Easily One Of The Best Films Of 2008

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2008)

Sean Penn has matured into a finer than fine actor,director & political activist since he gave McDonna....um, I mean Madonna the option of hitting the road (which could be the same for Guy Ritchie). He also became more choosy about scripts. 'Milk' is hands down obvious of that. Unless you've been living in a cave in Tibet for the past thirty odd years, Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected into office in San Francisco in the later half of the 1970's. Penn plays Milk with a passion that could only be equaled to Jimmy Stewart in 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington'. Gus Van Sant makes a grand return to quality film making, after directing some uneven "art films", which have mostly played to empty cinema seats,rather than paying customers. The cast is rounded out by Josh Brolin,who plays political rival,Dan White,who shot Milk, as well as (then)San Francisco mayor,George Moscone in 1978. Milk spoke not just for the gay community,but for senior citizens,blue collar workers,and the rest of the public,in general. This film is obviously being released now,as potential contender for the Academy Award (it sure deserves it). We'll have to see what happens next year. Passed with an 'R' rating by the MPAA,this film has some nudity,sexuality,language & some violence (but nothing too graphic or bloody).