A daring role for Sean Penn in Milk elevates this film, with a heartfelt portrayal of the gay movement in the late '70s to gain gay rights in California. The film doesn't shy away from images that might make the viewer feel uncomfortable, showcasing just how much America's views on gay rights have changed from the bigotry of Harvey Milk's time. It's a brave showing; there is still a lack of acceptance of these scenarios, and it's refreshing to see a film that's feels no shame in the subject matter. It's heartwarming to see Milk as a man dedicated to the rights that all gay people deserve, but it's not without the sadness and despair that pushed Milk to fight so hard.
It's a touching film with great pacing, and it becomes hard to watch with the unacceptable bigotry that went on in the 1970s; this is, though, not to mention the fact that Josh Brolin gives an excellent performance as Dan White, which is easy to overlook because of the fact that he is just so easy to hate in the film. Milk may be engineered to stand as a dramatic film, but the details within are essential knowledge in a time where acceptance of other classes, races, and gender roles is still not high enough.
Milk on Rotten Tomatoes
3 COMMENTS:
Excellent film, and Penn nailed the Harvey Milk role.
Again, due to my age, I clearly recall when Milk and Moscone were assassinated - this was followed by riots in San Francisco, also a week or two earlier, the Jonestown tragedy occurred (Jim Jones and his followers had major ties to San Francisco)- it was a horrible time for the City by the Bay.
There were no riots after Harvey and Mayor Moscone were assassinated.However, the White Night Riots took place on May 21,1979 when their killer was sentence to only a few years for their murders.Ironically, there has been great improvements within the gay rights movement since... but the "Milk" movie introduced Harvey and that ERA to millions of people, young and old, gay and straight, here in America and around the world.I was a friend of both Harvey and Mayor Moscone... and considered myself a 1 man army in the gay rights struggle.I am still very active. I would like to recommend that your fans visit a great website
www.thecastro.net/ unlike the movie, it is not a recreation but
a series of stories and images of that era and is dedicated to the evolution of the Castro into America's gay Mecca. Take a peek at my pages there,too.
Jerry, yes, thanks I had my time line slightly askew, the riots occurred after Dan White's sentence was handed down .
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