First Showing’s Alex Billington says what many are thinking:
It wasn’t a victory for everyone yesterday. I really hate mixing politics and journalism, but I can’t help it today, because I feel like I need to promote Gus Van Sant’s Milk even more based on the results of the election in California. For those who aren’t from that state, there was a proposition on the ballot addressing gay marriage rights. If it passed, it would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, negating a decision by the California Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage. So why is this important? It mirrors another big proposition that Harvey Milk fought against 30 years ago that eventually lead to his assassination and was documented in the film. And with results showing that it did pass, it makes that film so much more important and relevant to the real world today.
It helps that I saw Milk a few weeks ago and embargoes be damned, that movie was phenomenal. As more time has passed and the results of this election have arrived, I’ve come to appreciate the film so much more. It’s not only an exquisite recreation of the story of an inspirational man, but its political resonance and relevance are as powerful as the story itself. I wish Focus Features had this movie out in theaters now, because it’s a film all Americans needs to see, especially after what happened with Proposition 8 here in California. Sure, it’s not going to convince that many people to change their minds nor will it drastically change the way this country thinks, but when a film is able to capture so vividly the beliefs in which Harvey was fighting so strongly for, it deserves to be recognized and admired.
This has also been discussed, to a slightly different degree, at InContention where Tapley poses the question as to whether or not releasing the film earlier might have helped Prop 8 to pass. The cynical side of me thinks nothing could have prevented the conservative voting blocks in California from doing the right thing. But the cynical side of me was also bitch slapped to hell when Obama won last night. Could it have helped? It’s possible. But something tells me Sean Penn has already marginalized by those very same people.
More money was spent on preventing Prop 8 from passing than any other in history. It’s hard to imagine a movie by and starring those liberal Hollywood elite would have made any difference whatsoever. Either which way, the passing of Prop 8 sure as hell will give Oscar voters something to fight for, thus giving Milk more of an edge than it already has.