Free Love

One of the things that has always annoyed me about people opposing gay rights laws is the absolute refusal of the opposition especially those religiously based to recognize romantic love. It's not recognized in the holy works of religion therefore it doesn't exist. Even in this film where we are talking about two people in love. Believe the evidence of your own eyes about Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree in the film Freeheld.

I worked for NYS Crime Victims Board and in death I came in contact with a lot of ordinary LGBTQ people who in death had their lives magnified far more than what they did in their lives. Such is the case with Laurel Hester who was a detective with the Ocean County Police in New Jersey. I'm not sure she was closeted, but she certainly was discreet in her male dominated work place.

Discretion went out the window when she meets Stacie Andree a much younger woman at a softball game. The two start living together and while it's not all roses, the commitment is truly there.

And then cancer strikes and what to do about whatever estate Hester might leave. This story illustrates precisely the problem that LGBTQ people had before marriage settled the issue permanently. You could in some places get a domestic partnership certificate and have the relationship recorded. But it wasn't mandated that private industry and government recognize it.

Thus was the issue of the film as the town of Freehold and its governing body would not extend survivor benefits to Ms. Andree. They were not married, but legally they could not get married. At least without a lot of agitation and organizing.

Which is where Steve Carrell as Steven Goldstein comes in, leading the same sex marriage lobbying group. The issue as he says is so neatly encapsulated in the problem that Hester and Andree face.

Two things I liked about Freeheld that make this a special film. One was the chemistry between Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as Laurel and Stacy. They made me believe the love was real.

The second was the scenes among Laurel's police colleagues with her and among themselves. The differing reactions was a sampling of straight and male America, quite nicely documented.

Freeheld is a great film showing the need for same sex marriage as few others have.

This film tells the story of a well respected and very competent police officer in New Jersey, who fights against the county to give her pension to her partner after she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It is really beyond me that "Freeheld" is not getting any award nominations. It is way more touching, captivating and engrossing than the other film that is getting a lot of attention. Julianne Moore is superb in the film. Steve Carell is very good as well, he is likable as the flamboyant activist. The story is so touching that I literally kept reaching out for tissues to wipe my tears and blow my nose. I thoroughly enjoyed the film!

Seriously people!!! So much hates on this review section.

At first I'm gonna tell you how i found this movie. I was searching for a romance movie on internet then i found it. I bought the DVD and decided to watch it alone, because it's a Homosexual romance (first i thought it's really a gay lesbian movie ).

But it was more than that. Once upon a time i was homophobic person. I hated gays and lesbians more than i hate imaginary gods. I after realized that homosexuals are humans to. They have emotions like strait people. They love, they cry and they laugh.

This movie based on a true story and very heart touching. I cried after watching this movie. Seriously it's very cute romance with saddest images of gay community.

People, if you don't like this types of movies then don't watch. But stop saying nonsense about this. I'm from Bangladesh, a country with so much ignorance and hate. But i came to light, it's time for you to come out too.

After all, it's very emotional movie with complexity. I liked it and watched twice.

The movie was inspired by the Oscar winning documentary and several of the real life folks have cameos in the film. Julianne Moore and Ellen Page play a couple that falls in love and then deals with a cancer diagnosis and then a fight for a police pension after twenty three years of service to be granted to her domestic partner. Well done as some of the characters you truly begin to despise over the course of the film. It's always good to be on the right side of history.

Not long ago I saw 'Carol', thankfully it is not another that and better than that. It was based on the documentary short of the same name about a real life same sex couple who fought for the equal rights and the pension benefits, while one of them was treated for cancer. It is a great drama about fighting for justice than the romance as it states, but that part as well very impressive.

Ellen Page and Julianne Moore, both were awesome, except Moore was a bit old. By seeing them I felt being a lesbian is sweetest than straight, hetero and even gay. The first half was all about the relationship, but very decently narrated romance tale. And in the next half once Steve Carell enters the scene, the film diverted to another side of the story. All the actors were very good, including Michael Shannon.

Obviously the story was predictable and that is expected often in a biography. Because if they want to alter it, then they should pen a very cleverest script the audience never saw one like that before. I think telling a true story as it is is the point and that's what this filmmaker did. So don't complain about the storyline, just consider whether it is inspiring or worth a watch for other reasons.

For me it was almost a sentimental piece, but the second half story compromised and then I realised what this film was trying to say. Underrated film of the year for sure. Anytime I suggest it, especially for the grown ups and with a neutral mindset, because it is not all about the same sex romance, but the battle for equality in society.

8/10