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Milk

 Milk
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TVTItem
 Milk
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Milk
 Milk
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Milk
 Milk
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Milk is a 2008 biopic film based on the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. Directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black, the film stars Sean Penn as Milk, with Emile Hirsch, James Franco, and Josh Brolin in supporting roles.Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city's conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milk's relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to ban gays and their supporters from public school jobs.Milk received numerous accolades, among them eight Academy Award nominations, of which it won two: Best Original Screenplay for Black, and Best Actor for Penn (his second Oscar).Not to be confused with the drink, nor with the film Milk Money. Compare the acclaimed 1984 documentary about Milk, The Times of Harvey Milk.
 Milk
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2023-07-15T02:44:06Z
 Milk
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2023-07-15T02:44:06Z
 Milk
processingComment
Dropped link to Fanservice: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Milk
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Milk / int_14c04cad
type
Butch Lesbian
 Milk / int_14c04cad
comment
Also, a played down Butch Lesbian. (It is Alison Pill, after all).
 Milk / int_14c04cad
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1.0
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1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_14c04cad
 Milk / int_1774847
type
Gayborhood
 Milk / int_1774847
comment
Gayborhood: Justified due to the setting, since it was Harvey's base of political support. After all, Castro is the original Gayborhood.
 Milk / int_1774847
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_1774847
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_1774847
 Milk / int_1c5f6177
type
The Twink
 Milk / int_1c5f6177
comment
The Twink: Several examples - photographer Danny Nicoletta definitely qualifies, and Jack is more of a Broken Bird example. Cleve is depicted as one in his first appearance.
 Milk / int_1c5f6177
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1.0
 Milk / int_1c5f6177
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1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_1c5f6177
 Milk / int_1c79ae8c
type
Those Two Guys
 Milk / int_1c79ae8c
comment
Those Two Guys: Plabich and Rivaldo - never get any screen time alone. The epilogue shows they became partners in a political consulting firm.
 Milk / int_1c79ae8c
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1.0
 Milk / int_1c79ae8c
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1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_1c79ae8c
 Milk / int_231cadfa
type
Token Lesbian
 Milk / int_231cadfa
comment
Token Lesbian: Anne Kronenberg, the campaign manager. Also, a played down Butch Lesbian. (It is Alison Pill, after all).
 Milk / int_231cadfa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_231cadfa
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1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_231cadfa
 Milk / int_234fa9ba
type
May–December Romance
 Milk / int_234fa9ba
comment
May–December Romance: Harvey is in his early 40s, while at least one of his boyfriends appears to be in his early-to-mid 20s (who even starts their relationship by asserting he doesn't date guys over 40). It seems Jack is about Scott's age.
 Milk / int_234fa9ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_234fa9ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_234fa9ba
 Milk / int_2a2d62a0
type
Talking Down the Suicidal
 Milk / int_2a2d62a0
comment
Talking Down the Suicidal: Harvey talks Paul, a disabled gay kid, out of killing himself before his parent sends him off to a Cure Your Gays institution.
 Milk / int_2a2d62a0
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1.0
 Milk / int_2a2d62a0
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1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_2a2d62a0
 Milk / int_2a7b0247
type
Could Say It, But...
 Milk / int_2a7b0247
comment
Could Say It, But...: Harvey talks to Cleve about Prop 6 passing.
 Milk / int_2a7b0247
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_2a7b0247
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_2a7b0247
 Milk / int_2a8a7ea6
type
Bury Your Gays
 Milk / int_2a8a7ea6
comment
Bury Your Gays: Justified in that this is a true story and Harvey really was assassinated by Dan White, but not because Harvey was gay. The real Dan went to City Hall intent on murdering the mayor over a political vendetta, which he did. In the process, he also ran into Milk, against whom he also held a political grudge. Also averted, since almost every character with a speaking part in the film is gay, and are alive at the end. Justifiedly played straight with Jack. Also played straight with Scott Smith, who died of AIDS-related complications following the events of the film. Justified and Truth in Television.
