There are some great things to consider with the movie
FREEHELD. Before delving into that one thing needs to be noted. There will be
many who will be turned off by this film early on. Some will call those people
homophobes when it truth that isn’t the case. We live in a world where
homosexuality has been ingrained in most of us as being wrong. But times are
changing. Everyone doesn’t have to endorse that times are changing but we will
need to accept that they are. So consider watching this film as if it weren’t
about that aspect but about two people in love. If you do so then the cause
being discussed becomes the issue as it should be.
FREEHELD tells the true story of Laurel Hester (Julianne
Moore). Laurel is a police detective working her way to becoming a lieutenant.
Her partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon) is her closest friend on the force.
But even Dane is unaware of the fact that Laurel is a lesbian. It’s a secret
she holds for fear of having it be used against her at work.
Laurel meets Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), a much younger
lesbian, at a gay bar in a nearby town. The two find themselves attracted to
one another and soon a romance blooms. While Laurel continues to try and hide
this from her co-workers, they eventually move in together. A surprise visit
from Dane at their home results in his discovering Laurels big secret. The
surprise is on Laurel though as Dane is accepting of the fact but hurt that she
didn’t trust him enough to tell him.
Problems ensue when Laurel begins having pains in her side.
Stacie demands that she see a doctor and the result is discovering that she has
stage four cancer. She begins treatment but the odds of survival are very slim
with only 10% of most victims of this cancer surviving. The cancer takes its
toll on Laurel but it is a different opponent that is causing her more grief.
The city where Laurel works is governed by freeholders, an
elected group of country members that govern some cities in New Jersey. Having
gone through domestic partnership proceedings and completing that agreement,
Laurel now asks that her pension benefits be passed on to Stacie. But the group
of freeholders turn down her request citing that what she has is not a legal
marriage and that they are not legally required to do so even if the state
recognizes domestic partnerships.
What follows is the Laurel and Stacie’s battle for the
rights guaranteed her by the state. Into the mix falls Dane who supports his
partner much to the chagrin of the rest of the police force who don’t seem
willing to back her. When their pleas fall on deaf ears Laurel received a call
from Steven Goldstein (Steve Carrell), the founder of Garden State Equality, an
organization focusing on LGBT rights. Steven tells Laurel he will take on her
case and help her to the fullest extent possible. Only time will tell what
happens in the end, time that Laurel doesn’t have as the cancer progresses.
While this is the story being told the question boils down
to is this a good movie or not, something worth watching? There are two things
to discuss to answer that question: does it convince you to consider its cause
and is it a good movie. Unfortunately I found it to achieve neither while only
slightly helping the cause.
How so? Well let’s look at the movie first. While it is well
acted it comes off more as a disease of the week film that was prevalent in the
late seventies on TV. We get to see the short romance followed by the
debilitating disease followed by the court like drama. But the writing is poor
here. Things feel contrived, situations don’t seem to seamlessly combine to
tell a story and the dialogue is extremely lacking in many parts. And while
Moore is an accomplished actress she doesn’t seem at ease here with the role.
Page has shown potential in so many movies but here seems like she holds back
far too much. Only Shannon comes off good in this film and his part is very
supporting. Carrell is perhaps the worst here but I don’t think he is to blame.
His portrayal of Goldstein makes the man seem more sideshow barker willing to
use anyone he can to promote gay marriage while Laurel just wants equal
treatment.
That becomes one of the issues that do more damage than good
when it comes to looking at the cause being discussed. While the disagreement
with same sex marriage is discussed those who disagree with it here are
portrayed fairly, showing how some are too caught up in their religious
feelings on the issue when they should be looking at it from a legal
standpoint. It is those who are for gay marriage that come off the worst here,
portrayed as a yelling mob that chants one or two slogans without providing any
insight as to why they feel they should be recognized. It would have been more
convincing had they done so.
In the end it is the last few moments of the film that make
the subject matter more relatable for viewers. It is the battle seen through
the eyes of Laurel and Stacie that is the heart of the matter, their search for
nothing more than to be treated equally. Their story isn’t about a quest for
gay marriage or street protests or getting on TV but about just being accepted
for who they are. That comes through near the end but not enough to save this
movie from what has come earlier.
I have little doubt that this movie will find many
supporters who will love it not for the quality of the film itself but because
of its cause. That cause does indeed deserve attention and discussion. What
happened to Laurel Hester is terrible and should be brought to everyone’s
attention. But this film doesn’t truly do the cause justice. In the end those
who are offended will stop watching early on during love scenes and never get
to the important part of the film. Those who view it as only a cause will
delight in the chanting Carrell’s character does even though he seems
cartoonish here. But for those who sympathize with the plight these two women
went through a better movie could and should have been made.
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