Milk: Not Just For The Gays?

I don't often get moved to tears by films. They just don't push me very far, and I think most times it's because I don't identify with the character's emotions. Seeing a heterosexual couple's unrequited love on screen for the 18 millionth time doesn't do it for me, not because I'm not hetero, but because that doesn't speak to my experience. Sure, I've had unrequited crushes before, but those were a completely different set of circumstances, and in many of the cases I would never be able to earn the attention of my longing because they simply were not gay, unlike most of these romantic movies where the hetero guy/girl simply annoys the shit out of their opposite sex crush until they give in. But when a film maker takes the time to speak to me, directly to the heart of who I am, then I can truly be moved by a film.

This weekend, I went with my boyfriend and a few friends to see Milk, as we had planned. I know, everyone in the gay blogosphere is raving about how great the movie is. And it's true, the movie is simply brilliant. I related to the characters on so many levels, and I felt strongly about the ideals being espoused by the characters and the film maker. I teared up in more than a few occasions, and my sweet boyfriend who knows me all too well knew exactly when to pacify me with a kiss or caress as the bigots spoke or the police beat innocent people in the streets. As we left the theater, I was awe struck at the power the movie had on me, but was also intrigued to find out that not everyone felt the same way as I did about the movie.

One of my friends just didn't like the movie. What's worse (according to another gentleman we talked to the next day) was that my friend is gay… and apparently, being gay means you must like Milk. I've stated above that I loved the flick, but my friend had some solid reasons why he didn't like the movie. Mainly, he felt the character development was lacking. Truth be told, I think I agree with him there. We were introduced to many characters in the film, and did not see really that much progression in them throughout the picture, which ultimately makes it hard for people to connect to the characters… unless they are passionate about the content or message. Which I am. Which is why I loved it.

Not to say that my friend isn't an activist. He is, but I have a feeling that he doesn't hold quite as liberal views on equality issues as I do, as evidenced by our discussion on hate crime legislation (I'm in favor of it, he's not… we talked about it once, then realized our friendship was more important that a disagreement on public policy). I think that I idolize people like Harvey Milk, that can stand up and fight for our community, and I also think that my friend thinks there are other ways to achieve these same goals. I'm not sure they are mutually exclusive concepts either. Like I said about Corporate Advocacy vs Grass Roots campaigns, I feel they need to coexist to ultimately win. I have a feeling that I'm more the in-the-streets activist and he's more the lobbyist activist.

All that aside, it makes me then wonder how well Milk will do in front of general (read: heterosexual) audiences. Will straight people really connect with the message, or even the characters? I would hope that, even if they do not personally connect, that they get a better perspective on the LGBT community and struggles. Brokeback Mountain did very well in front of straight audiences, but that was not nearly a political picture. Beautiful and tragic, yes, but not political. Milk is political. It's highly relevant. And with all the emotions raging across the country regarding what should be my legal rights to marriage, will "middle-of-the-road" thinkers really get into Milk?