Milk (2008)
- Starring:
- Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, (more)
- Director(s):
- Gus Van Sant
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Drama
Member Rating
My RatingSynopsis of Milk
Academy Award winner Sean Penn takes the title role in Gus Van Sant's biopic tracing the last eight years in the life of Harvey Milk, the ill-fated politician and gay activist whose life changed history, and whose courage still inspires people. When Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, he made history for being the first openly gay man in American history to be voted into public office. But the rights of homosexuals weren't Milk's primary concern, as tellingly evidenced by the wide array of political coalitions he formed over the course of his tragically brief career. He fought for everyone from union workers to senior citizens, a true hero of human rights who possessed nothing but compassion for his fellow man. The story begins in New York City, where a 40-year-old Milk ponders what steps he can take to make his life more meaningful.
Eventually, Milk makes the decision to relocate to the West Coast, where he and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco), found a small business in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. Empowered by his love for the Castro neighborhood and the success of his business, Castro Camera, Milk somewhat unexpectedly begins to emerge as an outspoken agent for change. With a growing support system that includes both Scott and a like-minded young activist named Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), the charismatic Milk decides to take a fateful leap into politics, eventually developing a reputation as a leader who isn't afraid to follow up his words with actions. In short order, he is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, though this seeming triumph is in fact the catalyst for a tragedy that starts to unfold as Milk does his best to forge a political partnership with Dan White (Josh Brolin), another newly elected supervisor. Over time it becomes apparent that Milk and White's political agendas are directly at odds, a revelation that puts their personal destinies on a catastrophic collision course. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of Milk
- Sean Penn - Harvey Milk
- Josh Brolin - Dan White
- James Franco - Scott Smith
- Victor Garber - Mayor Moscone
- Joseph Cross - Dick Pabich
- Lucas Grabeel - Danny Nicoletta
- Zvi Howard Rosenman - David Goodstein
- Jeff Koons - Art Agnos
- Robert Boyd Holbrook - Denton Smith
- Allan Baird - Himself
- Carol Ruth Silver - Thelma
- Steven Wiig - McConnelly
- Wendy King - Carol Ruth Silver
- Robert Chimento - Phil Burton
- Emile Hirsch - Cleve Jones
- Diego Luna - Jack Lira
- Alison Pill - Anne Kronenberg
- Denis O'Hare - John Briggs
- Stephen Spinella - Rick Stokes
- Brandon Boyce - Jim Rivaldo
- Kelvin Yu - Michael Wong
- Ted Jan Roberts - Dennis Peron
- Frank M. Robinson - Himself
- Tom Ammiano - Himself
- Hope Goblirsch - Mary Ann White
- Ashlee Temple - Dianne Feinstein
- Kelvin Han Yee - Gordon Lau
- Ginabel Machado - Lily
- Director(s):
- Gus Van Sant
- Writer(s):
- Dustin Lance Black
- Producer(s):
- Michael London, Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Violence, Sexual Situations, Profanity)
- Categories:
- Drama
- 2008 - Alliance of Women Film Journalists - Best Actor
- 2008 - American Film Institute - Best Picture
- 2008 - Austin Film Critics - Best Actor
- 2008 - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Director
- 2008 - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Actor
- 2008 - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Screenplay
- 2008 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Acting Ensemble
- 2008 - Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 2008 - Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association - Best Actor
- 2008 - Houston Film Critics - Best Actor
- 2008 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
- 2008 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actor
- 2008 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
- 2008 - New York Film Critics Online - Best Actor
- 2008 - New York Film Critics Online - Best Ensemble
- 2008 - Phoenix Film Critics Association - Best Actor
- 2008 - Phoenix Film Critics Association - Best Ensemble
- 2008 - San Francisco Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
- 2008 - San Francisco Film Critics Circle - Best Actor
- 2008 - San Francisco Film Critics Circle - Best Original Screenplay
- 2008 - San Francisco Film Critics Circle - Best Director
- 2008 - Southeastern Film Critics Association - Best Original Screenplay
- 2008 - Southeastern Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 2008 - Southeastern Film Critics Association - Best Actor
- 2008 - St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association - Best Actor
- 2008 - Vancouver Film Critics - Best Picture
- 2008 - Vancouver Film Critics - Best Actor
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