Milk

20082008
RR
2h 8min

Sean Penn in Milk (2008)

This is the theatrical trailer for Gus Van Sant's Milk.

Play trailer2:26

Biography Drama

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.

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Won 2 Oscars
- 66 wins & 144 nominations total

Videos7

Milk: Theatrical Trailer

Milk: Theatrical Trailer

A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen

A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories on Screen

Milk: Rally Clip

Milk: Rally Clip

Milk

Featurette 0:30

Milk

Milk

Milk

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)

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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 activist gay gay rights california gay pickup 326 more

Taglines
- His life changed history. His courage changed lives.
Genres
- Biography
- Drama
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence
Parents guide

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

Top review

9/10

Van Sant delivers a great marriage of art and history

Just caught the Portland premiere and have a few thoughts.

Very thankful this film was made. Until now, it seemed like I was fairly alone in knowing about Harvey's legacy. After "Milk" starts getting attention....I hope that a whole new generation will come to know the Mayor of Castro Street (see Randy Shilt's book) and the importance of the gay rights movement.

That being said, Van Sant's "Milk" is great marriage of art and history. Instead of a dry portrait of an assasinated leader, we get a beautifully rendered flavor of the times, and an intimate vision of a man finding his place within a community and history.

Casting is brilliant. Penn inhabits Harvey Milk in a way that few actors I believe would be capable. His physicality and energy is very believable - and it's easy to forget what actor you're watching. After a while...it's just Harvey. I could go on about the supporting cast...all very solid in their own way. James Franco (Scotty) stands out as well....showing his range and willingness to expand as an actor.

Kudos all the way around...I see this film getting several nods at Oscar time.

Additionally...Rob Epstein's Oscar-winning 1984 documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk" is a definite must for anyone who enjoyed this film. I watched it right after "Milk" - and am still impressed with how affecting it is.

helpful•111

38

greg-253
Nov 15, 2008

Release date
- January 30, 2009 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Untitled Harvey Milk Project
Filming locations
- Duboce Park, San Francisco, California, USA
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

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

Runtime
- 2h 8min
Color
- Color
- Black and White
Sound mix
- DTS
- Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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