Cinema Society

MILK

Average
Rating

4.4

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

MILK

Gay Rights Activist. Friend. Lover. Unifier. Politician. Fighter. Icon. Inspiration. Hero. His life changed history, and his courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major 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. Academy Award winner Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant in the new movie filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black and produced by Academy Award winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.

A Focus Features Release, MILK opens commercially in San Diego on November 26th.

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence

Running Time: 128 Minutes

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16-Dec-08: Jerry McLaughlin - Rating: 4

Very well done and acted movie. Sean Penn should be up for an Oscar.

While I am for protection of individual rights of all kinds, I still have a gut reaction of "just do it in private". I had too many years of Catholic schools to not flinch a little when you see man kissing man.

This year Obama developed new strategies to win the election. Likewise, it was very interesting that Milk realized he had to unite the Gays and Lesbians to get elected.

The movie does a nice job of presenting a somewhat imperfect man as a hero. You don't have to be perfect to impact history and Milk certainly impacted history.

20-Nov-08: M.Roe - Rating: 4

Having not been around when this movement was taking place (I was 7 yrs old when Harvey was killed) I have no personal/relatable insights towards the story, however it was a good film. Though after the last few films we've seen and they all feeling more independent and "earthy" this film definitely was seemed more mainstream and "Hollywood". I am sure most people won't be seeing those same movies in a row so they will most likely have a fresh unbiased take on the film. I am sure Sean Penn will get his Oscar nod but with it still being early in the Oscar contender season we will just have to wait and see who else will get nominated from this film. I thought the film was very insightful and quite timely. I am not sure how after seeing this film and the history depicted (the documentary footage was a great component) that one could not see how misguided and ignorant people were (and still are) to the cause.

19-Nov-08: Wally - Rating: 5

Great acting by Sean Penn and Brolin. A very timely movie indicating we have come a ways since 1978. Talked to my 30 year old aerobics teacher at SD College. She had never heard of Milk but is going to see it and I think the word will spread.

19-Nov-08: JimY - Rating: 4

Some really good acting, James Franco has one of his best roles and although Penn is quite good as well (he almost seemed to slip into Sam I Am a couple of times).

Talk about history repeating itself, wonder if things might've been different for Prop 8 had this film come out a few months ago. Who remembered that it was Anita Bryant that really incited the liberation movement to take action. The film seemed to be trying to do to much at times. Well done interspersing of actual footage and film, which made for a very believable flashback to the 70's.

18-Nov-08: jh - Rating: 5

Well, we know who's got Best Actor. Now, who've you got for Supporting Actor: James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, or Diego Luna?