Compelling, Interesting, Educational and excellent docudrama in which Sean Penn is fantastic you will cheer for him!

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2008)

Just recently saw this film, and I can certainly see why many are calling "Milk" one of the best films of 2008. At the end you will stand and cheer due to the performance given by Sean Penn as Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay elected politician to serve in this country. No matter what your political stance is, or no matter what your take is on social and moral issues of our time like homosexuality this masterpiece of a docudrama is moving and touching for the way it shows how history was changed somewhat by one Harvey Milk. Director Gus Van Sant one who is excellent at doing docudramas intersects this film along just fine by showing Milk's relationships with lovers(played by James Franco and Diego Luna)also well displayed is Milk's offbeat sense of humor and his uncanny ability to attract followers all which tie in well with what he was able to accomplish in California's era of a gay ballot proposition proposal.
Anyway call him unifier, politician, fighter, icon, inspiration, or hero. Harvey Milk and his life changed history and his courage changed lives. This film to me a good historical docudrama charts mostly the last eight years of Harvey's life starting with Milk in New York City at the age of 40, and clearly Harvey feels he hasn't done a thing in his life so looking for more purpose along with his lover they relocate to San Francisco, California. Here they open up a small business shop called Castro Camera in the heart of a working class place that will soon become a stomping ground for gay people from all around the country. This set in the mid 70's a time when many cities especially San Francisco were experiencing big social movements and outcries from gays. And with this message and the city of San Fran empowering him Milk finally surprises everyone and becomes an outspoken agent for change and notice for all homosexuals by seeking equal rights and opportunities for them all. As the film shows it was a struggle too as this was a time when violence against gays was openly accepted. So in a challenging and compelling twist Milk decides to take a swim into the murky and wavy waters of us guessed it politics.
After three unsuccessful attempts at his run for a San Franciso supervisor seat on his fourth run in 1977 Harvey was finally elected to the board of supervisors which was helped out by the newly rezoned district 5. And Milk serves well by fighting for citywide ordinances that protect people from being fired because of their sexual preferences. Yet as shown in the film by real live news reel footage on a nationwide level(good show of realism by Van Sant)Milk knows he's in for a real battle from Christian conservatives and right wing republicans. To add to the drama of the film the political agenda of Harvey is threatened by a newly elected supervisor Dan White(Josh Brolin who is super he always gives us our moneys worth)this all leads to a dangerous and tragically unexpected end for Milk in 1978.
Really what more can I say clearly "Milk" is one of the best docudramas ever made it's a stirring take on the political process that took an outspoken social stand not only for gays, but for Americans that it urges them to get involved and make things happen. Overall great time period piece a fine historical docudrama with a super direction from Van Sant and the supporting performances from Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, and James Franco are great. Most of all Sean Penn is in fantastic form as Harvey Milk his performance is powerful maybe one of the best in film history, he's one of the best actors around Sean gets so involved with his roles. So no matter if your liberal or conservative you will stand up and cheer when you see "Milk" an excellent film one of 2008's best.