‘Milk’

Deeply respectful, Milk is the sad story of the 1978 murder of Harvey Milk, a gay activist and elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. His death was part of a double murder alongside Mayor Moscone (Victor Garber – Argo, Titanic) by a former city supervisor, Dan White.

Sean Penn (I Am Sam, Mystic River) is revelatory as the extremely personable Milk whose constant fight for gay rights and City representation (he lost three times before finally being elected) cost him his relationship with Scott Smith (James Franco – 127 Hours, The Disaster Artist). But it was also to cost Milk his life as the former police officer and practising christian, Dan White (Josh Brolin – No Country For Old Men, Dune) struggled with equality and gay rights.

Episodic in its recording of the Californian gay movement in the late 1970s, director Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho, Elephant) allows a superior script (Dustin Lance Black – J. Edgar, Rustin) determine the pace of the story’s triumph, in spite of the tragic outcome.

Nominated for 8 Oscars in 2009 including best film, director, supporting actor (Brolin), editing – won 2 for best actor and original screenplay.

Rating: 81%