I saw Milk tonight

[tavalon]

on Capitol Hill, which is Seattle's Castro. Sean Penn was phenomenal. I am well aware that he isn't gay, but for 90 minutes, he made me forget. And while reality is nowhere near as dramatic as this movie, I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up. It got a standing ovation, though I couldn't help but suspect that the audience was applauding each other as much as the movie.

A grand evening!

[Political_Junkie]

1. cool,

can't wait to see it. I love Sean Penn, one of the best actors of my generation.

[Auggie]

2. Penn is a phenomenal actor

I can't wait to see the film

[GodlessBiker]

3. Was it a tear jerker or an empowerer or what?

[tavalon]

8. All of the above and more

I'm not revealing anything to say that he dies in the end. That is historical fact. But yeah, there's a lot of empowerment.

[terrya]

17. Indeed. I saw it this afternoon.

It's very inspiring. I got weepy a couple of times in the movie...especially the ending.

Sean Penn is absolutely terrific as Milk. The entire cast is wonderful.

I want to see it again. It's that good.

[terrya]

4. I'm seeing it next weekend.

The timing of the release of "Milk" couldn't have been better.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing it.

[FreeState]

5. I saw it last night too - in San Diego

Its showing on two screens here and both sold out. The movie was fantastic - Penn was amazing, as was the whole cast. Not as big as a tear jerker than I thought it would be - but there were some moments were I was on the verge. Penn does amazing in the assassination scene - he does such a good job just with his face, you see the hope, the fear and everything without a word. Amazing acting. The archival footage used is heartbreaking, from the arrests at bars to the final candle lit march.

It was interesting to me that the anti-gay people used the same rhetoric and lies then as they are today.

Also the movie showed the most realistic gay sex scenes I have ever seen on film. There was humor, love and playful energy in it. That and not any real nudity - it was refreshing and life affirming all at the same time (for me anyway).

[IndianaGreen]

6. Milk opens in Indianapolis on December 12

At the Landmark Theatres. We are getting a group of people from the local MCC to attend a showing in mid month.

[David Zephyr]

16. It is powerful on many dimensions. We will go back to see it again this weekend.

Sean Penn becomes Harvey Milk. Having participated here in the fight against Prop 6 back then, this film became a roller coaster of emotions for me.

The sets, the clothing, the use of grainy film at times mixed in with real footage eveloped me completely. Powerful. I can't wait to see it again.

[dickthegrouch]

7. Stunningly Beautiful Movie

(and, lest you forget, I'm a Brit and given to understatement).

We laughed, we cried, we remembered.

Sadly, there is very little different between the arguments used in Proposition 6 in 1978 and those used in Prop 8 thirty years later. The 'faithful' right have clung to their bigotry and lies like drowning rats.

We need more recruiters. We need a new charismatic spokeperson.

[Skittles]

9. curious to know if you remember the real Harvey Milk

I realize it dates a person now to have remembered him well :)

[romantico]

10. How

How violent is the ending? I do not hold up very well with films like this based on true events.I get very emotional,especially knowing the outcome.

[Skittles]

12. it was bad, I remember it very well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscone-Milk_assassinations

[FreeState]

13. It's implied - you dont actually see the violence

it was very tastefully done. You can see parts but its not gruesome - it is emotional however. The direction of the film was superb in that it never told you what to think - it showed the story with the emotion of each character and no preaching or obvious explaining of the events.

[tavalon]

15. It was actually very artistic, but yes, we see the shooting

[IndianaGreen]

11. I remember when he was elected Supervisor

and I will never forget the day he and Moscone were murdered.

[tavalon]

14. Honestly no.

By the time I entered the community (more as a supporter than as a participant) it was long past his time but I've stayed in the Castro many a time and I love it. The gays do ghetto with more style than anyone else, IMO. And as someone who tends to stick with the poly community pretty tightly, I can understand the urge to hang out with likeminded individuals. It's just easier and more welcoming than going it alone.

[MountainLaurel]

18. Sigh -- not playing anywhere near me

And I live in New Orleans. The nearest place it's playing is Houston.

[terrya]

19. I suspect that it will be screened in more theaters.

It made 3.5 million last weekend at just 36 screens. That's damn good box office.

I think it will make it to New Orleans soon.

[JackBeck]

20. We saw it this afternoon.

The extended limited release came to North Jersey this weekend. The 4pm showing we attended was completely sold-out. When we left, there were already signs up announcing the 6:15 and 8:30 showing were also sold-out.

What can I say that already hasn't been said? The movie was phenomenal. For a project that has been tied up in development for many years, it appears that the stars and planets have aligned to create a masterpiece.

Inspirational, and 30 years later, totally topical.

[jonnyblitz]

21. it's coming to a theater near me in the CT boonies soon. they

showed "coming attraction" previews when I went to see "the boy in the striped pajamas" last weekend in Mystic, CT. I have the oscar winning "the times of harvey milk" documentary and it is good.

[JackBeck]

22. I can't wait to hear what you thought.

We went out for dinner after the movie and I fought bawling my eyes out for the first half of the meal.

[johnnypneumatic]

23. saw it in Phoenix today

It is only at 1 theatre, the Camelview.
I thought it was really good. They did a good job of telling the history of how SF and Castro gay district came about and fighting for political power and fighting bigots. Sean Penn was great, he should win big if there is any justice. Also James Franco and Emile Hirsch were so good playing their roles I had a hard time recognizing them. They also did a good job with art direction, showing the period location and hair and clothing styles. Just all around good. The only thing I would question was telling a side plot of one of Milk's relationships with a loser that I guess showed his need to help every stray puppy, but ended up pulling him down. Also, Dan White's reasons were never clear, so the reality of the history was good, but lacked the true evil antagonist of a fiction movie (of course there were Anita and Briggs there for pure evil). Josh Brolin was a good sport for playing him, and did a real good job with it though. There is also one scene where he is in shorts and you see his great body :)
Yes, I nearly cried several times, had to fight it.
The audience was good, mixed. Lots of older men and women, as well as presumably gay couples, gay friends, some young guys too. About half full of a big theatre for the 1pm matinee

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. I saw it Sunday a week ago.

Excellent film.
Saw it in Houston at the River Oaks.


Truly inspirational.

And everyone in the movie really looks like the person they portray.

Sean Penn really looks like Harvey Milk.
Victor Garber really looks like Mayor Moscone.