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Milk

  • 20082008
  • K-13K-13
  • 2h 8min
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
169K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,339
88
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
This is the theatrical trailer for Gus Van Sant's Milk.
Play trailer2:26
7 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDrama

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.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
169K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,339
88
  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Dustin Lance Black
  • Stars
    • Sean Penn
    • Josh Brolin
    • Emile Hirsch
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Dustin Lance Black
  • Stars
    • Sean Penn
    • Josh Brolin
    • Emile Hirsch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 319User reviews
    • 255Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 66 wins & 144 nominations total

    Videos7

    Milk: Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Milk: Theatrical Trailer
    A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen
    Clip 4:31
    A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen
    Milk: Rally Clip
    Clip 0:31
    Milk: Rally Clip
    Milk
    Featurette 0:30
    Milk
    Milk
    Interview 0:49
    Milk
    Milk
    Interview 0:47
    Milk
    Milk
    Interview 0:25
    Milk

    Photos265

    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 Milkas Harvey Milk
    Josh Brolin
    Josh Brolin
    • Dan Whiteas Dan White
    Emile Hirsch
    Emile Hirsch
    • Cleve Jonesas Cleve Jones
    Diego Luna
    Diego Luna
    • Jack Liraas Jack Lira
    James Franco
    James Franco
    • Scott Smithas Scott Smith
    Alison Pill
    Alison Pill
    • Anne Kronenbergas Anne Kronenberg
    Victor Garber
    Victor Garber
    • Mayor Mosconeas Mayor Moscone
    Denis O'Hare
    Denis O'Hare
    • John Briggsas John Briggs
    Joseph Cross
    Joseph Cross
    • Dick Pabichas Dick Pabich
    Stephen Spinella
    Stephen Spinella
    • Rick Stokesas Rick Stokes
    Lucas Grabeel
    Lucas Grabeel
    • Danny Nicolettaas Danny Nicoletta
    Brandon Boyce
    Brandon Boyce
    • Jim Rivaldoas Jim Rivaldo
    Howard Rosenman
    Howard Rosenman
    • David Goodsteinas David Goodstein
    • (as Zvi Howard Rosenman)
    Kelvin Yu
    Kelvin Yu
    • Michael Wongas Michael Wong
    Jeff Koons
    Jeff Koons
    • Art Agnosas Art Agnos
    Ted Jan Roberts
    Ted Jan Roberts
    • Dennis Peronas Dennis Peron
    Boyd Holbrook
    Boyd Holbrook
    • Denton Smithas Denton Smith
    • (as Robert Boyd Holbrook)
    Frank M. Robinson
    • Frank Robinsonas Frank Robinson
    • (as Frank Robinson)
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Dustin Lance Black
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Harvey Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city's conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milk's relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to bar gays and their supporters from public school jobs. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    gay activistgaygay rightscaliforniagay pickup326 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • His life changed history. His courage changed lives.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • K-13
    • Parents guide

    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 At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09 (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 Swingle Singers

      Courtesy of Universal International Music, B.V.

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews319

    Review
    Top review
    'All Men Are Created Equal. No Matter How Hard You Try, You Can Never Erase Those Words'.
    The last Gus Van Sant movie I saw was 'Elephant', a film that did not work for me. Thankfully he is back with 'Milk' which pretty much gives a detailed account of the rise of Harvey Milk and his martyrdom. Van Sant uses live footage between scenes which reminds one of how much harsher the world once was to people who were 'different'. The writing is stupendous and the dialogues are especially effective. The portrayal of the characters are very human. There is no hero or villain. There are just humans with flaws, humans fighting for what they believe in. Van Sant sets a tense and chaotic tone right from the beginning. The 70s atmosphere is well created through makeup and costumes. The use of brownish tinted light may arise nostalgia. It is two remarkable performances that make 'Milk' stand out: Sean Penn's very accurate and nuanced portrayal of Harvey Milk and Josh Brolin's layered portrayal of a complex Dan White. I doubt 'Milk' would have been effective enough if it weren't for such strong acting. The director deserves mention for his brilliant work. Movies like 'Milk' are relevant today because they serve as a reminder of how difficult life once was and how people fought against it and lives were sacrificed in order to create a better society for those living in today's world.
    helpful•43
    12
    • Chrysanthepop
    • Mar 11, 2009

    FAQ11

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

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 6, 2009 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Harvey Milk Project
    • 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
      • 2h 8min
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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