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Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco ... see more see more... , Alison Pill , Victor Garber , Denis O'Hare , Joseph Cross , Stephen Spinella , Lucas Grabeel , Brandon Boyce , Zvi Howard Rosenman , Kelvin Yu , Jeff Koons , Ted Jan Roberts (II) , Robert Boyd Holbrook , Frank M. Robinson , Allan Baird , Tom Ammiano , Carol Ruth Silver , Hope Goblirsch , Steven Wiig , Ashlee Temple , Wendy King , Kelvin Han Yee , Robert Chimento , Ginabel Machado

Academy Award winner Sean Penn takes the title role in Gus Van Sant's biopic tracing the last eight years in the life of Harvey Milk, the ill-fated politician and gay activist whose life changed histo... read more read more...ry, and whose courage still inspires people. When Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, he made history for being the first openly gay man in American history to be voted into public office. But the rights of homosexuals weren't Milk's primary concern, as tellingly evidenced by the wide array of political coalitions he formed over the course of his tragically brief career. He fought for everyone from union workers to senior citizens, a true hero of human rights who possessed nothing but compassion for his fellow man. The story begins in New York City, where a 40-year-old Milk ponders what steps he can take to make his life more meaningful. Eventually, Milk makes the decision to relocate to the West Coast, where he and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco), found a small business in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. Empowered by his love for the Castro neighborhood and the success of his business, Castro Camera, Milk somewhat unexpectedly begins to emerge as an outspoken agent for change. With a growing support system that includes both Scott and a like-minded young activist named Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), the charismatic Milk decides to take a fateful leap into politics, eventually developing a reputation as a leader who isn't afraid to follow up his words with actions. In short order, he is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, though this seeming triumph is in fact the catalyst for a tragedy that starts to unfold as Milk does his best to forge a political partnership with Dan White (Josh Brolin), another newly elected supervisor. Over time it becomes apparent that Milk and White's political agendas are directly at odds, a revelation that puts their personal destinies on a catastrophic collision course. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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88% liked it

164,926 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

225 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Release Date: November 26, 2008

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DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (13,837)

  • fb701560354
    May 26, 2012
    fb701560354
    Milk rests on Sean Penn's powerhouse performance as Harvey Milk. Without his mesmerizing performance, the film would not be what it is... Chronicling the events, struggles and triumphs of the first openly gay man elected to public office, Milk is a triumphant account of the mov... read moreing and heartfelt story, told with stark focus by Gus van Sant. Josh Brolin is also fantastic here as Milk's opposer in office, as is James Franco as Harvey's lover.
  • fb1664868775
    March 31, 2012
    fb1664868775
    Penn and Brolin's performances are absolutely brilliant. Van Sant does an amazing job telling a story that needed to be told. RIP Harvey.
  • SirPant
    October 14, 2011
    SirPant
    I think the most important question to ask regarding this film, and all biopics is 'Did this film respect the life and memory of the person in question'. I would argue that it did. So with that in mind and thanks to the great direction and solid performances, Milk deserves its pr... read moreaise. I wasn't much of a Gus Van Sant fan before watching this, I shied away from his films as the few I've seen I didn't like but I will now give him a chance and watch some more of his. Penn is an amazing actor, this isn't his greatest performance though and I would have liked to have seen Rourke win the Oscar for best actor but I would suggest his was only better by a small margin. Historically important film making and highly recommended.
  • MrMarakai
    October 11, 2011
    MrMarakai
    When he's not making 'arthouse' cinema or experimenting with his medium, director Gus Vant Sant is very capable of delivering well structured dramatic pieces. "Drugstore Cowboy" and "Good Will Hunting" are notable ones. This is another.
    In America in the 1970's, Harvey Milk (Sea... read moren Penn) was an openly gay man who became a pioneer for gay rights and equality. When he was finally elected an official, he changed both laws and perceptions throughout San Francisco and the world.
    The rise and fall of Harvey Milk is an affecting and uplifting story skillfully told by Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. Seemlessly intercut with old news footage, the historical significance of Milk's story is all the more believable and a marvellous device that adds to the dramatic weight. The life and impact that Milk had on society was a powerful one and Sean Penn's intimate portrayal of him is very fitting. Penn has always been a superb actor with several blistering performances throughout his career. My personal favourites being "Dead Man Walking", "Carlito's Way", and his Oscar winning turn in "Mystic River". This is another superb delivery garnering him his second best actor Oscar. His effeminate mannerisms and gentle yet forceful nature perfectly capture Harvey Milk. I must admit, I was a bit disappointed that Mickey Rourke didn't win the best actor award in 2009 for "The Wrestler" but there's no denying that Penn was a worthy winner. This is a film that is still relevant today. In 1978, Milk was campaigning against 'Proposition 6' which was a conservative initiative to prevent any gays or lesbians from teaching in California's public schools, so as not to 'corrupt' the minds of the young. When this film was released in 2008, 'Proposition 8' was passed which prevented the right of gay couples to marry. Only marriage between a man and a woman is recognised in California. The events of this film may have happened 30 years ago but the inequality is still the same.
    If Milk were alive today, he'd still be campaigning and this is a poignant portrait of the man and his understanding of social injustice. A wonderful film anchored by a wonderful central performance.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 18, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    As mch as my dislike for Sean penn, this film and his performance were great. A classic and truthful movie.
  • fb100002359227440
    June 25, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    With the screenplay of Dustin Lance Black and the Gus Van Sant's direction, Milk, show be a fascinating film, that brings a great message of persistence, fight, hope and confidence by the story of Harvey Milk, the first gay elected for a public office. Sean Penn's performance of ... read moreMilk is terrific, just like the acting of Josh Brolin as Dan White, that is realist and wonderful and that count with a talent cast. Milk is one of the best film of 2008. Fresh.
  • fernandorafael
    April 10, 2011
    fernandorafael
    For a film of this type, in the times of Prop 8, it lacked impact. Maybe I had my hopes up too high, but I was kinda disappointed in Milk. It's a decent film, but I think other '08 movies like "The Dark Knight" or "WALL·E" are more deserving of the nomination for Best Picture, si... read morence this one lacks that "punch" for a biopic to work the way it should. I felt the film move at a slow, flat pace, almost never picking up, with each scene feeling the same as the last one. But what makes it shine is the cast.

