fumanstan

I saw this today and thought it was well made and Sean Penn was great but didn't really come away amazed. I think this sort of subject matter just doesn't keep my interest in a movie, so it wasn't really my type of film to begin with even though it made me interested in reading more about Harvey Milk. It made me feel more like I was watching a documentary at school.

I didn't know anything about the actual events since it was before I was born, but it did make me think automatically of Proposition 8.

riley_dude

This sort of subject matter? You mean a man fighting for people's rights??

fumanstan

Yes, I just hate people fighting for people's rights. It makes me sick to my stomach!

No, more specifically the bio pic dramas. These things always seem to be geared for awards and while covering some interesting parts of history, I never end up finding them particularly engrossing as films.

grrr

What a fantastic film. Van Sant was restrained in his direction, the screenplay did well to balance the historical, dramatic, and (yes) comedic elements, and the greatest compliment I can pay to Sean Penn is that five minutes into the movie, I forgot an iconic actor was playing the leading role.

Fresh Air had a strong interview with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black a month ago if you're interested in checking out the podcast.

Giles

Penn was simply amazing, he effortlessly became Harvey. I thought the entire cast was also on par. I didn't realize how powerful the ending was, I was weeping.

PopcornTreeCt

I just finished watching this movie...

The film itself was very good. But I found it to be a pretty much paint-by-numbers biopic. It was still a very moving movie. I think some of the earlier parts in the movie were a bit... excessive. The film became so much more when Ann Kronenberg appeared.

It should be required viewing for all registered voters.

Oh, and Sean Penn deserves the Oscar.

pridesticks06

Finally saw this, and I completely agree. Biopic dramas are not my genre of choice, I often find it a chore to sit through them. I'll say though that Milk does a good job of trying to keep the viewer interested and it went by a lot faster than I thought. Penn was fantastic, Brolin was great, Franco was great. Loved all the acting. It's a solid film, just not my type of film.

Dr Mabuse

So you guys who have seen it think Penn getting the critics award over Rourke was the right choice? His acting was that good in this?

mdc3000

I don't think Penn deserves it over Rourke, but I'm not too upset since they are both GREAT performances (and both actors have a lot of external baggage working for and against them).

As for the movie, I thought it was terrific. It really captures that time period well and I thought the framing device was a good one. I know it's still going on today, but watching movies like this always astound me at how intolerant people can be - just for the sake of being intolerant. Penn is fantastic as Harvey and his nuanced performance carries the film but he doesn't go it alone. The supporting work from Brolin, Hirsch and Franco is top notch and makes the film work that much more.

I knew nothing about Harvey Milk beforehand (except for the 'Twinkie Defense') and this movie really did a good job of showing what he accomplished and how his actions influenced the way things are now. Easily one of the best movies of the year and the direction was fantastic - that shot in the whistle...wow.

hasslein

I think it's vastly overrated. Take out all the kissing and the lover's relationship melodrama and it would have been a much better film. Changeling should have received the best picture nod over this.

mdc3000

^I'm not going to say I think Changeling should have been in instead of Milk, but I really thought Changeling was a fantastic movie and really don't get why it didn't click with critics.

Solid Snake

ditto.

riley_dude

Then it would have made it just like any other Hollywood film.
What did you think a movie like Harvey Milk, an openly gay politician, would be? Did you just want to delete everything about his life that made him who he was?

hasslein

The key word is melodrama. I felt like I was being hammered over & over by the difficulties in his relationship (with Franco), one or two exchanges would have sufficed, or maybe it could have been written better as to not be so repetitive... that was the major drawback... Those moments, because they are poorly written and executed detract from the film. IMHO, of course...

Solid Snake

My sister and I commented that the film was good, but..we wondered if there was truly that much kissing by him in those public moments. Besides that..we enjoyed it with some minor giggles..

fumanstan

Thinking about it, I'd say the same about his relationship with Jack.

Jack Straw

Watched it last night. Penn really nailed the role. Brolin was excellent as well. I concur with the Oscar nods for best actor and picture. I knew of the murder, but was not aware of how, when, and by whom. I was a bit put off by all the homo-kissing, but knowing what the movie was about, I was already bracing for it, so it wasn't too brutal.

hardercore

I recall seeing a piece on the film where Van Sant was talking about how that shot in the whistle was entirely computer superimposed.