Milk

Name: Milk
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 26, 2008
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn

2008

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 355 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 355 Ratings

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Milk

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: November 26, 2008 | R

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn

Summary: In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature ofIn 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. (Focus Features)… Expand

Director: Gus Van Sant

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 128 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Dana Stevens

Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black pull off something very close to magic. They make a film that's both historically precise and as graceful, unpredictable, and moving as a good fiction film--that is to say, a work of art.

100

A.O. Scott

Harvey Milk was an intriguing, inspiring figure. Milk is a marvel. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Sean Penn never tries to show Harvey Milk as a hero, and never needs to. He shows him as an ordinary man, kind, funny, flawed, shrewd, idealistic, yearning for a better world. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Whatever you think of gay people (or politicians), you may find the movie compelling viewing. Read full review

David Ansen

How you feel about Milk may depend on whether you've seen Rob Epstein's great, Oscar-winning 1984 documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk." Van Sant's movie lacks that film's shattering emotional impact. (Rage is not a color in the director's palette.) For those coming to Milk's story for the first time, however, this will be a rousing experience. Read full review

Rick Groen

A worthy docudrama that is solid if not sublime. But, sometimes, a merely good film can brush up against greatness, and this one does so twice – in Sean Penn's magnetic performance and in the cautionary tale's contemporary resonance. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

I can admire the professional flexibility that leads Van Sant from slow-motion, half-experimental works like "Paranoid Park" or "Last Days" to an inspirational, Oscar-season package like Milk, but I wish he could split the difference between his two modes more effectively. Read full review

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User Reviews

MarcosRibasdeFaria

Dec 15, 2008

Another masterpiece by Sant

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DavidK

Feb 4, 2009

Great performances by all involved and impressive recreation of the period make this a great watching experience. The timing of its release also makes this an important film for its time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Adam

Dec 6, 2008

Milk is one of those rare movies that tries to be many things, and succeeds at all of them. This is a film that can provoke change, open eyes, and change lives. I know it changed mine.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

Enrique

Dec 28, 2008

Truthful, sober, very well done biopic. Great reconstruction of he 70's. Excellent acting by the whole cast.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Trev29

Apr 2, 2012

A very well made film. The acting and art direction were the best parts of the movie. With a movie dealing with a heavy subject, it was surprisingly funny many times. An emotional but great ending.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CommandoDude

Dec 27, 2008

The reason I rated this movie so low, is because it is a movie I would not like to watch a second time. Now. It was very dramatic, and at times...humorous, but only at times. I didn't like it because it had FAR too much gay stuff in it then was needed. Lots of guy kissing, and naked The reason I rated this movie so low, is because it is a movie I would not like to watch a second time. Now. It was very dramatic, and at times...humorous, but only at times. I didn't like it because it had FAR too much gay stuff in it then was needed. Lots of guy kissing, and naked men. I do not want to see that. Humor was lost on most of the time in favor of this epic but not-so epic struggle against oppression. I feel Milk could have been a lot better then it was.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Paul

Feb 6, 2009

Milk is an appropiate title: it milked me for my admission and left me wondering if I should get up and walk out. A complete butchery of the real events and man, which is a great shame, as the real story is very interesting.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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21	#21 Best Movie of 2008
38	#38 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
85	#85 Most Shared Movie of 2008