 Milk / int_2a8a7ea6
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Milk / int_2a8a7ea6
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1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_2a8a7ea6
 Milk / int_2d92c43c
type
Little "No"
 Milk / int_2d92c43c
comment
Little "No": Harvey just as Dan pulls a pistol on him and shoots him dead. True to his character, he seems less frightened and more disappointed that his murderer would stoop so low.
 Milk / int_2d92c43c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_2d92c43c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_2d92c43c
 Milk / int_373e2b9f
type
Murder the Hypotenuse
 Milk / int_373e2b9f
comment
Murder the Hypotenuse: Well, more like "have the hypotenuse commit suicide." Jack's suicide, to be specific.
 Milk / int_373e2b9f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_373e2b9f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_373e2b9f
 Milk / int_3bc88a7f
type
Foregone Conclusion
 Milk / int_3bc88a7f
comment
Foregone Conclusion: Harvey Milk is killed. Actually, the film starts with the announcement of his assassination.
 Milk / int_3bc88a7f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_3bc88a7f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_3bc88a7f
 Milk / int_4655ec83
type
Important Haircut
 Milk / int_4655ec83
comment
Important Haircut: Harvey gets one of these, along with a shave, in order to get more votes.
 Milk / int_4655ec83
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_4655ec83
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_4655ec83
 Milk / int_557838d1
type
Adaptational Attractiveness
 Milk / int_557838d1
comment
Adaptational Attractiveness: Maybe a smidge, but the photo montage at the end shows that they got the likenesses really close. And the performances are excellent across the board, so it's easy to forgive.
 Milk / int_557838d1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_557838d1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_557838d1
 Milk / int_56515a39
type
Artistic License – History
 Milk / int_56515a39
comment
Artistic License – History: The epilogue repeats the Urban Legend that Dan White received a mild sentence for shooting Moscone and Milk, because his lawyers argued that he had been mentally impaired due to excessive consumption of Twinkies and other junk foods (the origin of the phrase "Twinkie defence"). The real argument was that White was suffering from mental problems at the time of the murders, and that one of the signs of this was an increased consumption of junk food.
 Milk / int_56515a39
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_56515a39
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_56515a39
 Milk / int_5d753b19
type
The Smurfette Principle
 Milk / int_5d753b19
comment
The Smurfette Principle: Judging by the scenes that weren't archive footage, there was exactly one (1) woman fighting for her rights alongside Milk. Even the crowd scenes had more drag queens than women.
 Milk / int_5d753b19
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_5d753b19
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_5d753b19
 Milk / int_5f54a67b
type
Enter Stage Window
 Milk / int_5f54a67b
comment
Enter Stage Window: To avoid metal detectors and get his gun into City Hall, Dan White climbs through a basement window. This actually happened on November 27, 1978.
 Milk / int_5f54a67b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_5f54a67b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_5f54a67b
 Milk / int_6056f853
type
Homoerotic Subtext
 Milk / int_6056f853
comment
Homoerotic Subtext: Buckets of it. Rather expected due to the subject matter.
 Milk / int_6056f853
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_6056f853
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_6056f853
 Milk / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 Milk / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Apparently an appalling number of Harvey's lovers including Jack. In the what-happened-after epilogue, we learn that White killed himself some years after being released from jail.
 Milk / int_6d332aea
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_6d332aea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_6d332aea
 Milk / int_6d5fb1e0
type
Waistcoat of Style
 Milk / int_6d5fb1e0
comment
Waistcoat of Style: Harvey.
 Milk / int_6d5fb1e0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_6d5fb1e0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_6d5fb1e0
 Milk / int_775a1af6
type
Married to the Job
 Milk / int_775a1af6
comment
Married to the Job: What causes a rift between Harvey and Scott.
 Milk / int_775a1af6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_775a1af6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_775a1af6
 Milk / int_80251be3
type
How We Got Here
 Milk / int_80251be3
comment
How We Got Here: The film is showing what happened leading up to the news of Harvey being killed.
