.

This isn’t just a movie you watch; it’s a story that stays with you. It reminds us how far we’ve come and how much further we still need to go.

Frank Gaimari is an author, film reviewer, and actor based in Seattle, Washington. He lives with his husband and their two golden retrievers. Learn more about his work at http://www.FrankGaimari.com.