I just cried my ass off watching "Milk" for my Christmas movie

[zulchzulu]

If you have not seen this movie, ferchrissakes, get off your celebratin', holiday swangin' toosh and please see it.

The opening footage in the movie was enough to make anyone with a molecule of spiritual propensity (use this word at Christmas parties) to at least get a tear in your eye.

I'm familiar with what should be the companion piece to this movie "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" and I remember my uncle, who lived in SF during that time and had met Milk, telling me about him a few years before he passed from AIDS in 1986. It was at that point I decided to get involved with AIDS awareness issues and helped put together his AIDS Quilt submission I saw a few years later in New Orleans when it was on tour. I lived in SF later and remember the hilarious Castro parades/parties at Halloween and New Years.

Harvey's dog (in the movie and in real life) looks EXACTLY like my dog... a mutt with some Lab and Border Collie... it was funny/comic relief from watching the sadness of people trying to do what needs to be done over thirty years ago.

Bring a friend or two to the movie. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll wonder why people like Anita Bryant 2.0 (Sarah Palin) are even praised by junkyard jackals.

If you saw the movie, explain what happened. If you didn't, see it.

[RollWithIt]

1. I went with Benjamin Button... but I'll see Milk in a few weeks

Incidentally, BB is a really thoughtful movie. As for Milk, my friend went to see it today and he said it was fantastic.

[Skittles]

2. was supposed to see it Weds night but have deferred

an old friend called and wants me to go see it next week - I can't wait :)

[IndianaGreen]

3. My LGBT singles group is attending the screening on Saturday

I saw The Times of Harvey Milk just last week, I think it was the Sundance Channel. It is narrated by Harvey Fierstein, who just reamed Obama for the Warren selection.

I've heard from my California friends that Milk was very powerful, particularly now in the post Prop-8 world.

[zulchzulu]

27. Seeing "The Times of Harvey Milk" before the movie makes it even heavier imho

I was familiar with the Harvey Milk story before and saw the documentary before "Milk", so it seemed really heavy and amazing/sad... I wonder what the movie would be like to someone unfamiliar with Milk's story. In a way, the beginning of the movie that shows a grainy version of Diane Feinstein (mayor at the time) announcing the deaths is something I personally would have not had until after the shootings, if only to show the sudden tragic tragedy.

It is an amazing film, but hopefully the singles group also screens the documentary and some of the special features on the disc, which have a lot of interviews and footage that didn't make the documentary movie.

[jonnyblitz]

4. Sean Penn and Josh Brolin were AMAZING. they became who

they played. the story doesn't end where the movie ends, though. there was the trial of Dan White, the "twinkie defense", and the rioting after the verdict all explained in the 1984 Academy Award winning documentary you mention.

And I know what you mean about the old footage they showed at the beginning. :thumbsup:

[Cha]

5. I remember when it happened..

I was living in California and it was too sad.

[jonnyblitz]

6. I was a closeted early teen and never heard of it when it

happened but heard about it later in the 80's quite a bit. Do you remember the Briggs Amendment in CA where they tried to make it illegal for gay teachers to teach?

[Cha]

12. No, I didn't pay much attention

back then with my gypsy life style but the news of the Harvey Milk and San Francisco Mayor, George Miscone, assassinations were reverberating up and down the Coast.

[ikojo]

7. I saw Milk last week and cried as well

There was a scene of a kid who calls Harvey Milk and says his parents want to put him in the hospital. That scene reminded me of my brother. He came out at 14. My mom's response was to get him a subscription to Playboy, thinking that if he saw nekkid women he'd want them.

My brother never came to terms with his homosexuality and he experienced a level of self loathing that is hard to explain. He killed himself in July 2001 and I think it was primarily due to his inability to accept himself as a gay man. It is my brother's death that makes me so upset with the haters. There is some 12 or 13 year old gay kid hearing these so called ministers preach about how unnatural and sinful gays are. The words of the haters cause many suicides.

[QC]

10. I spent years wanting to die, but fortunately never got up the nerve to do it.

Mine is a common experience, and it explains the GLBT anger that some here seem to find so tiresome and inconvenient.

