And that brings me back to how I feel about Van Sant as a director. Sort of. With films such as Gerry, he tends to get too existential, and doesn't stick to a narrative. I know this works for some viewers, and that his directing is critically lauded, but it doesn't always make for entertaining cinema. But Milk -- much like Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho and Good Will Hunting -- does stick to a narrative. In that regard it's good. And there are some beautiful shots, and it's an important, relevant film, what with Proposition 8 passing and the fallout from that.

Milk tells the true story of Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn), the first openly gay person elected to major public office in the United States (he was a City Supervisor in San Francisco in the '70s). Milk spent much of his life (from age 40 on) fighting for equal rights for homosexuals. He was openly gay in a time when that was much more difficult for people. There's definitely a lot to admire about the guy, and his story, and the film.

Franco, for example, gives the dramatic performance of his life (so far). What he did comedically in Pineapple Express (you know: stealing the movie, out-acting everyone else), he does dramatically here. Penn over-acts and chews the scenery, but Franco swoops in and does the best damn job in the whole film -- and that's including a terrific performance by Josh Brolin, which is almost as funny as it is terrifying, and a consistently superb job by Emile Hirsch. Milk's story is also inspiring and compelling, and definitely worth being made into a movie. And the movie is certainly capable of making viewers want to take action, or even cheer (it happened more often than it was warranted at this screening, in fact).

Despite all of the good things about the film, though, it's hard to recommend it unequivocally because it has just as many flaws. First, there is Sean Penn's performance. Because I wasn't alive when Milk was alive, so I never saw him actually talk, I can't say that Penn is just overacting; it might be an affectation he's using to impersonate Milk's characteristics. But, because we're used to seeing Sean Penn as Sean Penn, there will be times in the movie where you might think, "Why is he acting like that?" "Is he supposed to look weird, or is it just me?"

Another big problem with the film is that it's trying to paint Milk as such a hero, when it's a lot more complicated than that. First off, he was really not the hero, but part of a larger movement. He was the figurehead and helped inspire many people, but there was a whole group of people who helped him get to where he was. And his boyfriend, Scott (Franco), was the reason he even came out of the closet finally, at age 40. So, to credit Milk too much is to miss the point: It was a movement involving many people. The movie struggles on that issue; sometimes it seems like it's giving credit, but then it turns and makes Milk out to be a larger-than-life figure idolized by millions.

And then there's the heavy-handed directing employed by Van Sant at times. There's a particular moment when a scene from the beginning of the film is repeated toward the end, in its entirety with very little changed or added. It was intended to drive home a point that viewers easily get without it. Having the point driven home with the repeated scene actually detracts from the poignancy of it. The movie works best in the quiet subtle moments where we aren't given all of the information yet -- Scott's sorrowful reflection as he watches a celebration of Harvey in the street; dinner between Scott and Harvey. Honestly, any scene involving Franco's Scott is where the movie really works best -- a credit to Franco's acting, and Van Sant's direction.

"Message" movies can be problematic, because they stop being about art when they are too overtly political. Milk treads that line mostly deftly -- occasionally crossing too far into the political realm, but mostly keeping it about art and the story of the man. And the politics of a movie like this during a time like this can be forgiven, even though it will be preaching to the converted: I can't imagine anyone would go see this movie, knowing what it's about, if they're on the other side of the political spectrum.

Have you seen Milk? What did you think? Let us know below, then check out our Secret Set Report!