Milk (film)

Milk (film)
source
Name	Milk
Director	Gus Van Sant
Producer	Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, Michael London
Writer	Dustin Lance Black
Starring	Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco
Music	Danny Elfman
Cinematography	Harris Savides
Editing	Elliot Graham
Studio	Focus Features, Axon Films
Released	November 26, 2008
Runtime	128 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$20 million
Gross	$54.6 million

Milk (film) is a 2008 American biographical drama film based on the life of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. The film was directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black, who drew inspiration from Randy Shilts's book The Mayor of Castro Street. The film stars Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, alongside Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, and James Franco, and explores the life and career of Harvey Milk, including his relationships with Scott Smith and Jack Lira. The film also features appearances by Victor Garber, Dennis O'Hare, and Stephen Spinella.

Plot

The film tells the story of Harvey Milk's life, from his early days as a New York City insurance salesman to his move to San Francisco and his eventual election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The film explores Harvey Milk's relationships with Scott Smith, Jack Lira, and Dan White, as well as his involvement in the gay rights movement and his opposition to Proposition 6, a California ballot initiative that aimed to ban gay and lesbian individuals from working in public schools. The film also depicts the Twinkie defense, a notorious legal strategy used by Dan White's defense team during his trial for the murder of Harvey Milk and George Moscone. The film features appearances by Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and Terry Dolan, and explores the impact of Harvey Milk's life and legacy on the LGBTQ+ community and the city of San Francisco.

Production

The film was produced by Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, and Michael London, and was shot on location in San Francisco and New York City. The film's script was written by Dustin Lance Black, who drew inspiration from Randy Shilts's book The Mayor of Castro Street and conducted extensive research on Harvey Milk's life and legacy. The film's cast, including Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, and Josh Brolin, underwent extensive preparation and research to portray their characters accurately, and worked closely with Gus Van Sant to bring the story to life. The film also features a score by Danny Elfman and cinematography by Harris Savides, and was edited by Elliot Graham.

Cast

The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, Josh Brolin as Dan White, Diego Luna as Jack Lira, and James Franco as Scott Smith. The film also features appearances by Victor Garber as George Moscone, Dennis O'Hare as Senator John Briggs, and Stephen Spinella as Rick Stokes. The cast worked closely with Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black to bring the story to life, and underwent extensive research and preparation to portray their characters accurately. The film also features appearances by Joseph Cross as Dick Pabich, Lucas Grabeel as Danny Nicoletta, and Brandon Boyce as Jim Rivaldo.

Release

The film was released in the United States on November 26, 2008, and was distributed by Focus Features. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was also screened at the New York Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was a commercial success, grossing over $54 million at the box office. The film was also released on DVD and Blu-ray by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and has since become a classic of LGBTQ+ cinema.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk. The film holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising the film's script, direction, and performances. The film was also praised by LGBTQ+ organizations and activists, including the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD. The film was also recognized by the American Film Institute, which named it one of the top 10 films of 2008. The film has since become a classic of LGBTQ+ cinema and continues to be celebrated for its powerful portrayal of Harvey Milk's life and legacy.

Accolades

The film received numerous awards and nominations, including eight Academy Award nominations and two wins, for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The film also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. The film was also recognized by the Independent Spirit Awards, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and the BAFTA Awards. The film's success helped to establish Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black as major talents in the film industry, and cemented Sean Penn's status as one of the greatest actors of his generation. The film has since become a classic of American cinema and continues to be celebrated for its powerful portrayal of Harvey Milk's life and legacy.

Category:American biographical drama films