GUS VAN SANT - PENN'S POLITICS HELPED LAND MILK ROLE

PENN'S POLITICS HELPED LAND MILK ROLE

Director GUS VAN SANT was desperate to cast SEAN PENN in Oscar-nominated film MILK - because the actor's controversial political stances made him ideal for the lead role.
Penn has famously supported controversial politicians including Cuban leader Raul Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez even praised Penn for his criticism of the U.S. war in Iraq after the actor paid his first visit the country in 2007, as a freelance journalist.
The outspoken star's passion for politics convinced Van Sant he was a perfect fit to play assassinated homosexual official Harvey Milk in the.movie.
Van Sant says, "There were many political speeches that you could hear him give. (We) thought that he could do that part of the movie, the political speaking part. (It was) his politics, not necessarily the type of politics, but (the fact) that he was politically motivated and active, (that he) was out there expressing himself."