Nominated for Eight Oscars, Put Your Bets on Sean Penn for Best Actor and Perhaps Gus Van Sant for Best Director.

And then there's Josh Brolin as Dan "Twinkie" White who is up for best supporting actor.

Not to mention that "Milk" is up for best picture.

You can watch the trailer here.

"Milk" is an iconic American drama about one person who enters politics to make a difference, only to be met with the tragic horror of the dark right wing homophobic side of our nation's heritage.

Yes, Harvey Milk became an early mainstream voice for the LGBT community in San Francisco, but he's also a bit of Erin Brockovich, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, with some Ed Koch tossed in. In short, Milk is presented as a warts and all person who finds his voice as a civil rights leader.

There's a strong tradition of "inspirational" American leadership films, ones that stir passions, hopes, and, finally, a sense of loss.

"Milk" has univesal appeal because it is about summoning what is in each of us to demand our Constitutional rights, and to do it with verve, passion, humor, and determination.

Harvey Milk was an average person who evolved into a great patriot.

Why are so many of our great patriots shot down?

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