Notable as Sean Penns contender for this years awards season, Milk focuses on Harvey Milk the first openly gay politician in America. The period setting of the film is wonderfully realised and aiding Penn are several excellent supporting turns as well as one stand out.

Whilst Emile Hirsch and James Franco do a great job in the early part of this film it is Josh Brolin who steals the film with his controlled menace and increasingly desperate attempts to make a name for himself as first an ally and then an opponent to Harvey. Indeed the films main flaw is that it consistently pulls away from this simmering conflict to focus on less interesting and purely functional subplots.

After moving to San Francisco, Harvey Milk repeatedly tries to become an elected official despite facing prejudice. He eventually manages to become supervisor on the local board in 1977. Another supervisor elected at the same time, Dan White, resigns following a number of flawed policies and is thwarted in his attempts to return. White blames Milk and the Mayor for his problems and exacts revenge in brutal fashion.

There is a classic episode of The Simpsons which introduces a man called Grimes who in turn cannot believe how Homer has succeeded in life and finds himself flying into a jealous rage at his very sight. This is how we can imagine Dan White reacting to overachieving Harvey Milk, a man who effortlessly breezes into political life without much of a track record.

We never quite know why White is pushed as far as he is, but the film is always believable and entertaining when we see him on screen. If the film were to be a genuine double headed story following both men it would be perfect, as it is Milk boasts fine performances and well-maintained pacing which on reflection does well with a thin story. Josh Brolin can feel justifiably unlucky not have picked up the Oscar for his performance, but Milk is still a wonderfully played out drama which makes the most of its Seventies setting and vibrant locations.

****

Review by: Cassam Looch