Milk

After moving to San Francisco with lover Scott Smith (Franco), businessman and political activist Harvey Milk (Penn) becomes the first openly gay man to be elected to public office. But Milk is soon clashing with fellow city supervisor Dan White, who eventually assassinates Milk and Mayor George Mascone after losing his job. Penn delivers another top-notch turn as he immerses himself into the role with enough skill and talent to honor Milk without portraying merely a characterization. Both Penn's performance and the film as a whole seem rooted in genuine passion and admiration for the man and his legacy.