MILK

Here's the thing-I've never liked Sean Penn. I've never thought much of him as an actor-being twitchy in every part does not constitute good acting and he's been twitchy in every part he's had since Fast Times at Ridgemont High. So many people have liked hi when I just found him annoying-the sole exception being 21 Grams, when he couldn't be twitchy. But Milk looked good and and he didn't seem too twitchy. (I keep hearing the phrase "twitchy bastard" in my head. Is that from The Maltese Falcon? I've always thought it fit Penn perfectly). So I went to see it and was pleasantly surprised. He was really good-capturing the heart of a gay man who cared desperately about how other gay people were treated. His sexuality was important to him, but being open about it and making the world a better place were more important. I liked the fact that the movie never shied away from his sexuality but also never shied away from his determination or his political awakening. And Penn was terrific in it-humorous, self-deprecating, determined and sexual-it's his best part. And I never once caught myself thinking "he's doing a great job", which is my kiss of death, so to speak. Milk overall is a great movie-the supporting players are all great, from Josh Brolin as the uptight Dan White (who is treated with dignity and respect and is never turned into a monster), to James Franco as Scott, the sweet stoner who finally can't take politics, to Emile Hirsch as the firebrand Cleve, turned from rent-boy to community organizer by his friendship with Harvey Milk.
Finally, Milk is a really entertaining movie. Well-written and interesting, while never preachy or didactic, it's really well-done. But I'm still not convinced by Sean Penn. I'm sure there's another twitchy part out there calling his name...