Milk

Sean Penn is a virtual lock for another Oscar nomination with this triumphant biopic and undeniably important movie. As Harvey Milk, the nation’s first openly gay man to be elected to public office, Penn pays a tremendous tribute to a man who insisted upon blazing trails no matter how much opposition he encountered, and no matter how many death threats he received. Penn does a phenomenal job of bringing Milk’s legendary charisma and warmth to the screen. The man continues to top himself as an actor, and his work here is note perfect. Penn and director Gus Van Sant take Milk through his pony-tailed early days through his tragic last meeting with Dan White (Josh Brolin). One always expects Penn to do something extraordinary when he steps in front of the camera, and what he does here is no exception.