Film No. 77 (2015) November 4th. 6.30 PM GREATER UNION Innaloo
"You're sticking to a losing position because of some personal beliefs"?. (A constituent asks the question of his Freeheld representative).
Laurel Hester, the real life Laurel, fought a dogged fight on two fronts and won just one of those battles. Freeheld is the interpretation of her fight for justice but more importantly it is a love story played out to stike at the heart of its audience. As an Australian I walked out applauding the gains America has made on the equality in marriage front. Something my fellow compatriots have not embraced.
Laurel (Julianne Moore) is a well respected detective. Her sexual preference is never an issue at work because it isn't relevant. She courts and falls in love with Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) and they live contentedly together in the house Laurel can afford to hold a mortgage on. Moore and Page are well matched and the sequences depicting their domestic bliss are effective.
The complication comes in the form of a major health issue, cancer of the worst kind for Laurel. So while the pain of fighting the ultimate battle, the moral issue of the legitimacy of their union, is fought out in an "only in the US" forum where 5 "stuffed shirts" decide if Laurel is able to bequeth her pension to her partner Stacie.
And so the film slips into formulaic territory in the second half except for the legitimacy of the relationships built earlier between Laurel, Stacie and Dane (Michael Shannon) Laurel's partner on the force. The disappointment is that the Steve Carell character, Steven, who leads the gay rights advocates, doesn't suit the pace of the film. He has some sharp quips which work but he's not the right fit. Either way most film goers know what to expect with Freeheld and they won't be disappointed. 9GUMS.
Laurel (Julianne Moore) is a well respected detective. Her sexual preference is never an issue at work because it isn't relevant. She courts and falls in love with Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) and they live contentedly together in the house Laurel can afford to hold a mortgage on. Moore and Page are well matched and the sequences depicting their domestic bliss are effective.
The complication comes in the form of a major health issue, cancer of the worst kind for Laurel. So while the pain of fighting the ultimate battle, the moral issue of the legitimacy of their union, is fought out in an "only in the US" forum where 5 "stuffed shirts" decide if Laurel is able to bequeth her pension to her partner Stacie.
And so the film slips into formulaic territory in the second half except for the legitimacy of the relationships built earlier between Laurel, Stacie and Dane (Michael Shannon) Laurel's partner on the force. The disappointment is that the Steve Carell character, Steven, who leads the gay rights advocates, doesn't suit the pace of the film. He has some sharp quips which work but he's not the right fit. Either way most film goers know what to expect with Freeheld and they won't be disappointed. 9GUMS.
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