 Milk / int_80251be3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_80251be3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_80251be3
 Milk / int_84b1a036
type
Gay Aesop
 Milk / int_84b1a036
comment
Gay Aesop: Possibly a Trope Codifier.
 Milk / int_84b1a036
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_84b1a036
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_84b1a036
 Milk / int_84d29a11
type
Drag Queen
 Milk / int_84d29a11
comment
Drag Queen: None of the major characters, but they can be seen in the background of all the major protests. And of course, performing in Harvey's larger-than-life final birthday party.
 Milk / int_84d29a11
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_84d29a11
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_84d29a11
 Milk / int_875615dd
type
Truth in Television
 Milk / int_875615dd
comment
Also played straight with Scott Smith, who died of AIDS-related complications following the events of the film. Justified and Truth in Television.
 Milk / int_875615dd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_875615dd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_875615dd
 Milk / int_970c790a
type
Big Bad
 Milk / int_970c790a
comment
Big Bad: Dan is the closest thing there is to one as the film progresses, getting increasingly frustrated at Harvey and serving as the most recurring thorn in his side, even more so than Briggs.
 Milk / int_970c790a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_970c790a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_970c790a
 Milk / int_9718a22a
type
You Remind Me of X
 Milk / int_9718a22a
comment
You Remind Me of X: Late in the movie, Harvey expresses his concerns to George Moscone about Dan White getting reappointed. Harvey even uses the "You will not be elected dog catcher" line.
 Milk / int_9718a22a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_9718a22a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_9718a22a
 Milk / int_99e14f05
type
All-Loving Hero
 Milk / int_99e14f05
comment
It's implied Dan is as well, judging by Harvey's view of him.
 Milk / int_99e14f05
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_99e14f05
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_99e14f05
 Milk / int_9fc04a54
type
Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?
 Milk / int_9fc04a54
comment
Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Harvey views Dan's macho behavior as this, and as a shield.
 Milk / int_9fc04a54
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_9fc04a54
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_9fc04a54
 Milk / int_a6971841
type
Dining in the Buff
 Milk / int_a6971841
comment
Dining in the Buff: Harvey and his new boyfriend Scott share a birthday cake in bed.
 Milk / int_a6971841
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_a6971841
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_a6971841
 Milk / int_aabe2fb
type
Deliberate Values Dissonance
 Milk / int_aabe2fb
comment
Deliberate Values Dissonance: Aside from the obvious homophobia, several of the gay characters themselves are implied to be somewhat sexist (as exemplified by their uncomfortable introduction to Anne Kronenberg) and slightly racist, with Milk referring to Jack Lira as "Taco" and his Asian teammember as "Lotus Blossom."
 Milk / int_aabe2fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_aabe2fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_aabe2fb
 Milk / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Milk / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Harvey, not unlike his real-life counterpart was said to have been.
 Milk / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_ae3d6438
 Milk / int_b6ec7566
type
Twofer Token Minority
 Milk / int_b6ec7566
comment
Twofer Token Minority: Any of the black or Asian inhabitants of the Castro. Also, Jack Lira. Harvey Milk himself; he was Jewish.
 Milk / int_b6ec7566
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_b6ec7566
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_b6ec7566
 Milk / int_b77808f2
type
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue
 Milk / int_b77808f2
comment
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: At the end, pictures of the actual people depicted in the film, and brief summaries of their lives after the assassination are shown.
 Milk / int_b77808f2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_b77808f2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_b77808f2
 Milk / int_b7e74b77
type
Five-Token Band
 Milk / int_b7e74b77
comment
Five-Token Band: Along with Harvey Milk, an openly gay man, the Board of Supervisors that he becomes a part of includes Gordon Lau, a Chinese-American, and Carol Ruth Silver, a single mother.
 Milk / int_b7e74b77
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_b7e74b77
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_b7e74b77
 Milk / int_bd50e676
type
Queer Romance
 Milk / int_bd50e676
comment
Queer Romance: The film has two significant homosexual love stories.