[yardwork]

13. I'm so sorry for your loss. I wish that more people paid attention to this.

So many young people die because of the hatred. It's a form of emotional torture.

[davidinalameda]

20. I'm sorry about your brother

and you're exactly right about these so-called ministers preaching hatred

thank you for posting this

[arewenotdemo]

21. I'm so sorry to hear that about your brother, ikojo.

[The Doctor.]

24. This has to end.

I can't express my sorrow.

In high school, I had a friend. Her name was Donna. She took two shots to kill herself. The first one missed, the second she put through her head. She knew she was different and told me so. I wish she would have talked to me about what she was thinking of. It was most certainly her parents. They loved me because I went to the same church they did. That was all the criteria they needed. It was her father's gun.

We were only close for a short time. The end was too abrupt.

She was terrified by what would happen if she told them. I told her that it wasn't something she had to talk about, that they didn't need to know, and one day she could just be who she was. What did I know... I was in high school.

Sometimes we blame ourselves more than we should.

She might not have ended herself if she didn't hear about what a monster she was from people that weren't worthy to pass judgment on anyone. The sooner the hatred is stopped, the better. Unfortunately, they can still claim that dehumanizing and inciting hatred against the innocent is 'free speech'.

[mmonk]

31. I'm sorry to hear about that.

My condolences.

[backscatter712]

8. I don't want to watch it. I know how it ends. Too depressing...

And somehow, I don't think that joking about the Twinkie Defense will lighten the mood.

[jonnyblitz]

9. the twinkie defense doesn't come up in the movie.

the movie ends before the trial.

[ikojo]

11. The twinkie defense is mentioned in the notes

at the end of the movie.

[jonnyblitz]

15. that's right, I forgot. when i think about the movie I think of it

ending with the candlelight march. I forgot about the notes before the credits.

[zulchzulu]

32. Yep, it's in the end... the documentary I mentioned needs to be seen as well for the full story

Both movies need to be seen.

[NJCher]

14. see this movie!

I saw it today, too, and I highly recommend it. Yes, it elicited more than a few tears, especially at the end.

It's a story about perseverance. Harvey's office was not won easily. The movie tells the story so compellingly that one is almost worn out with the struggle by the time Harvey finally gets elected.

The film pays homage to the theme of Brokeback Mountain because it shows the wreckage of human lives that are oppressed and persecuted. Harvey's past relationships, what happens to his current lover, and the calls Harvey gets from all over the United States...all of these are a patchwork of misery and inspiration and are the impetus for Harvey's drive for a place at the table.

The film also makes clear the origins of the religious right in oppressing the gay and lesbian community.

Josh Brolin was very believable. From the moment the viewer lays eyes on him, he gives off this feeling that things aren't all right upstairs. One gets this feeling that this is a disturbed, psychologically undeveloped person. From there it is just a short step to shooting others to resolve an issue.

Sean Penn was, IMO, simply brilliant. He will win an award for this performance.

I watched this film from the POV of a social activist. The most exciting parts were the demonstrations and marches. Harvey is brilliant in how he channels the energy of his supporters. Realizing how valuable he was to all is what makes the ending so heart-wrenching.

In so many places I could identify with the position of this movement. It's hard when one's cause is way, way behind or not even in the sights of the "mainstream." The film is very realistic because it shows change comes in increments, yet it shows victory is achievable. Sometimes, too, one's cause can catch a break, such as with the re-districting that was a factor in making it possible for Harvey to make it to City Hall.

By all means, stay and watch the credits. At the very end is a long list of all the people and institutions from which the producers obtained clips, documents, etc.

One of the best films I've ever seen.



Cher

[zulchzulu]

25. Wow! Great review

From the view of a social activist, the movie is certainly transporting more than just the events and life of Harvey Milk. It shows how grassroots movements pitch and start off kilter before the whole finally kicks in.

Of course, the dialogue of Harvey Milk talking into his cassette recorder shows another element, namely his Shakespearean (or Tosca opera) storyline of his eventual mortality for his cause.

