Finally I had the time to catch Milk, touted as a strong Oscar contender for the Best Movie, Lead Actor, Original Screenplay and Supporting Actor categories.

Some movies I believe are beyond good or bad. They are essential. Milk falls in that category.

Set in the 1970′s, it is the true story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. The movie follows his rise from a 40 year old just-another-homosexual to his entry into politics leading upto a public office in San Francisco.

The weird part is that most of the issues of the 70′s are still valid now, including Prop 8 which was called Prop 6 back then. 

On an analytical note, Sean Penn is going to be one of the toughest to beat for Lead Actor at the Oscars, although I hear that Mickey Rourke is equally strong in The Wrestler. Yet to see it.

You might also want to catch The Times of Harvey Milk, an Oscar winning documentary, from which Milk borrows quite a bit.

Meanwhile, in India we are fiercely debating if homosexuality is a perversion of the mind, injurious or just outright illegal.