Director Gus Van Sant has done some weird movies (Elephant) and some pretty traditional ones (Good Will Hunting). Milk falls into the latter category, which, as far as I'm concerned, is a good thing because his more experimental efforts are mannered and usually tedious. Sean Penn seems capable of transforming himself into nearly any character, from the menacing murderer in Dead Man Walking to the manic guitarist of Sweet and Lowdown. His Harvey Milk is completely convincing; he even transforms the character within the course of the film, from a hippie who dabbles in politics to a mature political leader, one who can be manipulative but who also knows the weight of responsibility and finally destiny. Josh Brolin, who has been on a roll with W. and No Country for Old Men, can't manage to infuse much life into Dan White, Milk's co-supervisor (like a city councilman) and eventual assassin; Harvey speculates on White's anger and repressed homosexuality, but we don't see much depth there. The framing device of Harvey's tape recording a final statement in anticipation of being killed seemed bit obvious, but the arc of Milk's career is compelling, as is Penn's Oscar-winning performance.