 Milk / int_bd50e676
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_bd50e676
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_bd50e676
 Milk / int_c5249b29
type
Nice Guy
 Milk / int_c5249b29
comment
Nice Guy: Harvey. He's caring, empathetic, and rarely has a bad word for anyone.
 Milk / int_c5249b29
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_c5249b29
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_c5249b29
 Milk / int_ca01f9a3
type
Mononymous Biopic Title
 Milk / int_ca01f9a3
comment
Mononymous Biopic Title
 Milk / int_ca01f9a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_ca01f9a3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_ca01f9a3
 Milk / int_d08595d3
type
Broken Bird
 Milk / int_d08595d3
comment
Broken Bird: Jack has abandonment and attachment issues from his father beating him when he came out, which plague him throughout the film and ultimately cause his suicide. It's implied Dan is as well, judging by Harvey's view of him.
 Milk / int_d08595d3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_d08595d3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_d08595d3
 Milk / int_d22a7df2
type
Troubled, but Cute
 Milk / int_d22a7df2
comment
Troubled, but Cute: Harvey's preferred love interests.
 Milk / int_d22a7df2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_d22a7df2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_d22a7df2
 Milk / int_dca70c44
type
Reasonable Authority Figure
 Milk / int_dca70c44
comment
Reasonable Authority Figure: George Moscone.
 Milk / int_dca70c44
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_dca70c44
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
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Milk / int_dca70c44
 Milk / int_dce640ce
type
Real-Person Epilogue
 Milk / int_dce640ce
comment
Real-Person Epilogue: The end credits includes photographs of the real people portrayed in the film.
 Milk / int_dce640ce
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_dce640ce
 Milk / int_f76842b1
type
The Fundamentalist
 Milk / int_f76842b1
comment
The Fundamentalist: State Legislator John Briggs and Anita Bryant.
 Milk / int_f76842b1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_f76842b1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_f76842b1
 Milk / int_fa712e27
type
Gay Conservative
 Milk / int_fa712e27
comment
Gay Conservative: According to Scott, Milk himself was originally one. A more played straight kind of example is David Goodstein.
 Milk / int_fa712e27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_fa712e27
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_fa712e27
 Milk / int_fc151e9d
type
Department of Redundancy Department
 Milk / int_fc151e9d
comment
Department of Redundancy Department: "He will be stabbed and have your genitals, cock balls and prick cut off."
 Milk / int_fc151e9d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_fc151e9d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_fc151e9d
 Milk / int_fd94c4ac
type
Theme Naming
 Milk / int_fd94c4ac
comment
Theme Naming: By accident: Milk and White.
 Milk / int_fd94c4ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Milk / int_fd94c4ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Milk
hasFeature
Milk / int_fd94c4ac
 Milk / int_ffad4e9f
type
Shown Their Work
 Milk / int_ffad4e9f
comment
Shown Their Work: The filmmakers used historical photographs of the actual events as a guide for certain shots and shot the scenes in the original locations, even going so far as to recreate Harvey Milk's camera shop at its original address. Some of the actors, most notably Sean Penn, even wore their characters' actual clothes during filming.
 Milk / int_ffad4e9f
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Milk / int_ffad4e9f
 Milk / int_name
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ItemName
 Milk / int_name
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Milk / int_name
 Milk / int_name
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Milk

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Milk
hasFeature
All Gays Are Pedophiles / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Biopic / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Cast Full of Gay / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Dead Man Writing / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Dining in the Buff / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Heteronormative Crusader / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Homosexual Reproduction / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Isn't It Ironic? / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Lonely Funeral / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Mononymous Biopic Title / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
New Queer Cinema / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Nobody Over 50 Is Gay / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Pride Parade / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Real-Person Cameo / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Split-Screen Phone Call / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Talking Down the Suicidal / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
The '70s / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
Token Lesbian / int_b36db295
 Milk
hasFeature
You Are What You Hate / int_b36db295
 Sock Tube Presents (Web Video)
seeAlso
Milk
 Milk
hasFeature
Queer Show Ghetto / int_b36db295