Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

In case you don't follow history or movies or awards ceremonies, Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to hold public office. However, it wasn't just his achievements or demise that make him worthy of a big-screen biopic. The man had personality. Such a man that's larger than his short life deserves a good movie. He certainly got it.

On the heels of his 40th birthday, Milk (Sean Penn) decides that he needs a change. However, taking a new lover (James Franco) and opening a camera store are not enough. Instead, he pumps up his power as a local businessman to eventually become the first openly gay man to hold public office.

Don't expect to hear about what made the man; at just over two hours, there's no time for additional backstory. Of course, we all know what happens, so there are no happy or surprise endings here. There's also no surprise that the combination of director Gus Van Sant, Penn and a stellar supporting cast (most notably Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and James Franco) makes Milk a must-see.

For another, extended opinion, check out Karen Dahlstrom's review of the theatrical release of Milk.

The Picture

Much of Milk feels like a documentary, and looks a bit like one, too. The colors are slightly flat and there is a bit of noticeable grain -- and not just during the pieces of actual historical footage that pop up throughout the film. That's not to say that there isn't some impressive video is this 1.85:1 transfer. The quality of the theatrical release is duplicated almost flawlessly, with a few great details here and there. Overall though, you won't be whipping this one out for a system demo.

The Sound

Despite the DTS-HD Master Audio treatment, Milk isn't going to test the limits of anyone's sound system. The film uses the surrounds sparingly, most notably in the rally scenes. However, even the music that helps set the time period is used more as background noise than anything for your speakers to play around with. The entire movie relies on its dialogue -- and much of it has a very low tone.

The Extras

Those wanting to know more about Milk -- the man and the film -- will be slightly disappointed. No commentary and three featurettes make this a fairly no-frills release. "Hollywood Comes to San Francisco" gives the behind-the-scenes info, with "Marching for Equality" focusing on the real-life and movie depiction of the marches. Finally, there is a "Remembering Harvey" short, which is an overview of the man's life through the eyes of friends. Universal hit a few of the highlights, but missed two major items: Penn and Van Sant.

Final Thoughts

It's easy to write this off as another preachy biopic, but they don't give out those Oscars for nothing. Milk's story is an extremely interesting part of history, and Penn really makes it come to life. It took 30 years to bring Harvey Milk to the big screen, and it was worth the wait. Van Sant certainly had his work cut out for him, and Milk does not disappoint.

Where to Buy:

• Milk on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, Victor Garber
• Director: Gus Van Sant
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 2.0 (English)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: R
• Studio: Universal Studios
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: March 10, 2009
• Run Time: 129 minutes
• List Price: $39.98
• Extras:
• Remembering Harvey
• Hollywood Comes to San Francisco
• Marching for Equality
• BD Live