Post by Phoenix101 on Jun 17, 2021 11:24:09 GMT
It's been a while since I've seen this movie. It's in theaters again and I had the chance to see it for the first time in nearly 13 years. Honestly, I still don't think highly of it. I liked the cinematography, there are some good moments in it, Brolin's the MVP.
But it does a great disservice to the actual man. From one of the most important politicians in American history to some saintly martyr who spouts out Hallmark feel-good lines. They don't showcase his flaws enough for him to be a fully fleshed out human being. Contrast that to Selma, which made Martin Luther King a flawed man who was still an awe-inspiring figure as he was in real life, this goes the easy way. It doesn't help that Sean Penn seems to give himself a pat on the back with every second of his performance, as if he assumes this will finally cure Americans from their homophobia. I'm still bitter this beat out Mickey Rourke (I'm bitter about The Wrestler's snub altogether). It's by no means a bad performance but I don't buy him into the role as I needed him to. I'm sure I'm alone on this.
Danny Elfman's music is out of place. Lesbians, transgenders, and minorities, for the most part, are left out to focus more on the struggles of cis, gay, white men. The climatic scene is laughably executed. The ending doesn't present us the harsh truths that the community is still struggling and presents the blocking of the infamous Prop 6 as the ultimate end to their struggles. And the fact this keeps cutting to real footage of the times just makes me want to watch the brilliant doc, The Times of Harvey Milk, I highly recommend it. I also find it ironic how 3 of the major gay characters in the film are played by straight men who've been lately and allegedly revealed to be shitty people who've abused women.
I know this was made in 2008 and a film like this would probably be made much more complex if it were released today but at the end of the day, it's a by the numbers biopic that represents Hollywood patting themselves in the back for the movie, as if they consider themselves allies for the LGBT+ community, despite the fact there still aren't many LGBT+ actors and actresses headlining their own stories, nearly 13 years after this. It's getting better but it's too slow.
It's not a bad movie. If there are LGBT+ youths who are inspired by this, I shouldn't be in the way of that. But as a movie by itself, Harvey Milk deserves much better.
2/5
But it does a great disservice to the actual man. From one of the most important politicians in American history to some saintly martyr who spouts out Hallmark feel-good lines. They don't showcase his flaws enough for him to be a fully fleshed out human being. Contrast that to Selma, which made Martin Luther King a flawed man who was still an awe-inspiring figure as he was in real life, this goes the easy way. It doesn't help that Sean Penn seems to give himself a pat on the back with every second of his performance, as if he assumes this will finally cure Americans from their homophobia. I'm still bitter this beat out Mickey Rourke (I'm bitter about The Wrestler's snub altogether). It's by no means a bad performance but I don't buy him into the role as I needed him to. I'm sure I'm alone on this.
Danny Elfman's music is out of place. Lesbians, transgenders, and minorities, for the most part, are left out to focus more on the struggles of cis, gay, white men. The climatic scene is laughably executed. The ending doesn't present us the harsh truths that the community is still struggling and presents the blocking of the infamous Prop 6 as the ultimate end to their struggles. And the fact this keeps cutting to real footage of the times just makes me want to watch the brilliant doc, The Times of Harvey Milk, I highly recommend it. I also find it ironic how 3 of the major gay characters in the film are played by straight men who've been lately and allegedly revealed to be shitty people who've abused women.
I know this was made in 2008 and a film like this would probably be made much more complex if it were released today but at the end of the day, it's a by the numbers biopic that represents Hollywood patting themselves in the back for the movie, as if they consider themselves allies for the LGBT+ community, despite the fact there still aren't many LGBT+ actors and actresses headlining their own stories, nearly 13 years after this. It's getting better but it's too slow.
It's not a bad movie. If there are LGBT+ youths who are inspired by this, I shouldn't be in the way of that. But as a movie by itself, Harvey Milk deserves much better.
2/5
