This is a nice featurette about the actors in Milk.

Even though a lot of hype is coming from the media on SAG’s ensemble award to Slumdog Millionaire on Sunday night, we mustn’t let it go unnoticed that they also handed out awards to Sean Penn for playing activist Harvey Milk in Milk and Meryl Streep for her performance as a fiercely certain nun in Doubt.

The late and multi-talented actor Heath Ledger won supporting role as the joker in The Dark Knight and the ever so vibrant, talented Kate Winslet for her appearance as a German woman harboring secrets in The Reader.

As for television it appears to be cookie cutter wins from the Golden Globe with NBC’s “30 Rock” and HBO’s “John Adams” in the comedy series and longform categories, and a top drama series honor for AMC’s “Mad Men.”

For a complete list of SAG winners, click here.

Slumdog Millionaire received the most kudos last night at the 14th annual Critics’ Choice awards, the film nabbed best picture, director (Danny Boyle), writer (Simon Beaufoy), young actor/actress (Dev Patel) and composer, A.R. Rahman.

Sean Penn who starred in Milk received the actor honor He was also honored with the cast of Milk as top ensemble.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association picked two actresses for the lead actress category – noting the second tie ever in a lead category — both Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep for their roles in Rachel Getting Married and Doubt.

Heath Ledger was honored posthumously for his supporting role in The Dark Knight — a first for the Critic’s Choice. The movie also picked up the first Best Action Movie award.

Kate Winslet won the supporting actress honors for her role in The Reader.

Wall-E won for best animated.

For a complete list of winners, go to Broadcast Film Critics Association website.

Two highly supported films, Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, tied with eight nominations each in the 14th Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics Choice Awards.

Both were among the 10 films nominated for best picture. Milk started strong last month and picked up key nominations for lead actor Sean Penn, supporting co-star James Franco and director Gus Van Sant. Button, which opens Christmas Day, had Brad Pitt listed for best actor, along with supporting turns by Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson.

Other titles nominated for best picture included Changeling, Doubt, The Dark Knight, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/Nixon, Wall-E and The Wrestler.

Another tie occurred with six nominations: The Dark Knight, Doubt, Slumdog Millionaire and one more taken by surprise was dual nominations for Kate Beckinsale as best actress and Vera Farmiga as best supporting actress for Nothing But the Truth.

Complete list of Nominees for the 14th annual Critics’ Choice Awards click here.

His life changed history.  His courage changed lives.   

In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Gus Van Sant in Milk, filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, and produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.

Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk’s life. While living in New York City, he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change.  

With vitalizing support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk’s actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words.   

When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin). But as White and Milk’s political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies tragically converge.  

Milk’s platform was and is one of hope – a hero’s legacy that resonates in the here and now. 

The film’s original score is by Danny Elfman. The costume designer is Danny Glicker and Elliot Graham edited the film. The production designer is Bill Groom and the film’s director of photography is Harris Savides, A.S.C.  

MILK Trailer starring Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch. I like the trailer because it tells you the story, which we’ve heard before through a documentary.  Watching the actors take these roles is an acting lesson. I am amazed at Sean Penn’s transformation — brilliantly calculated.

Milk limited release date is November 26, 2008. The true story is directed by Oscar winner Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black. The cast includes Oscar winner Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, and Emile Hirsch.

Academy Award winner, Sean Penn stars with James Brolin, James Franco and Emile Hirsch take the roles earnestly for gay rights and it looks great.  Directed by Academy Award winner Gus Van Sant.