"What was it like as a little queer in Phoenix?"

My sister and I saw 'Milk' on Sunday night. Great film. As she said in the car afterward, Sean Penn is the best living American actor. He is spot on genius in everything he does. I was so drawn into the movie because of his performance as Harvey Milk.



Gus Van San is a brilliant director. I know there have been missteps but in general, his movies are always witty and thoughtful. He did very well with this film. The screenwriter did a fantastic job, as well. At times it reminded me of 'My Own Private Idaho.' The scene in which Cleve calls up all of his friends for the rally, it was just like the scene in MOPI when the hustlers are all magazine cover boys in the porn shop. The color and style were very similar. I liked that.



The cast was amazing. Josh Brolin was Dan White. Very good casting move. Who else loved the scene with Dan, Harvey, and Jack outside of the birthday party? Not many people play drunk well but he did it. Diego Luno was fantastic, too. It was a nice touch of humor for the movie.



The relationship between Harvey and Scott was sweet. It was this very touching story in the middle of the heaviness of what was going on. They loved each other. Sean and James did wonderful. I will say that I thought James would have a bigger part in the film. There has been a lot of buzz about him and he did well but I wasn't blown away buy any one thing.

Sean deserves the Oscar. I don't know how he does it. The first scene with Sean taping himself in the kitchen, you know it's going to be amazing. Especially if you've heard the actual recording of Harvey Milk saying it. He becomes him.

Emile Hirsch. Oh Emile...you're the new love of my life. He was adorable as Cleve Jones. I didn't think he had it in him and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the film.



In the end it fired up my little activist heart and made me motivated to rage against the machine. That's all I ever really want from a film. :)

Go see it.