Hmmm.....shame. I was expecting something better (although to be fair, it's only one review; the rest could all be raves).
Gus Van Sant's new biopic on titular gay rights activist Harvey Milk has a few things going for it. Sean Penn's transformative work as Milk is quite unique. He creates an endearing, humorous portrait of a man who, against all odds, strives for what he believes in. His performance is touching, heartbreaking, cathartic. I wouldn't be surprised if he sees a nomination come Oscar time. It also has some real filmmaking on display, unfortunately, its glimpses are befogged by numerous questionable choices. Mainly, a failure to do extensive re-writes.
I'm sure Dustin Lance Black, the film's screenwriter, worked hard, but he may have not worked hard enough. Either that or Sant could not bring his work to life properly, in any case, something was lost in translation. Throughout the film, Penn narrates and explains the history of the movement he helped create, or perhaps even started. Penn works beautifully, but it still takes away from the story. Segments of stock footage of Castro Street, the district Milk was eventually elected to supervise, at first may seem an interesting artistic choice, but eventually begin to take away from the beautiful cinematography on display.
The cast, although uniformly talented, is awkwardly cast and in some cases badly performed. James Franco, who showed considerable promise in Pineapple Express, fails to hit the right notes as Milk's lover. Not that he doesn't turn in a fearless performance but perhaps under the direction of Sant or by his own work and preparation, his character is just not believable. Not to say it isn't interesting however. Hirsch does an admirable job, ridiculous perm and all, and Brolin, although hindered by limited screen-time and underwritten material, does his very best to create the soul of a man capable of murder. Diego Luna is absolutely scathing, irksome, and just straight up nails down the chalkboard stomach churning. Again, I must state, I cannot be sure if this is the fault of the writer, the director, or the actor, but it just seems things were lacking in general.
Instead of getting into the souls and reality of these people, Milk proves to be a hurried and sloppy run of the mill tale of hope and woe. It's a movie done half assed trying to pass itself off as gold. Key moments, Milk's victory and eventual death, are handled to absolute perfection, but sadly, not much else. Sorry Mr. Penn, there should have been a movie worthy of your work.
Milk- C+
Source: http://www.awardsdailyforums.com/showthread.php?t=9025
I'm sure Dustin Lance Black, the film's screenwriter, worked hard, but he may have not worked hard enough. Either that or Sant could not bring his work to life properly, in any case, something was lost in translation. Throughout the film, Penn narrates and explains the history of the movement he helped create, or perhaps even started. Penn works beautifully, but it still takes away from the story. Segments of stock footage of Castro Street, the district Milk was eventually elected to supervise, at first may seem an interesting artistic choice, but eventually begin to take away from the beautiful cinematography on display.
The cast, although uniformly talented, is awkwardly cast and in some cases badly performed. James Franco, who showed considerable promise in Pineapple Express, fails to hit the right notes as Milk's lover. Not that he doesn't turn in a fearless performance but perhaps under the direction of Sant or by his own work and preparation, his character is just not believable. Not to say it isn't interesting however. Hirsch does an admirable job, ridiculous perm and all, and Brolin, although hindered by limited screen-time and underwritten material, does his very best to create the soul of a man capable of murder. Diego Luna is absolutely scathing, irksome, and just straight up nails down the chalkboard stomach churning. Again, I must state, I cannot be sure if this is the fault of the writer, the director, or the actor, but it just seems things were lacking in general.
Instead of getting into the souls and reality of these people, Milk proves to be a hurried and sloppy run of the mill tale of hope and woe. It's a movie done half assed trying to pass itself off as gold. Key moments, Milk's victory and eventual death, are handled to absolute perfection, but sadly, not much else. Sorry Mr. Penn, there should have been a movie worthy of your work.
Milk- C+
Source: http://www.awardsdailyforums.com/showthread.php?t=9025
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