57 out of 58 people found the following review helpful:

*** May contain spoilers ***

Great honesty makes change happen?

ThePagan from , 26th January, 2009

SPOILER*****************SPOILER

A continuation of Gus Van Sant's series of films with subjects around fatal shootings. This one is covering a period of time when gay men organised politically to gain greater acknowledgement from those living around them and how this lead to the first openly gay official becoming elected in the United States of America.

This film shows with clarity, the pain and suffering caused by standing for office and doesn't make the main protaganist out to be any kind of saint... very refreshing.

The actors, of all gender and sexuality roles portray their humanity well and don't shy from complexity.

The camera work is fine and if you get the chance this film works very well on the big screen.

Gus Van Sant is more than able to handle the structure of the narrative, which does maintain Penn/Milk's engaging central role throughout the film.

I can't critise Sean Penn in this movie, he brings life back to Harvey Milk, and his performance allows the audience to fully engage with Harvey even though we're preparing for the inevitably tragic end.

This film does take it's time to apreciate Harvey Milk and all those around him, being a tribute with out emotional manipulation or schmaltz. I would have liked to know Harvey Milk. Living in hamlet in the UK, I never heard his message of hope when I was young, I do remember his death being reported as a young man. This film brought me his message of hope, anger and a willingness to accept change, even force it when needed.

In these days the politics of hope are refreshingly brought to the fore in this film. Let's hope that this work will help to dispel any undeserved cynicism about some activists motivation.

OverallI found this film a real joy, despite the painful journey, plenty of tears and my need to have a resolution I new impossible as Milk dies too young.

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39 out of 43 people found the following review helpful:

WOW - This is a DREAFULLY BAD film. REALLY LOUSY !

A Customer from uk, 11th June, 2009

I was expecting this to be quite good, Sean Penn, 21 gramms etc. But is actually terrible. Sean Penn himself is laughable as Milk and the support cast are just unknown actors. We wondered if any of them were actually gay in real life since they overacted it so badly. Its like watching Danny Larou impersonating MArgaret Thatcher. We gave it an hour then had to turn it off because it was just SO irritating. One to miss for certain.

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20 out of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent

GreenwichPaul from , 4th February, 2009

Gus Van Sant's biopic of gay politician/activist Harvey Milk is a fascinating, engrossing film that celebrates the power of the individual in the fight for human rights. This is one of those films that whilst not 'feel-good' is ultimately uplifting as it follows Milk from his 40th birthday in 1970 New York to his untimely death in 1978. Sean Penn is truly outstanding in the title role, to such a point that it is easy to overlook the excellent performances by the rest of the cast, especially James Franco and Josh Brolin, who both turn in fantastic performances. Van Sant's direction may be his most conventional in a few years but that also allows him to show off his skill with storytelling and character development. He also avoids the usual hollywood trap of making this a film about Saint Milk by showing his weaknesses and flaws as well as his charisma and power. Van Sant's direction remains restrained throughout, taking time to develop the historical background and context as well as the main characters. Ultimately, a first rate movie

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12 out of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Dont bother with this

A Customer from Derry. Northern Ireland, 29th June, 2009

I had to turn it off half way through. That, in my book is a sin..to turn off films..but this was excruciating to watch. Please, you wont get back the time so save it for a wellworth film. This is not it

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Excellent Performance from Penn!

A Customer from Beddington, 11th March, 2010

I've given the movie 2 stars for Penn's performance as Harvey. I did not personally like the film: I didn't relate to it, or rather I didn't relate to the characters or their story. I have never been a homophobe: I have always believed that everyone has the right to experience love regardless of whether it's the same sex or different sex unions. Homosexuality is not a choice for me, but I believe that people have the right to express their sexual orientations freely.So it is quite sad to see that because a person chooses a different choice to the norm that these choices are condemned.What I realised from this movie is that not a huge amount has changed: there is still plenty of prejudice around towards gay people, and it is a shame that More Harvey Milk's haven't had the courage to stand up and be counted. For every homosexual that stays in the closet it means that it will take so much longer for homosexuality to be fully accepted.Fear and ignorance are an epidemic much greater affecting the human race, then what sexual orientation a person happens to be, that is what needs to be addressed before any significant change can be made. Milk knew that and that is what he set out to do...

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this Milk's gone off

A Customer from London, 5th March, 2010

maybe it's all the press hype and award ceremonies but I was looking forward to this film massively but I was properly disappointed... I thought Sean Penn was pretty woeful as the eponymous hero and captured a caricature of a gay man...

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You know it's good.......

FCAhound from , 28th February, 2010

Hype can do strange things to the enjoyment of a film, setting the expectation bar a tad higher than might otherwise be fair. This film makes a good job of clearing it, though. Given the genuine drama of the true events it is based upon, a consummately well balanced performance of the central character and restrained direction, what could have been a gross or hysterical cause-driven film is not. Instead it stands as both an excellent piece of entertainment and a reminder to us all of how recently mankind has behaved badly.

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Milk

A Customer from Barrow-in-Furness, 28th February, 2010

A good film well put together

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