LOS ANGELES—We’ve just seen John Patrick Shanley’s film adaptation of his 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Doubt.” There will be no doubt about it—the drama, set in 1964, will be a contender in the awards season. The scenes of the verbal tug of war between Meryl Streep (Sister Aloysius) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Father Flynn) are what we all live for as film lovers.
And remember the name: Viola Davis, in her short role as Mrs. Muller, the mother of the first black student in the parochial school run with withering rigidity by Sister Aloysius, makes a very big impression. The gala opening night crowd of the ongoing American Film Institute Film Festival at the ArcLight Theatre cheered enthusiastically when the film ended. Guests drove to the nearby Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for the after-party.
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Almost 30 years to the day since gay civil rights leader Harvey Milk was assassinated at San Francisco’s City Hall, “Milk,” a film that traces his rise to office, was premiered in the city by the bay with fitting red carpet glitz and panache.
It helped that director Gus Van Sant’s movie on the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America is a triumph, with excellent, nomination-worthy performances from everyone in the cast, including Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Diego Luna, Emile Hirsch, Alison Pill, Joseph Cross, Victor Garber and Lucas Grabeel (from “High School Musical”). “Milk” joins the list of must-see films this fall that so far includes “Doubt” and Clint Eastwood-Angelina Jolie’s “The Changeling.”
“Milk” was appropriately screened at Harvey’s beloved Castro Theatre in the noted gay and lesbian neighborhood responsible for his historic election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The red carpet was just steps away from Castro Camera, the small business Harvey and his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) began and from where the gay icon, in a short span of eight years, sought equal rights and opportunities for all.
Big applause
The fight to preserve Harvey’s legacy continues, as evidenced by the hundreds who filled Castro Street and carried placards bearing messages against Proposition 8, a measure in the Nov. 4 ballot that would ban gay marriage in California. Sean got a big applause from this throng when he arrived on the red carpet.
In our second viewing of “Milk,” the portrayals of Sean, Josh, Diego (as Jack Lira, Harvey’s other lover), James, Emile and the rest were just as riveting. After the screening, the guests boarded a seemingly infinite number of buses that took them to the City Hall which was transformed into a huge party setting. This was where Harvey and then Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White (Josh’s character) on Nov. 27, 1978.
Pro-gay supporters
But many of Harvey’s surviving friends and colleagues, some of whom are involved in the film and have cameos, were quoted as saying that he would have loved this big to-do, especially the impressive turnout of pro-gay marriage supporters.
Josh, seated beside his wife, actress Diane Lane, told us that when he emerged from his trailer dressed and made up as Dan White, the faces of some people on the set who knew Dan went pale. He knew the costume people has done a good job. Josh, acclaimed in last year’s “No Country for Old Men,” is definitely on a roll. You must see him as George W. Bush in Oliver Stone’s “W.”
James introduced us to his grandma, who came from Cleveland to attend the premiere and party. “James is my favorite grandson,” she beamed. James, Harry Osborn to fans of the “Spider-Man” movie series, laughed when we teased her that she probably says that about all her grandchildren.
In keeping with the film’s era, the guests danced to 1970s disco tunes. Many guests boogied on the dance floor—after all, how often does one get a chance to dance in City Hall, which is one of San Francisco’s architectural landmarks?
E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
