Milk now on DVD

Of course I saw Milk in theaters before it won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. But the Milk DVD is a must have for all cinephiles. This movie takes you through the political rise and personal struggle of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to political office in the United States. Milk is wonderfully crafted film by Gus Van Sant, the director, and Dustin Lance Black, the screenwriter. The cast assembled by Van Sant puts in fine work, particularly James Franco as Milk’s on-again, off-again lover and James Brolin as the troubled right-wing councilman who struggles with the idea of having a gay man as a co-worker and friend. The film belongs to Sean Penn however, as he plays the titular character. Penn’s ability leave no doubt that he is at the center of the top actors working in Hollywood today. Equal parts, touching and funny, pent-up rage and gracious, eloquent and unsure, powerful and silly, his work is transformative as Harvey Milk. DVD includes interviews with those that knew Harvey Milk and how they reacted to the events depicted in this moving film.