Milk (2008)

I saw milk in what I believe has been the best period for movies that I’ve been alive for - that being the 2008/09 sorta time. This is quite possibly due to the fact that this was the time that me and my bffl Matt, initiated a bit of a movie crawl around the theatres of Brisbane. It was really sort of the first time that I’d taken a real interest in what movies were coming out and tried to go and see as many good ones that I could; and we saw so many good ones that year - Milk, Doubt, and Changeling were a few. All this goodness was then followed up by the very first instalment of our now annual Oscar's Party at Matt’s house, with what has been still the best Oscars that I’ve ever seen! Hugh Jackman hosting, and omg that Hollywood Musicals number he did with Beyonce!!?! AMAZING!!!! Zefron and Vanessa - kinda random but loved you anyway. Dustin Lance Black - adorable, Kate Winslet FINALLY winning best actress and her beautiful acceptance speech. Sophia Loren—as leathery as ever and in that tragic yellow dress that made her look like one of those toilet dolls. Classic good times. Just the way that they did everything was wonderful, and has yet to be beaten. And just as a side note - this years generally sucked. By far the highlight was Angelina’s leg moments, so fabulous. For those who haven't beared witness to this -  http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/angelina-jolies-leg

Ok enough of this reminiscing, to MILK!

Before this I had actually never heard of Harvey Milk and the plight of the Castro gays. In fact I don’t even think I knew what we were seeing when we arrived at the cinema. Matt was like ‘come with me we’re seeing milk’. And I was like ‘ok! I love milk, yum!’ sigh - u can’t judge me on this.

The film - amazing. Beautifully shot, costumes and sets - amazing, acting - amazing (Oscar for best actor Sean Penn - well deserved), James Franco - hot. That guy from High School Musical - what was his purpose? I mean it was great to see him an’ all, getting out into the big world of gay cinema - it actually wasn’t until the other week when I watched Milk again, did I do my usual imdb / wiki research of the characters in real life that I actually realised what he was doing. I love reading up about characters in movies afterwards when they’re true stories :) especially when u find out that the actual people had random cameo appearances throughout the movie, and u have to go back and search all the crowd scenes to find them - endless hours of fun!! … ah I have no life.

The only thing I’ve been confused about and slightly ehh about, in both times that I watched it, was the way that he talked. Like was Harvey actually a little bit simple? Was Penn just always drunk on set? These are questions which I guess will never be answered.

All in all though, I would definitely recommend this wonderful piece of film making. Totally makes me wish I was a struggling gay in San Francisco during the late 70’s / early 80’s. Protesting, fighting the police, and just being generally fierce to everybody.

- - - FAVOURITE MOVIE MOMENTS - - -

That scene when we are first introduced to Harvey’s new campaign manager, Anne Kronenberg.

Cleve: I was telling Harvey we needed some tough dykes around here

Anne: Well, you got one.

There’s an amazing scene in the film where, while they’re fighting to appose Proposition 6, an initiative that would require that all California state public schools fire any gay or lesbian teachers or counselors, the people in Wichita, Kansas began repealing their city law protecting homosexuals against discrimination in jobs and housing due to political persuasion from bitch Anita Bryant. Anyway so Cleve calls up Lawrence, saying that they’re losing Wichita and that there’s going to be a rally that night; and so Lawrence calls up someone and Cleve calls up another guy, and then all of a sudden there’s like this huge queer network of phone calls flying around everywhere, resulting in this massive group of crazy gays who show up for the rally, march to city hall and start a bit of a riot. It’s like there’s this insane underground community of people who are willing to fight to the death to defend one of their own. And there’s drag queens and lesbians and fucking everyone is out there, when like a minute ago most of them were probably just chillin at home watching tv or baking or some shit; and it’s like the gay teachers in Wichita are in trouble! We don’t know them BUT WE WILL KILL FOR THEM!! It’s a very comforting feeling to know that we belong to this crazy-ass community. I know if one of my gurls were getting shit, all kinds of super bitch would surface and rage (I know this because it has). The bonds of the gay sisterhood are incredibly tight - you do not want to mess with us, cuz we will fuck. you. up. Remember that.

MOVIE : Really quite lovely

HOTNESS OF CAST : Yay ;)

CRY FACTOR : 1 tear