The Times of Harvey Milk

On November 27, 1978, in San Francisco, Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were both shot in cold blood by fellow Supervisor Dan White. The Times of Harvey Milk, a superb Oscar-winning documentary recounts, through interviews and news footage, the events leading up to the tragic deaths of Milk and Moscone, and the sad mockery of justice that followed. (White was given a minimal sentence, released early, and after failing to adjust to society, committed suicide.) Playing down the sensationalist aspects of the story, filmmaker Richard Epstein instead paints a moving and com passionate portrait of Harvey Milk, the man; and of his incredible determination and impressive personal victory in winning an important political seat, while being an outspoken gay rights activist. This powerful, loving testament to human courage and conviction was televised once on PBS earlier this season, but still remains unseen by many. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review--July 13, 2004--New Yorker, 2 discs, 88 min., not rated, $29.95--Rob Epstein's Oscar-winning 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk debuts on DVD in a double-disc edition boasting a slew of extra features. Bonuses include audio commentary (by Epstein, editor Debbie Hoffman, and Dan Nicoletta), the outtakes featurette “Harvey Speaks Out” (3 min.), a three-minute “1985 Academy Awards Presentation” segment (awarded by Kathleen Turner), an eight-minute segment on the film's San Francisco premiere benefit at the Castro Theatre, a 2002 Q&A session with Epstein and Tom Ammiano at the Director's Guild of Los Angeles (16 min.), a four-minute update on Dan White, a three-minute alternate ending, a three-minute “1st Anniversary” segment featuring former mayor Dianne Feinstein, five “25th Anniversary Events” segments (including interviews with family members and Milk's successor, and a candlelight memorial), a photo gallery with captions, and trailers. Bottom line: a landmark documentary making its long-awaited debut on DVD, this is highly recommended.][DVD/Blu-ray Review—Mar. 29, 2008—Criterion, 88 min., not rated, DVD: 2 discs, $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray and latest on DVD, 1984's The Times of Harvey Milk features a stunning transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio sound on Blu-ray (and Dolby Digital surround sound on DVD). Blu-ray and DVD extras include audio commentary (by director Robert Epstein, co-editor Deborah Hoffmann, and photographer Daniel Nicoletta), excerpts from Epstein's research tapes (80 min.), a panel discussion on Dan White's trial featuring news clips (34 min.), a featurette on Gus Van Sant's 2008 biopic Milk with Epstein, Van Sant, actor James Franco, and friends of Harvey Milk (23 min.), an interview with documentary filmmaker Jon Else (20 min.), “From the Castro to the Oscars” on the film's premiere at the Castro Theatre and the 1984 Oscar win (10 min.), an excerpt from a 25th anniversary commemoration featuring Milk's successor Harry Britt (10 min.), footage from a candlelight memorial (8 min.), unused “Postscript” interview clips (3 min.), a collection of audio and video recordings by Milk, a theatrical trailer, and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic B. Ruby Rich, a tribute by Milk's nephew Stuart Milk, and a piece on the restoration by UCLA's Ross Lipman. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for a landmark documentary.]