RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Milk
Milk

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Milk (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
93 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:215

Fresh:201

Rotten:14

Average Rating:8/10

Consensus: Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office.

Australian Rating: MA15+ [See Full Rating] Mature themes, coarse language and sexual references

Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins

Genre: Dramas

Australian Theatrical Release:
Jan 29, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $31,716,847

Synopsis: In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay... In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Gus Van Sant in Milk, filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, and produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk’s life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk’s actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin). But as White and Milk’s political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge. Milk’s platform was and is one of hope – a hero’s legacy that resonates in the here and now. --© Focus Features [More]

Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna

Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco

Director: Gus Van Sant

Director: Gus Van Sant
Screenwriter: Dustin Lance Black
Producer: Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen
Composer: Danny Elfman
Studio: Focus Features

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Rally
    >
    Anne Kronenberg
    >
    Is He Cute?
    >
  • Birthday
    >
    Cake
    >
    My New Theatre
    >
    The Most Wonderful Dinner
    >
1 - 4 of 8

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Milk

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
181 - 200 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The film is a passionate history lesson, a broadside in favor of gay rights and the engaging story of one flawed but courageous man.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
11/25/08
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

[Penn's] strong performance provides crucial ballast to the winding narrative of Milk's life, which hits a lot of dead ends and detours before his rise to political and cultural prominence.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
11/25/08
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club

[An] incisive and stirring dramatization of Harvey Milk's heroic life and violent death.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
11/25/08
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

Though set in the '70s, this biopic couldn't be more relevant -- or more powerful.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
11/25/08
Matt Stevens
Matt Stevens
E! Online

Van Sant works from a script by Dustin Lance Black to tell Milk's story clearly and forcefully.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
11/25/08
Rafer Guzman
Rafer Guzman
Newsday

It's a testament to Van Sant's way with actors that the performances are better than the lines and that the film tugs undeniably at the heart as the awful finale falls.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
11/25/08
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian

After a series of obtuse, difficult movies, it's great to see Van Sant making something that's accessible -- entertaining, emotional, and vibrant -- without forsaking depth and intelligence.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
11/25/08
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

With the combination of Van Sant's direction and Penn's masterful performance, it's moving, and important, as well.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
11/25/08
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic

With Milk, a great San Francisco story becomes a great American story.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
11/25/08
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle

Sean Penn amazes me.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 13 Comments
11/25/08
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film hits all the important marks but never feels like a typical biopic, a superficial, greatest-hits collection.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
11/25/08
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press

Easily ranks as one of the best biographical movies in years...topped by a grand performance by Sean Penn.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
11/25/08
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

A paint-by numbers biopic of the tireless activist that wastes the efforts of some fine actors.

Full Review Source: House Next Door | comment 17 Comments
11/25/08
Dan Callahan
Dan Callahan
House Next Door

Equal parts sweetness, melancholy and rage, Milk is a wonderfully immersive, warts-and-all journey into the gay community at a vital moment in civil rights history.

Full Review Source: AfterElton.com | comment Comment
11/25/08
Brian Juergens
Brian Juergens
AfterElton.com

Ferociously impassioned, Sean Penn brings powerful conviction, embodying Milk with the kind of touching vulnerability and dignity that deserves Oscar recognition.

Full Review Source: SSG Syndicate | comment Comment
11/25/08
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
SSG Syndicate

For an Oscar-baiting movie, Milk doesn't beg for attention, but it certainly earns it.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
11/24/08
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

While Milk would be an excellent film any year, coming as it does in November 2008, it is almost unbearably poignant.

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
11/24/08
Katey Rich
Katey Rich
CinemaBlend.com

A heartbreaking biopic about the first openly gay man to win an important political position.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
11/24/08
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

That rare, heartfelt biopic disinterested in egregious chronological compression or psychological reductiveness.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
11/24/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

A slice of history well worth revisiting.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
11/24/08
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly
 
 
181 - 200 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
all

Latest News for Milk

March 09, 2009: RT on DVD: Rachel Getting Married, Milk Lead Super Fresh New Releases
Home video enthusiasts, prepare yourself for what may be the best week ever! This week you'll have to choose between Academy Award flicks Rachel Getting Married (Best Actress... More...

February 24, 2009: Backstage at the Oscars: My First Time
In the movie world there is no event greater, no red carpet glitzier, no awards show more meaningful, than that of the Academy Awards. While millions watch the biggest night... More...

February 01, 2009: Slumdog's Danny Boyle Wins DGA Award
Danny Boyle takes home another win for Best Director from the Director's Guild of America -- could Oscar gold be just around the corner? See who else was nominated this year in... More...

January 27, 2009: Milk Among GLAAD Nominees Opens in new window
"Milk" has been a favorite on the awards circuit this year, and its hot streak has been extended courtesy of the GLAAD Media Awards, where it will compete in the Outstanding... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

56% 56% 9 09/12
66% 66% Away We Go 10/12
16% 16% Planet 51 03/12
70% 70% Religulous 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Wild Things!

Wild Things!

Win tickets to the wild rumpus of 2009

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tobey Maguire Talks Brothers, Spider-Man 4 Source: Boston Globe
20
  • Nimród Antal Talks Predators Source: ComingSoon.net
12
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
81
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
95
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
93
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
88
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
79
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
47
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
27
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
24
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
19
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
5
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Milk at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Milk at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.