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Milk

R Released Nov 26, 2008 2h 8m Biography Drama LGBTQ+ List
93% Tomatometer 246 Reviews 89% Audience Score 100,000+ Ratings
In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977 he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood. Read More Read Less
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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi Outlook Penn is so well-tuned that not for a minute does his Milk lapse into a caricature. Rated: 3/4 Jan 31, 2019 Full Review Nathan Lee Film Comment Magazine Milk is fortuitously, if inevitably, a movie of its moment. Mar 20, 2018 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Penn may be the main attraction, but this is very much an ensemble piece. Emile Hirsch, as cheeky street kid turned activist Cleve Jones, Diego Luna as Milk's annoyingly needy, unstable second lover and James Franco's Scott, add to the communal spirit. Feb 6, 2018 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk as if overcome by another personality, allowing us to forget there’s an amazing actor at work and simply accept the person as presented. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 5, 2024 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand ... focuses less on Milk’s triumphs than on his activism: how he shaped a movement and showed gay men and lesbian women all over the country that they could stand up for their rights as a political force. Apr 8, 2023 Full Review Michael Cuby them. Van Sant places Milk’s queerness front and center, spotlighting the myriad ways his unapologetic homosexuality informed both his political ambitions and the widespread support he worked to earn from his community. Sep 27, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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PridePosterStudios “You gotta give ‘em hope!” Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Jerod S Penn is believable as gay politician Harvey Milk, but the relationships featured in the film aren't nearly as gritty as they were in real life. And the double homicide was treated like an afterthought. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Amy L EXCELLENT. So relevant still today. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/16/23 Full Review d h I've been interested in Harvey Milk's story since I was young. I finally watched this movie at 20 and was not disappointed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review dave s With Milk, director Gus Van Sant proves once again that he is able to effectively transfer his small-budget, independent film (Elephant, Drugstore Cowboy) sensibilities to a larger budget, Hollywood production. Covering the last decade of Harvey Milk's life, it is the story of a man who uses his considerable influence to protect the civil rights of, primarily, the gay community in San Francisco. Sean Penn is brilliant in the lead role, but what real stands out is Van Sant's ability to capture the atmosphere of the times. Much of the film has the vibe of a documentary thanks to the copious amounts of archival footage that documents the tumultuous time period. Austere throughout, Van Sant dispenses with the glitz and glamor of most Hollywood films to capture the raw emotions of an important period in American history. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Carlos I A haunting and powerful biopic about one of the most important political figures of the past 50 years. Penn comes off a bit like a caricature at first, until you discover how fully realized a person it is he's playing. He's also surrounded by an incredible ensemble, giving career best performances. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Milk

Milk: Official Clip - A Cold Welcome to the Castro Milk: Official Clip - A Cold Welcome to the Castro 1:05 Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Meets Cleve Jones Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Meets Cleve Jones 1:50 Milk: Official Clip - Victory Map Milk: Official Clip - Victory Map 1:52 Milk: Official Clip - My Fellow Degenerates Milk: Official Clip - My Fellow Degenerates 1:24 Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Tries to Work With Dan Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Tries to Work With Dan 1:19 Milk: Official Clip - We Must Fight! Milk: Official Clip - We Must Fight! 1:54 Milk: Official Clip - Gay Pride Rally Speech Milk: Official Clip - Gay Pride Rally Speech 2:51 Milk: Official Clip - Strategy Session Milk: Official Clip - Strategy Session 1:12 Milk: Official Clip - Cleve Joins the Revolution Milk: Official Clip - Cleve Joins the Revolution 2:58 Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Debates Senator Briggs Milk: Official Clip - Harvey Debates Senator Briggs 1:03 View more videos

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in his life. Settling in the Castro District, he opens a camera shop and helps transform the area into a mecca for gays and lesbians. In 1977 he becomes the nation's first openly gay man elected to a notable public office when he wins a seat on the Board of Supervisors. The following year, Dan White (Josh Brolin) kills Milk in cold blood.
Director
Gus Van Sant
Producer
Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen
Screenwriter
Dustin Lance Black
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Groundswell Productions, Jinks/Cohen Company
Rating
R (Language|Brief Violence|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.8M
Runtime
2h 8m
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