Freeheld

Freeheld received pretty tepid critical reviews. On the one hand, I kind of get it. It’s easy to compare this film to Philadelphia which was written by the same writer or Still Alice which also stars Julianne Moore. And sure, maybe it’s not quite as good as those other films. But I still thought Freeheld was pretty good. Certainly good enough to make me cry.

Freeheld is the true story of police officer Laurel Hester, who gets diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Laurel’s partner Stacie is not entitled to Laurel’s benefits which include the house that the two women had made a home together. As a result, Laurel, with the help of lawyer Steven Goldstein launch a crusade against the board of chosen freeholders to demand equal rights for Laurel and Stacie’s same-sex partnership.

Julianne Moore straight up eviscerates the role of Laurel Hester. Admittedly after doing Still Alice, such a tear-jerker role of a women with a progressive disease is something she can do in her sleep. But it’s Julianne Moore so even her at half-steam, she still kills it. Elliot Page also gives a good performance. Page and Julianne Moore seem like an unlikely lead couple but they interact very well together and have good chemistry. Rounding out the lead cast as Julianne Moore’s reluctantly then staunchly supportive partner is Michael Shannon who is amazing. Always. This 3/4 of the main cast all turn in exceptional performances.

The weak link in the cast Steve Carrell. Carrell just couldn’t figure out how to inhabit the role of the proud, flamboyant, Jewish lawyer Steven Goldstein. Carrell struggles to play a such a flamboyant character without taking it into camp territory. You could definitely see every thought process he had playing this role play across his face. It was not a natural fit for him.

Yes, Freeheld is a movie that buried its gays but it does so with a purpose. The movie has something to say about LGBTQ rights and it is a topic that is still relevant today. Obviously it’s never fun watching a queer character slowly die but in this case, it didn’t feel gratuitous. Freeheld is a story that absolutely deserved to be told, dead lesbian and all. It’s based on an important legal battle for queer rights and the movie does a great job with adapting the story.

The most important thing for this movie to do was be emotional and emotionally honest. Personally, I think they succeeded. Freeheld made me feel things. It made me cry. And it earned my tears. The performances are great and the story is solid. While as a culture we seem to be moving away from tragic, queer stories about terminal illness and discrimination, that doesn’t mean that because Freeheld is about such things it is a bad movie. It is not. Freeheld is an incredibly moving moving anchored by brilliant performances from 75% of its leads.

Overall rating: 8.1/10

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