my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Community   » Film Handlers' Movie Reviews   » Milk (2008)

Author Topic: Milk (2008) Carol May Film Handler Posts: 48 From: los angeles, ca, usa Registered: Nov 2006 posted 11-22-2008 05:53 PM                     Sean Penn's performance is everything the reviewers have said it is, masterful. He is finally inhabiting another character, rather than being Sean Penn in different wardrobe. He is calm, collected, subtle, I was impressed. All the acting is very good in the movie. The movie itself is only okay, though. If they had just stuck to the politics and fight for equal rights, it would have been much better. There is quite a lot of real documentary footage, which is fantastic, but unfortunately only demonstrates the realness of that versus the immitation that is a movie. We also don't need to be sidetracked into his social life, nor does some narration serve the movie well, regardless of its veracity. Whether by luck or by happenstance, it is being released at the right time, and at least in California, it should do well. (Rent "The Times of Harvey Milk" which is the documentary, and very good.)  |  IP: Logged Mike Schindler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1039 From: Oak Park, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 12-15-2008 02:20 PM                     I liked this movie a lot. But as a Gus Van Sant fan, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. Over the last few years his movies have been very adventurous (granted, to varying degrees of success). Stuff like GERRY and ELEPHANT were fascinating. And while MILK may even be better than those movies, it's much more traditional and safe. I hope that its success does not sway Van Sant back into the direction of boring movies like GOOD WILL HUNTING or even worse, FINDING FORRESTER. But for those who couldn't care less about emerging patterns in the filmography of Gus Van Sant, and are mainly just interested in seeing a movie about Harvey Milk, be sure to check it out. It's quite good.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-29-2008 09:20 PM                     Excellent film. Terrific performance by Sean Penn, who totally inhabits the character of Harvey Milk, but the supporting cast is also very very good. Another standout performance by Josh Brolin as the very creepy Dan White. Given an A- for being a bit slow during the Proposition 6 section. Sure Academy Award nomination for Sean Penn. He is in almost every scene in the movie, and his character is always on target.  |  IP: Logged Galen Murphy-Fahlgren Master Film Handler Posts: 405 From: Canton, MI, USA Registered: Oct 2007 posted 01-05-2009 08:48 PM                     A Best Picture contender for sure, and Penn deserves the Best Actor for this. Amazing. I too was a little dismayed at first by how much they went into Milk's personal life, but I do think it was absolutely critical. This film is not just the telling of his story, there is a documentary that does that. This is a dramatization, to which a response is demanded. Most people who will see this movie already agree with Milk's social agenda on principle, but may not necessarily be gay themselves. Even we so-called tolerant and enlightened heterosexuals have a certain discomfort with overt homosexuality, and I think we need to look it in the face and examine it. A serious watching of this film very well may do that.  |  IP: Logged John Koutsoumis Master Film Handler Posts: 261 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: Aug 2003 posted 01-13-2009 04:38 PM                     I didn't have high hopes for this after LAST DAYS and GERRY snooze fests but any doubt quickly vanished. Although I thought the beginning was a paced a little to fast this pulled me in deeper than any films of recent. quote: Galen Murphy-Fahlgren Even we so-called tolerant and enlightened heterosexuals have a certain discomfort with overt homosexuality, and I think we need to look it in the face and examine it. A serious watching of this film very well may do that. Totally agree with that. A brilliant must see for 2009  |  IP: Logged Jon P. Inghram Expert Film Handler Posts: 124 From: Wichita, KS USA Registered: Jan 2007 posted 02-03-2009 07:52 PM                     Not only is it our busiest film right now, it's also drawing an odd crowd: mostly older people (I just checked and it's a sea of gray hair in the theater.)  |  IP: Logged John Koutsoumis Master Film Handler Posts: 261 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: Aug 2003 posted 02-03-2009 09:20 PM                     We are getting both young an old. In my opinion the film had broad appeal in regards to age.  |  IP: Logged Tony L. Hernandez Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Windsor, CO, USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 02-18-2009 02:22 AM                     Saw this picture in late November at The Historic Mayan Theater in Denver,Co. A fascinating and entertaining movie. The acting is great and I loved the archival footage....I really enjoy when they mix documentary with Hollywood entertainment. Even as a gay man, I knew nothing of Harvey Milk aside from his name before seeing this picture and I even learned much about the beginnings of the gay rights movement and I found it all extremely fascinating. I told many of my family and friends about "Milk" and many of them went to see it and they all loved it. We are going to bring it in for a 2 night engagement at my art house in April and I am thrilled over that. I'm going to go get my father and bring him down there when we show it as he missed it when it was in the theaters. When I attended it, I made the same observation Mr. Inghram made, the theater was almost full but 90% of the theater were ELDERLY heterosexual couples and groups of elderly women. Great casting too. I NEVER mind seeing Emile Hirsch on the big screen :-D A+  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.