Ladies in Love
By Skip Sheffield
“Freeheld” is based on the true story of Laurel Hester, a
New Jersey police woman. Laurel was the very definition of good cop in the bad
world of northern coastal Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Laurel’s partner was
Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), a gruff, tough, but compassionate cop who relished
bringing down bad people.
We first see Laurel and Dane in action, busting chops on the
boardwalk. Then we see Laurel in a bar that obviously caters to homosexual
people. Laurel is a lesbian, still in the closet. When she spies Stacee Andree
(Ellen Page), something clicks. Stacee is half the age and almost half the
size of Laurel, but she is one feisty, charmingly butch chick.
Ellen Page came out publicly in 2014. She is a producer of
this film, and she specifically requested Julianne Moore play the role of
Laurel Hester. She made the right choice. Julianne Moore is one of the finest
actresses of our time. It doesn’t hurt that she is exquisitely beautiful. Moore
does doomed characters like no other woman. Though she is hetero, she is
absolutely convincing as lovelorn Laurel Hester, who meets the woman of her
dreams only to be dealt a death sentence of lung cancer. Written by Ron
Nyswaner (“The Painted Veil”) and directed by Peter Sollet (Nick and Norah’s
Infinite Playlist”), “Freeheld” is one of the most caring, compassionate
arguments for legal same-sex marriages ever. Laurel Hester was denied assigning
her pension benefits to her partner, although the State of New Jersey
recognized domestic partnerships in 2005, the year before Laurel Hester died.
“Freeheld” is about doing the right thing, regardless of one’s personal
beliefs. Some people won’t like this, but they are unlikely to go to this movie
anyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment