8. Sean Penn As Harvey Milk Milk
Universal StudiosPerhaps Harvey Milks story is not legendary or iconic, but its certainly deserving of attention. Gus Van Sants sweet retelling of Milks political career chronicles the rise of Milk as the first openly gay person to be elected into public office, holding a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1978. Sean Penn puts together a tremendous performance as Milk, lacing every expression, line and movement with charisma and charm, while being careful not to ham any of it up. His portrayal of Milk sits perfectly with the tone of film, a jubilant man who is tortured by the injustices that plague him and his peers, and so suitably, the film is celebratory and tragic in equal measures. Admirably, the film makes no qualms with regards to how it should represent its gay activists, just as theres no attempt to camp it all up, theres also no attempt to hide away from everything.