Milk

Weak. How can I relate to the characters of a serious drama when they are all caricatures of themselves? This is not about overacting (that could be in one or two cases, but not all of them!), those characters are simply awfully written. The impression the whole thing gives is: “we have a controversial topic, let’s make good use of it!” On the other hand, the archive footage they use deserves praise, it really helps build the atmosphere of the period. I didn’t find the ending that intense, but that could be because I’m freshly spoiled by Gran Torino and Revolutionary Road. The result: three stars (there are a couple of very good moments), but the Oscar should go elsewhere. (29.12.2008)

If there are still those among us who refuse to admit that homosexuals are part of our society, they will probably avoid this great film. Yes, it is a truly good movie, mainly because it was directed by a filmmaker who has the issue clearly resolved himself, and especially because he cast actors who are capable of playing anything believably. Sean Penn finally proved what a great actor he is. His performance as Harvey Milk is truly a concert that deserves the highest awards, at least in the world of American cinema. The Oscar definitely carries weight, and an actor will loudly claim it with a role like this. Gus Van Sant chose an interesting, controversial and emotional subject matter for his film. Harvey Milk was a man of the people, actually a bit of a hippie, who also happened to love men. Society looked at him strangely, but he managed to become a supervisor in San Francisco. The first homosexual who spoke openly about his orientation. Yet people chose him. A completely unexpected victory for a person who, at least according to the image portrayed in the film, played no games. He just wanted to advocate for the rights of those who were oppressed. In the end, he paid for it. Who killed him? Well, of course, it had to be some respectable citizen. An offended supervisor who couldn't bear the fact that someone had come so far and essentially dug his own grave. When your life crumbles, blame everyone else, they're the ones responsible, no one else. "Milk" is actually a story about an ordinary person who ended up among people who are capable of anything. And in the end, he paid for it. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/12/milk-az-vyjde-mesic-trhak-noc-v-muzeu-2.html (03.03.2013)

A directorially-undiscoverable biography that is dragged through an hour of hopeful rhetoric and another hour of political scheming by excellent actors alone. Sometimes I feel sorry for homosexuals when films about them have to be either desperate comedies or arthouse martyrdom tear-jerkers. (04.02.2009)

The way the story is told, the script, and in fact the whole theme of this film is predictable, but it's elevated to four stars by Penn and the super-slick Brolin (was it just me?). (20.09.2009)