    Sean Penn became Harvey Milk, and was charming and funny as the late politician. Josh Brolin finally got some Oscar recognition for his work as Dan White; his haunting performance left me wanting more. Other highlights include James Franco (in what's been a great acting year, after Pineapple Express), Emile Hirsch (definitely a surprise) and Alison Pill. Shame on Diego Luna, he was terrible.

    I haven't seen enough Gus Van Sant films to have a solid opinion, but I think a different director could've taken this Dustin Lance Black script to another level. Great score, by the way.
  • fb100001050230219
    March 19, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    Led by a well-deserved Oscar winning performance from Sean Penn, Milk is a fascinating look at the life of Harvey Milk thanks to outstanding performances from the whole cast, great direction from Gus Van Sant and a terrific script from Dustin Lance Black. One of the best 2008 had... read more to offer.
  • danperry17
    December 8, 2010
    danperry17
    Milk is an oustanding film. From the opening onward, where historical footage is interspersed with the acted scenes, you can just tell this one will be a hit. Sean Penn is good, James Franco is great, and the rest of the cast complements ably. In Penn and Brolin as foils I saw sh... read moreades of Dustin Hoffman and Tommy Lee Jones, 40 years ago... but I digress. This film blends documentarian realism with a compassionate biopic, and every shot is beautiful, engrossing, and sometimes jaw-dropping. One of the best of the decade, no question.
  • Saxia
    September 30, 2010
    Saxia
    I'm giving it such a low rating because usually I can watch a movie more than once and I don't intend to watch this one again. Yes, Penn is one of my favorite actors, and he plays his part well. But the focus was on telling the story, and by doing that it failed to captivate me.

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Critic Reviews

Cole Haddon
May 6, 2011
Cole Haddon, Film.com

At the moment, it's my favorite movie of the year. Full Review

J. R. Jones
May 9, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Sean Penn gives a meticulously detailed performance as the cagey and charismatic pol, but credit should also go to Dustin Lance Black, whose script squarely locates Milk at the center of his community... Full Review

Roger Moore
December 11, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Perhaps it is simply an accident of timing that puts Milk in theaters at this moment. But fate or simple fortunate timing, Milk arrives as one of the best films of 2008. Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
December 1, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Penn's performance is a marvelous act of empathy in a movie that, for all its surprisingly conventional style, measures up to its stirring subject. Full Review

Peter Rainer
November 28, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Milk is an agitprop fantasy about the selflessness of sainthood. If anybody but Penn was playing the saint, we'd probably feel as if we were being sold a bill of goods. Instead, he just about pulls it... Full Review

Kenneth Turan
November 26, 2008
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

This film wants us to understand both how far we've come as a society and that it is still not far enough. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
November 26, 2008
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Once in a while, a movie arrives at such a perfect moment, its message and meaning so finely tuned to the current zeitgeist, that it seems less a cinematic event than a cosmic convergence, willed into... Full Review

J. Hoberman
November 26, 2008
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Milk is so immediate that it's impossible to separate the movie's moment from this one. Full Review

Claudia Puig
November 26, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Milk has one of the finest ensemble casts this year and a magnificent, career-topping performance by Sean Penn, who disappears into the title role. Full Review

Peter Howell
November 26, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The film understandably and movingly centres itself on Penn's portrayal of a hedonist-turned-activist who discovered that in order to change his world, he had to find his voice. Full Review

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    • Harvey Milk: Forty years old and I haven't done a thing that I'm proud of.
    • Dan White: Society can't exist without the family.
    • Harvey Milk: We're not against that.
    • Dan White: Can two men reproduce?
    • Harvey Milk: No, but God knows we keep trying.
    • Cleve Jones: Elections of any kind are a fucking bourgeois affectation.
    • Harvey Milk: All men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.
    • Harvey Milk: Without hope, life's not worth living.
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