Milk Reviews

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 moving 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.

Penn and Brolin's performances are absolutely brilliant. Van Sant does an amazing job telling a story that needed to be told. RIP Harvey.

Milk does not even come close to the films like Paranoid Park or Gerry in Gus Van Sant's filmography, but it does stand as a solid piece of film making. The most enjoyable thing in this film is the way that Van sant injects his own trademark touches into the story. There are occasional touches of visual brilliance here and there, but it never really goals with it's important subject matter or it's camerawork. You could say that this is most definetly the ultimate gay-rights film and at times it even spoonfeds it's preachy message too hard for the audience. For me this is Van sant - lite and return for his more audience friendly films.

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 praise. 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.

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 (Sean 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.

As mch as my dislike for Sean penn, this film and his performance were great. A classic and truthful movie.

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 Milk 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.

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, since 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.

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 to offer.

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 shades 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.

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.

Poetic and beautiful, this is not only worth watching, but worth integrating into your own life.

Not-to-be-missed depiction of one of the most important political figures for gay civil rights. Strong docu-drama with a magnificent central performance from Penn.

Milk is the story of the first openly gay man elected in public office. For me, I view this film not as a gay film, but as a civil rights film. Sure Harvey Milk fought for gay rights, but in doing so he gave hope to the minorities (Disabled people, colored people, elderly and mentally ill people) The thing that stuck with me the most about this film is Milk had the courage to do whats right, courage that ultimately cost him his life. This film is a story about courage and as a person with a disability, it definitely gave me hope to fight on injustices. Sean Penn and the rest of the cast were great and gave terrific performances. A stunning film that should be viewed more as a civil rights film than a "gay" film.

Bravo!!! a very important, timely, inspiring, and moving film. this film should speak to anyone that has ever felt marginalized within the strictures of society. the movie stands as a triumph for human rights. an admirable achievement for the accomplished actor, sean penn, and director, gus van sant. diego luna and emile hirsch provide strong support. live footage was brilliantly incorporated.

There are a few things I liked about this, It's good that it didn't portray the protagonist as a flawless superhero but like Van Sant's recent works the film is exaggeratedly simplified & you just can feel a shadow of conflicts & overall the whole thing is boring , And I must say this that even if you can get over Sean Penn recieving the oscar & not Mickey Rourke, giving the best screenplay oscar to Dustin Lance Black for this & not to Martin McDonagh for In Bruges is a joke

A near perfect film! I don't like how the community doesn't like it because it focusses on 'gay' people, screw them. Gay people have their rights, and this movie shows exactly what should be done now! Great Film! Sean Penn delivers a breathtaking performance!

A monumental hymn to human rights. Rarely is a movie so poignantly realeased within months of the hateful passing of proposition 8 in California banning equal marriage. We have come far but we still have a long way to go.

Simply close to perfection. Beautifuly documented, acted and written plus one of the highlights of the 00's. Sean Penn puts in one of the best performances of his career along with Josh Brolin who was also deeply underated in this film. Definatly one to check out.

Highly recomended

You can tell that this was obviously a very personal film for Gus Van Sant, it is nothing short of amazing. I love that even through death Harvey Milk can still promote social acceptance. The filming style perfectly captures a 70s atmosphere and mindset. The performances are all essentially flawless, not just Sean Penn's award winning role. It works quite well as a narrative rather than just a biopic, centering on Harvey Milk's campaign rather than his entire lifespan.