The only interesting character was Dan White, played by Josh Brolin.
A liberal democrat who didn't really hate Milk personally, but happened to be in the wrong place when White assassinated the mayor of SF.
No, Milk was a deliberate target. Mayor Moscone was prepared to let White have his job back on the Board of Supervisors after he quit in a fit of pique. Milk read Moscone the riot act and told him NOT to appoint White to fill his vacancy. And that is what set off White.