Sean Penn Tour-de-Force
&#34;Milk&#34;  stars Sean Penn in the title role of Harvey Milk, a closeted gay man who moved from New York to San Francisco in 1972.  There he came out of the closet and opened a camera shop in the Castro District, an area experiencing a huge influx of gays and lesbians.  He ran for political office unsuccessfully several times on a platform that included workers' issues and education as well as the rights of gays and other minorities, and finally won an election for city supervisor.  He led several battles against anti-gay initiatives in California.<br /><br />Penn presents Milk primarily as outspoken activist, community organizer, and champion of civil rights for gay Americans.  Director Van Sant combines actual news and archival footage with footage of his actors to illustrate seamlessly the 1970's era that saw the birth of the gay rights movement in the United States.<br /><br /> &#34;Milk,&#34; however, is more than just the tale of a firebrand working up the populace into action.  It's a movie about one person spearheading a movement to give voice to a minority that had been forced into hiding.  By fighting for the right to live without persecution, the gay community became a visible, political force that voted its mind at the polls.  Milk worked to organize and inspire his constituency out of complacency and acceptance of intimidation to active protest and demands.  It started in California, but quickly spread across the country.<br /><br />Mr. Penn does some of his finest work in &#34;Milk.&#34; From his slicked down hair to his softly Brooklyn-tinged voice to his self-assured swagger, Penn provides an amazing characterization of a man who, in his 40's, finally found a purpose and the wherewithal to achieve it.<br /> There is a self-deprecating facet to Penn's performance.  His Harvey can make jokes at his own expense while taking his cause seriously.  Mr. Penn captures the folk-hero quality of Milk while never losing sight of Harvey the man.  We see him as a flawed individual, not happy in his previous pursuits and as terrified of discovery as most gay people of the time, but ultimately inspired by injustice to be the voice of protest and change.<br /><br />The movie shows how that change comes in stages.  What starts as periodic clashes with the police leads to grass-roots organization for the purpose of declaring themselves to the larger society and persuade the world that they are entitled to the same rights as anybody else.  Milk recruits average folks -- mostly gay -- who can summon a crowd of 1,000 protesters on a moment's notice or get endorsements from local newspapers. Among these associates are Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), Anne Kronenberg (Alison Pill), and photographer Danny Nicoletta (Lucas Grabeel).  We're also introduced to two of Milk's boyfriends, Scott Smith (James Franco) and Jack Lira (Diego Luna).<br /><br />Scott seems to be the inspiration for Harvey to embark on a more meaningful course.  Franco is entirely believable in some intimate scenes with Penn.  It's in the early scenes, in his conversations with Scott, that we see Harvey's frustration at approaching his 40th birthday and not really having done anything significant.  He's ready for a change.  They leave New York together to resettle in San Francisco only to find a not-too-welcoming introduction to the Castro District's businessmen.<br /><br />Josh Brolin plays Dan White, a fellow city supervisor, who shares an unusual collegial relationship with Milk.  Staunchly in favor of preserving &#34;family values&#34; and blocking any pro-gay legislation, White is an enigma.  As portrayed in the movie, he doesn't have many friends, appears uncomfortable at the inroads the gay community is making in California, is dissatisfied with his job as city supervisor because of its low pay, and ultimately is jealous of the media attention Milk is getting while he remains anonymous.  Brolin continues to associate himself with top-quality motion pictures.  Excellent in &#34;No Country for Old Men,&#34;  &#34;American Gangster,&#34; and &#34;W.,&#34; he continues his winning streak in &#34;Milk.&#34;<br /><br />Rated R, &#34;Milk&#34; won the Best Actor Academy Award for Penn, and was nominated for Best Picture.  The script by Dustin Lance Black moves quickly and presents the events of Milk's life in dramatic, fascinating fashion.  The film is extremely timely in light of California's passage of Proposition 8, which bars same-sex marriages.  Though Harvey Milk fought vigorously thirty years ago for gays to receive the same rights as all other Americans, it seems the fight isn't over.
The movie title "Milk," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.7 from 1545 reviewers. 
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This title falls under the categories of Movies & TV, Studio Specials and Focus Features. 
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 {"Genre": "Drama, Arthouse, International", "Format": "Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen", "Contributor": "Alison Pill, Denis O'Hare, Joseph Cross, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Victor Garber, Diego Luna, Steven Wiig, Gus Van Sant, James FrancoAlison Pill, Denis O'Hare, Joseph Cross, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Victor Garber, Diego Luna, Steven Wiig, Gus Van Sant, James Franco  See more", "Initial release date": "2017-07-04", "Language": "English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Unqualified", "Aspect Ratio": "1.85:1", "Is Discontinued By Manufacturer": "No", "MPAA rating": "R (Restricted)", "Product Dimensions": "0.6 x 5.4 x 7.5 inches; 2.72 Ounces", "Item model number": "FOCF62105870DVD", "Director": "Gus Van Sant", "Media Format": "Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen", "Run time": "2 hours and 9 minutes", "Release date": "July 4, 2017", "Actors": "Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Alison Pill, Diego Luna", "Dubbed": "French", "Subtitles": "French, Spanish", "Studio": "Studio Distribution Services", "Number of discs": "1"}

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