Milk
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Director Gus Van Sant's Milk, which recounts the last eight years in the life of gay rights activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is a moving but conventional biopic given immeasurable heft in light of current events. Upon turning 40, Harvey moves from New York City to San Francisco with his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) where they open a camera shop in the city's Castro neighborhood, which has become a haven for gay people. Soon, Harvey – who was in the closet while living in New York – finds himself becoming an activist for gay rights and his community.
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Biopics work for me because I'm innately curious about that aspect of a person's life which makes it compelling enough for others to want to make a film out of it. This film by Gus Van Sant tells the story of California's first openly gay elected official Harrvey Milk over the span of the last 8 and definitely more fruitful years of his life where he discovers his calling ironically after confessing to a lover that he had so far not done anything constructive with his, and then with their subsequent move to San Franscisco.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/milk.html