Like you said as well, the credits are certainly worth sitting back and reading...since you're pretty teared up at that point anyway, it's a nice transition before you face the movie crowd and eventual travel home thinking about the movie...

[xenussister]

16. Sad as it is, it's also entertaining

That sounds weird, but it's not all gloom and doom. Harvey Milk was a fairly upbeat and funny guy. He was a serious person, a decent man with important goals, but had a great sense of humor that really comes through in the film. While there were setbacks along the way of his struggles, and of course we all know what happened, the film is very inspirational. Look how he lived once he came out, and what he accomplished in such a short amount of time! Everyone should see this film, and not let knowing how it ends or the thought that it might be too upsetting stop you.

I actually do think it's the best film of the year. I've seen it twice so far (at AMC theaters, not CineMark*) and want to see it again.


*regarding CineMark, the CEO gave almost $10,000 in support of Prop 8. So, don't see it at a Cinemark if you can help it. If it's ONLY playing at a Cinemark near you, then see it immediately. When a movie first comes out, the studio gets almost all of the box office. The longer it plays in theaters, the more the theater makes. If you see it when it first opens, you're supporting the studio that made it much more than the theater. Oh, and don't use Cinemark parking or buy concession items. That's how theaters make the bulk of their money.

[Pastiche423]

17. It isn't playing in my town, nor in the next town over

But this is one movie I will be buying.

I was there when it happened. There are no words to describe the heartbreaking sadness that enveloped the city that day and long after. I was also there when dan white was released from prison after serving only five years. Only five fucking years!

I liked the term white gave himself much better.

A very good book was written by Randy Shilts titled, The Mayor of Castro Street, the Life and Times of HARVEY MILK. When I heard the movie was being produced, I began re-reading it.

[SeattleGirl]

18. Wanted to go see it today, but the weather (and streets) are still

pretty dicey.

Will probably catch it next weekend. I really want to see this movie.

[GarbagemanLB]

19. I watched it last night. It was a very good movie.

[IndyOp]

22. I went to see it today too! My friend and I agreed it was strong on "Hope" --

heartbreaking and powerful and hopeful.

[thoughtcrime1984]

23. Can't wait to watch it. nt

[bluedawg12]

26. Glad you liked it and found it stirring.

Harvey had a dog? You have a dog? I have two dogs.

I am already crying. At least I know to bring a box of Kleenex to the film.

peace-
bd12

[bridgit]

28. A strange & tragic day. Dan White murdered Mayor Moscone too...

To say White was 'a sick man' does not plumb the depth of what occurred

[Manifestor_of_Light]

29. I saw it a few weeks ago in Houston.

At the River Oaks Theater.

Excellent movie. Everybody in it is good. Penn is awesome. Victor Garber, the naval architect (Mr. Andrews) in Titanic, is Mayor Moscone.

I remember the actual events in 1978. The shootings were shortly after the mass suicide of the Peoples' Temple in Guyana, which had been headquartered in San Francisco. In the movie, Penn tells the workers they have to stay on the good side of the Peoples' Temple, although he knows they are not to be trusted.

People wondered if, because of those two events, that everyone in San Francisco had gone crazy.

I also read "The Mayor of Castro Street" by Randy Shilts.

When I saw this movie, the first time Anita Bryant talks about evil gay people, everyone in the audience laughed at her.

[Hekate]

30. I saw it Dec 8 with a friend whose son is transgendered. It's an incredible film...

... that brings to life not only the man but the movement, as it was in its infancy. Actually two movements--the forward moving stream of the Gay Rights movement, and the regressive stream of the Culture Wars as personified by Anita Bryant.

Sean Penn deserves an Oscar for this--but everyone involved should share in the honor.

The portrayal of Dan White was actually quite poignant--in the film he comes across as a very confused human being who performed an evil act out of the very depths of that confusion.

My friend said at the end that she wished this had been released before November 4, and I agree.

Highly, highly recommended. If you can't get to it in the theater, buy the DVD or see if your public library can get a copy.

Hekate