AWFJ Movie of the Week, September 28-October 4: FREEHELD
Opening October 2, the AWFJ Movie of the Week is Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore as a terminally ill police officer fighting to ensure that her pension goes to her same-sex partner (Ellen Page). Read on…
Written by Ron Nyswaner, who previously penned heavyweight dramas such as Philadelphia and The Painted Veil, the screenplay confronts institutional homophobia head on via the story of decorated cop Laurel Hester (Moore) who discovers she is terminally ill… and that, on her death, her pension will not be given to her long-time same-sex partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page). Determined to right this wrong, and despite the personal tragedy of their situation, the pair engage in a politically and emotionally charged battle to see they receive the same treatment as any other couple.
Directed by Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), and co-starring Michael Shannon, Steve Carell and Josh Charles, Freeheld is a solid issue-based film lifted by its brilliant central performances by the unendingly talented Moore and Page.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Pam Grady: A decorated cop (Julianne Moore) discovers that she is terminally ill and tries to ensure that her pension will go to her partner (Ellen Page) only to face homophobia and an unfeeling bureaucracy in the ripped-from-the-headline drama Freeheld, penned by Philadelphia scribe Ron Nyswaner.
Nell Minow: Freeheld — for a #lovewins story with a brilliant cast.
Jennifer Merin: Brilliant performances by Julianne Moore and Ellen Page set fire to this compelling truth-based drama about a terminally ill police officer who is determined that her same sex partner receive her pension. A beautifully crafted film with an important theme.
Film Details:
Title: Freeheld
Director: Peter Sollett
Release Date: October 2, 2015
Running Time: 103 minutes
Language: English
Shooting Location(s): New York state, USA
Principal Cast: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carell
Screenwriter: Ron Nyswaner
Production Companies: Double Feature Films, Endgame Entertainment, High Frequency Entertainment, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology
Distributor: Lionsgate
Official Site
Trailer
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, MaryAnn Johanson, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Kristy Puchko, Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of September 28 – October 4:
September 28
If Not For His Grace
Unlikely Family
And so forth, listing all openers in alphabetical order
September 29
24 Hours
Old 37
Boiling Pot
Deadly Revisions
Hunter
Better Than Crazy
Rows
Chillers 2
Death’s Door
September 30
Attack on Titan: Part 1
The Walk
Labyrinth of Lies
Puli
Windsor
Masterless
Clandestine
The Creeping Garden
Doped
October 1
The Prey
Tim Timmerman: Hope of America
Imperfect Sky
Message From a Mistress
Confidence Game
Tattered Angel
Haraka
Sex, Lies and Snuff Online
After Ever After
The Lost Within
Stretch and Bobbito
Filmed
New Comic Day
Pilchuck: A Dance With Fire
Twenty Million People
We Could Happen
The Atlantan
Manbaby
Individually Wrapped
Strength in Union
Rumbula’s Echo
Winter Has No Sun
Poetrying
Roadie: The Documentary
Waiting in the Wings
League of Millions
October 2
The Martian
Sicario
Brand: A Second Coming
Hell and Back
He Named Me Malala
Addicted to Fresno
Sicario
Deathgasm
Partisan
A Christmas Horror Story
Gravy
Shanghai
Sherpa
Shark Lake
Manhattan Romance
Saving Mr Wu
Aram, Aram
Medusa
Garm Wars
Shout Gladi Gladi
Eating Happiness
R-Naught 15
Jack Pierce, Maker of Monsters
Headed South for Christmas
Funeral Service
Sometimes Salvation
October 3
Fan Girl
The Wasted Times
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
