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Movies / Upcoming / Milk
Milk

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Milk (2008)

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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

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Reviews for Milk

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41 - 60 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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Add Penn’s uncannily three-dimensional performance, his best yet, and Milk is a masterclass on how a political biopic can become rich, humane, encompassing cinema.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
01/23/09
Nigel Andrews
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times

As a public figure Van Sant does him full justice; as a private individual, tormented by a needy Latino lover (Diego Luna) the film is much vaguer.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
01/23/09
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

Milk, film and man, demands our attention, yet never stoops to beg for it.

Full Review Source: thelondonpaper | comment Comment
01/23/09
Stuart McGurk
Stuart McGurk
thelondonpaper

As biopics go, this portrait of gay activist Harvey Milk isn’t quite up there with, say, Raging Bull. Still, it is smart, sexy and very funny.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
01/23/09
Charlotte O'Sullivan
Charlotte O'Sullivan
This is London

This is a warm, beautifully detailed, if slightly long-winded biopic from Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant.

Full Review Source: News of the World | comment Comment
01/23/09
Robbie Collin
Robbie Collin
News of the World

It's a powerful story, but while Van Sant's reversion to the easy-to-love mainstream appeal of Good Will Hunting makes sense given his subject's inclusive "I want to recruit you" message, it's not especially invigorating.

Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment Comment
01/23/09
Alistair Harkness
Alistair Harkness
Scotsman

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/23/09
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One measure of Penn's achievement is that the character we get to know surpasses the pink issue. Penn's Milk is a warrior against bigotry.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
01/22/09
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext

Emotionally engaging, well written and superbly directed biopic, featuring a strong supporting cast and a terrific central performance by Sean Penn.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
01/22/09
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Might Milk have accomplished other miracles had he lived? Got Milk? Wish we still did. At least we have this marvelous film, a slightly ragged valentine beautifully rendered by Gus Van Sant.

Full Review Source: Indie Movies Online | comment Comment
01/21/09
Kimberly Gadette
Kimberly Gadette
Indie Movies Online

This is a highly affecting film, and Sean Penn gives the most moving performance of the year of a very ordinary man whom history moved to greatness.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment 1 Comment
01/18/09
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

A touching love letter long on sincerity and short on objectivity, but Sean Penn's amazing embodiment of gay activist Harvey Milk is a truly transformative performance.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
01/13/09
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Actually retards attempts to understand what it is that transforms some men into symbols and others into sheep.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
01/08/09
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

He antagonized people, he galvanized people, and he mesmerized me even from beyond the grave thanks to Penn's and Van Sant's beautiful and inspiring work here.

Full Review Source: Cinerina | comment Comment
01/05/09
Karina Montgomery
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina

Milk always said "I want to recruit you," and Van Sant and Black take Milk's tumultuous life and fashion it into a recruiting poster.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
01/05/09
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Milk presents details about the title character and his relevance... but the presentation itself appears more intent on being a recruitment film than an actual biopic.

Full Review Source: MovieCrypt.com | comment Comment
01/01/09
Kevin A. Ranson
Kevin A. Ranson
MovieCrypt.com

There is no concession to melodrama, nor a moment wasted. Van Sant presents his story with an unflinching eye on the factual timeline of Milk's days in San Francisco, right down to the moment of jarring violence that ended his life.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
12/31/08
Rossiter Drake
Rossiter Drake
San Francisco Examiner

It's filled with so much vitality...that one comes away admiring the filmmaking while feeling deeply touched, even inspired, by the fiery life at the film's center.

Full Review Source: Cinema Writer | comment Comment
12/29/08
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer

Packs quite a wallop--in both its emotional and inspirational power.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
12/27/08
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

Sean Penn must create something completely foreign to his understanding and sell it as if he felt Harvey Milk's struggle with every fiber of his being - and he does

Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | comment Comment
12/24/08
Jordan Hiller
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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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...

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