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Milk

  • 2008
  • R
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
176K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,548
1,355
Milk (2008)
This is the theatrical trailer for Gus Van Sant's Milk.
Play trailer2:26
14 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official.The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official.The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official.

  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Dustin Lance Black
  • Stars
    • Sean Penn
    • Josh Brolin
    • Emile Hirsch
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    176K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,548
    1,355
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Dustin Lance Black
    • Stars
      • Sean Penn
      • Josh Brolin
      • Emile Hirsch
    • 334User reviews
    • 250Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 66 wins & 145 nominations total

    Videos14

    Milk: Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Milk: Theatrical Trailer
    A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen
    Clip 4:31
    Watch A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen
    Milk: Rally Clip
    Clip 0:31
    Watch Milk: Rally Clip
    Milk: This Is The Most Wonderful Dinner I Have Ever Had
    Clip 0:44
    Watch Milk: This Is The Most Wonderful Dinner I Have Ever Had
    Milk: Harvey Introduces Anne Kronenberg
    Clip 1:07
    Watch Milk: Harvey Introduces Anne Kronenberg
    Milk: What Do You Think Of My New Theater?
    Clip 0:30
    Watch Milk: What Do You Think Of My New Theater?
    Milk: Harvey's 48th Birthday
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Milk: Harvey's 48th Birthday
    Milk: Featurette
    Clip 2:24
    Watch Milk: Featurette
    Milk: Is It Me, Or Is He Cute?
    Clip 0:56
    Watch Milk: Is It Me, Or Is He Cute?
    Milk: Would You Go Get Us Some Cake?
    Clip 0:25
    Watch Milk: Would You Go Get Us Some Cake?
    Milk
    Featurette 0:30
    Watch Milk
    Milk
    Interview 0:49
    Watch Milk

    Photos261

    Boyd Holbrook in Milk (2008)
    Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
    Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
    Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
    Gus Van Sant in Milk (2008)
    Emile Hirsch and Alison Pill in Milk (2008)
    Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch in Milk (2008)
    James Franco in Milk (2008)
    Emile Hirsch in Milk (2008)
    Anne Kronenberg and Alison Pill in Milk (2008)
    Josh Brolin in Milk (2008)
    Sean Penn and Diego Luna in Milk (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sean Penn
    Sean Penn
    • Harvey Milk
    Josh Brolin
    Josh Brolin
    • Dan White
    Emile Hirsch
    Emile Hirsch
    • Cleve Jones
    Diego Luna
    Diego Luna
    • Jack Lira
    James Franco
    James Franco
    • Scott Smith
    Alison Pill
    Alison Pill
    • Anne Kronenberg
    Victor Garber
    Victor Garber
    • Mayor Moscone
    Denis O'Hare
    Denis O'Hare
    • John Briggs
    Joseph Cross
    Joseph Cross
    • Dick Pabich
    Stephen Spinella
    Stephen Spinella
    • Rick Stokes
    Lucas Grabeel
    Lucas Grabeel
    • Danny Nicoletta
    Brandon Boyce
    Brandon Boyce
    • Jim Rivaldo
    Howard Rosenman
    Howard Rosenman
    • David Goodstein
    • (as Zvi Howard Rosenman)
    Kelvin Yu
    Kelvin Yu
    • Michael Wong
    Jeff Koons
    Jeff Koons
    • Art Agnos
    Ted Jan Roberts
    Ted Jan Roberts
    • Dennis Peron
    Boyd Holbrook
    Boyd Holbrook
    • Denton Smith
    • (as Robert Boyd Holbrook)
    Frank M. Robinson
    • Frank Robinson
    • (as Frank Robinson)
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Dustin Lance Black
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the filming of the scene in which Dan White's son Charles is christened, the real Charles White was on the set.
    • Goofs
      According to title cards at the end of the film, Dan White's lawyers argued that consumption of junk food caused a chemical imbalance in his brain. White's lawyers actually claimed that massive consumption of junk food was a symptom of his depression, not a cause. Psychologists employed by White's defense argued that he was clinically depressed, as evidenced by changes in behavior, including consumption of large quantities of junk food. One psychologist claimed that junk food may have contributed to White's mood swings.
    • Quotes

      Harvey Milk: [Voice Over, Last lines] I ask this... If there should be an assassination, I would hope that five, ten, one hundred, a thousand would rise. I would like to see every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out - - If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door... And that's all. I ask for the movement to continue. Because it's not about personal gain, not about ego, not about power... it's about the "us's" out there. Not only gays, but the Blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's. Without hope, the us's give up - I know you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. So you, and you, and you... You gotta give em' hope... you gotta give em' hope.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Bolt/JCVD/Slumdog Millionaire/Quantum of Solace (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Prelude No.7 in E Flat (The Well Tempered Clavier - Book 2 BWV 876)
      Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Arranged by Ward Swingle

      Performed by The Swingles

      Courtesy of Universal International Music, B.V.

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews334

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    "I'm 40 and I haven't done anything"
    Gus Van Sant's talent and humility allows Harvey Milk to be a the center of this remarkable story without putting himself in front of the camera. Sean Penn shines with a new and extraordinary light as Harvey Milk. His humanity is overwhelming at times. That permanent smile defining his face talks volumes about his faith in people, no matter what. His awareness is filled with truth and innocence, he worries he's about to be 40 and hasn't accomplished anything. Little did he know.The film is constructed brilliantly in a series of vignettes that builds up into a whole fluid narrative. Josh Brolin, as the disturbed Dan White is another standout in a complex and remarkable performance. No cheap shots here. Diego Luna, Joseph Cross and Emile Hirsch are also terrific as the boys around Harvey but it is James Franco who truly gets under your skin. His romantic turn is one of the most compelling gay love stories I've ever seen (and I've seen Brokeback Mountain). Highly recommended!
    helpful•304
    64
    • jpm-onfocus
    • Nov 3, 2008

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    FAQ11

    • What is 'Milk' about?
    • Is 'Milk' based on a book?
    • Who is/was Harvey Milk?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 30, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Chính Trị Gia Đồng Tính
    • Filming locations
      • Duboce Park, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • Axon Films
      • Groundswell Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,841,299
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,453,844
      • Nov 30, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $54,589,558
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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