Fighting for the one you love

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page star in "Freeheld." Image courtesy Lionsgate

There's a scene during “Freeheld’s” third act in which Julianne Moore's cancer-stricken Laurel Hester argues with her partner, Ellen Page's Stacie Andree, whether or not to act in a commercial supporting gay marriage. The concern expressed by Page is the ad would exploit Moore's current condition, turning a dying human being into a political message – a very fair criticism, but one ultimately rejected because of Moore's wish to contribute something to the cause. It’s a logical decision for a 30-second ad, but the people at the center of the story shouldn’t be sacrificed in their own biopic. That's what “Freeheld” does to its central characters; it reduces their story, their lives into a polemic targeted at people opposing gay rights. It's a nice message to have – one that remains necessary despite recent events – but not in a film purportedly depicting the final days of a rather courageous woman.

The woman at the center of the film is Moore's Hester, a detective in Ocean County, N.J. “Freeheld” opens with Moore and partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon) investigating a murder in 2002, right around the time when she meets Page's Andree at a lesbian intramural volleyball match up in Pennsylvania. It doesn't take long for the two to become a couple despite a notable age gap (it gets mentioned a few times in the film) and Moore's hesitance to come out due to fear of repercussions in her police department, but the women eventually unite in a domestic partnership.

There's definitely the makings of a nice little film within that description, especially given the quality performances offered by Moore, Page and Shannon. Moore and Page make for a ridiculously cute pairing, a couple that wants the ideal American life: a nice little home in a nice little neighborhood, a dog or two, and an abundance of love. The fact Moore keeps it hidden from anyone outside of her tightly-knit circle – including Shannon – adds a nice potential plot twist to deepen the character's emotional arc.

And then Moore develops cancer and requests her police pension go to support Page, which is rejected by the county's elected officials (called freeholders in New Jersey, thus the name of the film). The board's decision sets up a battle between Moore, Page, Shannon and a group headed by Steven Goldstein (a very flamboyant Steve Carell), which draws national attention to the seaside county and a storm of protests against the board's decision. Moore's condition only worsens as the fight extends, adding more drama to the result of the debate.

“Freeheld” is based on a real-life event, so adding the cancer twist is not an invented narrative to heighten the film's drama. The film does milk the heck out of the cancer though, although Moore stays far away from one of those CANCER performances and maintains her character's dignity throughout the final two-thirds of the film. The real problem is how “Freeheld” treats the debate surrounding gay rights, most notably gay marriage. Simply put, there's no subtlety to the discussion, no thoughtfulness or contemplation to the issue at hand. Characters speak in political talking points, reciting phrases used repeatedly on cable news (does anyone really speak that way in casual conversation?), and they change their views on the issue in the most clichéd means imaginable. “Freeheld” follows the blueprint for any film about social change, and does so with such devotion that it detracts from the its proceedings.

As “Freeheld” amps up the political debate, it eases away from the core relationship between Moore and Page, shifting their experience to the sidelines to congratulate itself for the courage of its convictions. It comes at the film's detriment too; whatever grounding it had in honest, emotional verisimilitude is lost to passe pontification.

“Freeheld” is a Jerry Springer film, in which audience members (literally) scream at the asinine points used by bigoted men to defend their antiquated opinions. It's a film that makes viewers nod their heads in agreement when the rational people make rational points and when the final decision comes down in favor of the protagonists. And it's not really that much of a film to begin with; it's clearly a political message, the advertisement the characters themselves fretted about engaging in. In “Freeheld,” it's not the people who matter, but the message.

Review: Two out of Five Stars

Click here to see the trailer.

Rating: PG-13

Run time: 103 minutes

Genre: Biopic

Ask Away

Target audience: Anyone in the mood for a yes session.

Take the whole family?: Some profanities justify the PG-13 rating, although the material is a hint dry for a teenager.

Theater or Netflix?: Definitely not worth the effort to find in theaters.

Academy Award odds?: There isn't a ton of traction on this one – Julianne Moore has had a mention or two for best actress as a low-rung candidate on prediction sites – so it looks like it'll sit this award season out.

Watch this instead?: There are a ton of rather good to great documentaries concerning LGBTQ issues, including “The Times of Harvey Milk” and “How to Survive a Plague,” that are worth seeking out. The documentary “Freeheld” is based on – also called “Freeheld” – looks promising as well.