Milk

Friday night, Sharon and I watched Milk. We saw Sean Penn introduce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Golden Globes. Talking about Penn and googling his films, Milk came up. We have talked about watching the film in the past.

Milk is a 2008 biographical film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black, the film stars Sean Penn as Milk, Josh Brolin as city supervisor Dan White, Victor Garber as San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, Diego Luna as Jack Lira and James Franco as Scott Smith. I was surprised to see James Franco in the movie.

Milk received 8 Oscar nominations at the 81st Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won two: Best Actor for Penn, his second Oscar, and Best Original Screenplay for Black.

This is a very good film. Sean Penn's performance is special. I recommend the movie. I enjoyed it more than any of this year's Oscar nominated films...

California Proposition 6 on the California state ballot in the November 7, 1978 election plays a large role in the last third of the film. The failed initiative sought to ban gays and lesbians from working in California's public schools. While I can remember voting for the first time in the 1976 general election, I have no recollection of this controversial ballot initiative.