Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Milk (2008)

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Posted by Carol May (Member # 4068) on 11-22-2008, 05:53 PM:

Sean Penn's performance is everything the reviewers have said it is, masterful. He is finally inhabiting another character, rather than being Sean Penn in different wardrobe. He is calm, collected, subtle, I was impressed. All the acting is very good in the movie.

The movie itself is only okay, though. If they had just stuck to the politics and fight for equal rights, it would have been much better. There is quite a lot of real documentary footage, which is fantastic, but unfortunately only demonstrates the realness of that versus the immitation that is a movie. We also don't need to be sidetracked into his social life, nor does some narration serve the movie well, regardless of its veracity.

Whether by luck or by happenstance, it is being released at the right time, and at least in California, it should do well.

(Rent "The Times of Harvey Milk" which is the documentary, and very good.)

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 12-15-2008, 02:20 PM:

I liked this movie a lot. But as a Gus Van Sant fan, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. Over the last few years his movies have been very adventurous (granted, to varying degrees of success). Stuff like GERRY and ELEPHANT were fascinating. And while MILK may even be better than those movies, it's much more traditional and safe. I hope that its success does not sway Van Sant back into the direction of boring movies like GOOD WILL HUNTING or even worse, FINDING FORRESTER.

But for those who couldn't care less about emerging patterns in the filmography of Gus Van Sant, and are mainly just interested in seeing a movie about Harvey Milk, be sure to check it out. It's quite good.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 12-29-2008, 09:20 PM:

Excellent film. Terrific performance by Sean Penn, who totally inhabits the character of Harvey Milk, but the supporting cast is also very very good. Another standout performance by Josh Brolin as the very creepy Dan White.

Given an A- for being a bit slow during the Proposition 6 section. Sure Academy Award nomination for Sean Penn. He is in almost every scene in the movie, and his character is always on target.

Posted by Galen Murphy-Fahlgren (Member # 4535) on 01-05-2009, 08:48 PM:

A Best Picture contender for sure, and Penn deserves the Best Actor for this. Amazing.

I too was a little dismayed at first by how much they went into Milk's personal life, but I do think it was absolutely critical. This film is not just the telling of his story, there is a documentary that does that. This is a dramatization, to which a response is demanded. Most people who will see this movie already agree with Milk's social agenda on principle, but may not necessarily be gay themselves. Even we so-called tolerant and enlightened heterosexuals have a certain discomfort with overt homosexuality, and I think we need to look it in the face and examine it. A serious watching of this film very well may do that.

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 01-13-2009, 04:38 PM:

I didn't have high hopes for this after LAST DAYS and GERRY snooze fests but any doubt quickly vanished.
Although I thought the beginning was a paced a little to fast this pulled me in deeper than any films of recent.

quote: Galen Murphy-Fahlgren
Even we so-called tolerant and enlightened heterosexuals have a certain discomfort with overt homosexuality, and I think we need to look it in the face and examine it. A serious watching of this film very well may do that.

Totally agree with that.
A brilliant must see for 2009

Posted by Jon P. Inghram (Member # 4125) on 02-03-2009, 07:52 PM:

Not only is it our busiest film right now, it's also drawing an odd crowd: mostly older people (I just checked and it's a sea of gray hair in the theater.) [Confused]

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 02-03-2009, 09:20 PM:

We are getting both young an old.
In my opinion the film had broad appeal in regards to age.

Posted by Tony L. Hernandez (Member # 3524) on 02-18-2009, 02:22 AM:

Saw this picture in late November at The Historic Mayan Theater in Denver,Co. A fascinating and entertaining movie. The acting is great and I loved the archival footage....I really enjoy when they mix documentary with Hollywood entertainment. Even as a gay man, I knew nothing of Harvey Milk aside from his name before seeing this picture and I even learned much about the beginnings of the gay rights movement and I found it all extremely fascinating. I told many of my family and friends about "Milk" and many of them went to see it and they all loved it. We are going to bring it in for a 2 night engagement at my art house in April and I am thrilled over that. I'm going to go get my father and bring him down there when we show it as he missed it when it was in the theaters.
When I attended it, I made the same observation Mr. Inghram made, the theater was almost full but 90% of the theater were ELDERLY heterosexual couples and groups of elderly women.
Great casting too. I NEVER mind seeing Emile Hirsch on the big screen :-D

A+