Provocative and emotionally charged.

Rating: 8/10 (12 March 2009)

A well deserved Academy Award for Sean Penn taking on the role of Harvey Milk in this Gus Van Sant biopic tracing the last eight years in the life of the gay crusader. Milk and his lover Scott Smith(James Franco) move to the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco where they open a camera shop. Milk eagerly takes up any fight for gays, union workers and senior citizens. The charismatic Milk becomes the first openly gay man in history to to be voted into a public office, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. In the least of tolerant times Milk earns the reputation of "walking the walk" after "talking the talk". He tried to forge a political relationship with another newly elected supervisor Dan White(Josh Brolin), their agendas took off in different directions that eventually caused personal and political tragedy. In stunning fashion, White would assassinate San Francisco's Mayor Moscone and then calmly walk into Milk's office and shoot the champion of equal rights.
Penn's transformation into Harvey Milk is uncanny. Franco as Smith is passionate. The cast is full of fine actors like: Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill and Denis O'Hare. MILK is inspirational and a true triumph.