7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
His life changed history. His courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk's life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones, Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk's actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White. But as White and Milk's political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge. Milk's platform was and is one of hope--a hero's legacy that resonates in the here and now.
Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James FrancoDrama | 100% |
Period | 44% |
Biography | 36% |
History | 28% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Biographical films have a long and varied history among the thousands of movies released each year. Almost every Oscar season brings at least one Biopic to the table that dramatizes a historical figure; the results aren’t always accurate or flattering. 2008 saw the release of Milk; an unlikely story that chose to focus on a man of substance, rather than the traditional Hollywood fodder of the rich and famous. Harvey Milk was a pioneer and crusader for gay rights in the United States. His own experiences with discrimination turned this one-time aimless dreamer into a historic figure who changed the landscape of politics and the public’s understanding of gay rights issues. Harvey Milk’s tireless efforts helped to alter many Americans’ perceptions on these issues; he changed the landscape of the debate by elevating gay rights from a mere social issue to that of a true human rights crisis.
If you have time to lean, Sean, you have time to clean.
Of the many things that Milk is, it's most certainly not demo material on Blu-
ray. That's not to say that the film is presented in anything other than a completely faithful
and accurate manner, quite the opposite in fact. Milk has made the transition from
theaters to the home fully intact, while retaining a well executed filmic quality. The only
source of inconsistency in the film comes from its frequent reliance on well-worn stock
footage for many establishing shots and montages. These scenes are particularly
noticeable, with varying amounts of grain and print damage, when blended with the
material shot specifically for the film. Given the need for such footage, it an entirely
understandable situation that adds an authentic, dated flair to the movie.
Milk isn't particularly colorful, though occasional warm, vivid hues do sneak in from
time to time. Contrast is stable, though not particularly impressive; black levels tend to
appear slightly elevated throughout the film, consistent with the period aspect of the film's
appearance. There's little depth to the image, and detail remains average for the duration
of the film. Ultimately, Milk has an intentionally washed-out and vintage look and
feel that this Blu-ray release replicates to perfection. Milk is recommended.
Don't expect much from Milk in the sound department. The film is almost entirely
dialogue-driven and features very little in the way of surround activity. Universal has given
the film their standard 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio treatment; unfortunately, the source
material just doesn't do much to excite the aural senses. The only noticeable instances of
surround activity come during the film's many crowd scenes. The cacophony of a throng of
different voices, shouts and echoes rings out in the rear channels, providing a stark contrast
to the remainder of the predominantly front-loaded film.
Dialogue, as is to be expected with a lossless track, is well rendered, intelligible and placed
firmly within the center channel. The film's musical score is also nicely placed within the front
stereo channels. Beyond that, there's not much more to report on. Milk sounds just
like it did theatrically; it's not intended to do anything more than highlight the film's
performances.
Here's what's included:
- "Hollywood Comes to San Francisco"
- "Remember Harvey"
- "Marching for Equality"
- BD-Live features not yet accessible
Fans intending to dig into the details behind the production of Milk, or even Harvey
Milk's own historic life, might be a bit disappointed with what has been made available on
this Blu-ray release of the film. Three featurettes are the only bonus features viewers will
find on the disc, along with the promise of more features to come via BD-Live. "Hollywood
Comes to San Francisco" is a well-polished, behind the scenes documentary that covers
production, while featuring a slew of cast and crew interviews. "Remember Harvey" is a
truncated overview of Mr. Milk's life; the interviews with his real-life compatriots adds
legitimacy to the proceedings. Finally, "Marching for Equality" focuses on the film's protest
march scenes, how they were filmed and the filmmaker's desires to stay true to the
historical context of the actual events. Fortunately, all three featurettes are presented in
high definition; beyond these three items, though; that's all folks!
Harvey Milk's historic political career and tragic death makes for a compelling film that is both socially conscious and timely. Director Gus Van Sant has perfectly captured the essence of Mr. Milk's appeal, distilling it into an accessible tragedy that even the most jaded audience member should be able to appreciate. Regardless of one's familiarity with the events that the film depicts, the compelling nature of the film's narrative will likely have viewers running to Wikipedia for more information on this decisive period in America's history. Universal continues their outstanding run of Blu-ray releases by delivering Milk with impressive audio and video that does the film justice. Supplements are lacking, though what has been included is of high quality. Milk remains a story that needed to be told to a large audience. If you missed the film in theaters, now's the perfect time to experience the profound life of Harvey Milk in the highest possible quality. Recommended.
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