Gus Van Sant’s “Milk” tells the story of the political challenges endured by Harvey Milk, who eventually becomes California’s first openly gay elected official and is ultimately assassinated, along with the San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White.

Sean Penn plays to his acting strengths that are reminiscent of his Academy Award nominated role of the mentally challenged father in “I Am Sam”. Penn holds on to the audience’s compassion and doesn’t relent. He channels Harvey Milk with perfection by letting the audience see his passion, his comedy, and sometimes his sadness.

The movie is all about refection: Harvey Milk reflecting on his life and society reflecting on its mistakes. Van Sant goes even further with that by visually complementing the theme. One powerful scene shows a hate crime victim’s body in the reflection of a whistle that was supposed to be used as a defense tool in order to alert help. Another scene shows the obsessed Dan White’s reflection in a television screen watching Harvey Milk becoming more successful.

Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black surgically remove the burden of historically meaningful politics by telling the humanizing story of the struggles that Milk faced. This is balanced by the brilliant acting jobs of James Franco, who plays Milk’s lover Scott Smith, and Emile Hirsch who plays the adorable activist Cleve Jones.

Yes, I said adorable and after seeing this film, I’m comfortable with that.

Josh Brolin continues to show the world how great of an actor he is by his portrayal of San Francisco Supervisor and Milk assassin, Dan White. Brolin takes the audience on a journey of how a seemingly conservative and stable family man can turn into a vengeful murderer. Brolin pulls this off with mastery by never overacting. He is subdued and that makes his character more realistic and more dangerous because it is hard to see him coming.

To be honest with you, there are some scenes in the film that might make a heterosexual mainstream audience squirm. Unfamiliar moments of merciless sexuality linger on the screen pronouncing “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!” And, that is something you will have to get used to if you want to step out of your shell and explore the depths of passionate characters with an amazing story.

Penn and Franco kiss with such a statement of lust that the audience is forced to acknowledge that this film is about more than just politics. “Milk” doesn’t hide behind the tent flaps like “Brokeback Mountain.” There are comedic elements that help you along. For example, after Franco swims naked in a pool, during a meeting of the gay power figures, he leaves with: “Sorry I pissed in your pool.”

One character I didn’t like but I think that is intentional is Milk’s foreign lover Jack Lira played by Diego Luna. The character feels forced, unconvincing and annoying like a Jar-Jar Binks of “Star Wars.”

A question that must be asked is why this movie wasn’t released before the November 4th election in order to help encourage votes against the controversial Prop 8? One major subplot of the movie is Milk’s 1978 fight against Prop 6, which called for the firing of homosexual teachers and anyone else in education that supported gay rights. The parallels are overwhelming to the political climate today and Prop 8 supporters must be rejoicing that this movie wasn’t released in October. It might have changed the outcome of Gay Marriage rights, as we know it.

“Milk” will be used as a platform to promote gay rights and along the way should get recognition as a superb film. Harvey Milk deserves to be martyred and will be with his activism: “All men are created equal and no matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.”

Go see “Milk” because it might just open your mind and heart.