By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
This year’s Oscar hopefuls boasts the largest roster of biopics in recent memory. From more traditional, straight-forward affairs such as Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass, to films that focus on one particular real-life event such as The Big Short and Spotlight, to less typical takes focused on separate periods in the subjects’ lives such as Steve Jobs and Love & Mercy, this year’s films cover the entire spectrum of the biopic genre.
As a result, many of the frontrunners in the four major acting categories are for performances portraying real-life people. Looking back on the Academy’s history, it is hard to find a year in which an acting award did not go to a performer portraying a real person. Eddie Redmayne, Matthew McConaughey, and Daniel Day-Lewis (the last three best actor winners) all starred in biographical films.
This year the trend looks to continue,...
Managing Editor
This year’s Oscar hopefuls boasts the largest roster of biopics in recent memory. From more traditional, straight-forward affairs such as Straight Outta Compton and Black Mass, to films that focus on one particular real-life event such as The Big Short and Spotlight, to less typical takes focused on separate periods in the subjects’ lives such as Steve Jobs and Love & Mercy, this year’s films cover the entire spectrum of the biopic genre.
As a result, many of the frontrunners in the four major acting categories are for performances portraying real-life people. Looking back on the Academy’s history, it is hard to find a year in which an acting award did not go to a performer portraying a real person. Eddie Redmayne, Matthew McConaughey, and Daniel Day-Lewis (the last three best actor winners) all starred in biographical films.
This year the trend looks to continue,...
- 11/23/2015
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Read More: Toronto Review: Ellen Page and Julianne Moore Are Convincing Lovers, But 'Freeheld' Can't Match Up Despite some hostile reviews out of the Toronto International Film Festival, Peter Sollett's "Freeheld" is moving full steam ahead with an emotional marketing campaign that puts the life and death battle for love front and center. Based on a true story, the film stars recent Oscar winner Julianne Moore as New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester, who falls in love with car mechanic Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) before being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Fearing for her partner's future, Laurel appeals the county's board of chosen freeholders with the hopes of ensuring her pension benefits will be passed on to Stacie. With an emotional and timely story, plus the involvement of more Oscar nominees like Michael Shannon and Steve Carrell, "Freeheld" has all the makings of a worthwhile tearjerker. Check out the new trailer.
- 9/15/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Read More: The Great Gay Hope of Ellen Page and Julianne Moore's 'Freeheld' Peter Sollett's fact-based "Freeheld" offers recent Oscar winner Julianne Moore another juicy -- and emotionally wrenching -- role to bite into, hot off her Best Actress win for "Still Alice." In the film, Moore plays tough-as-nails police lieutenant Laurel Hester, whose life is upended when she falls in love with Stacie Andree (Ellen Page). Although she is compelled to keep her personal life a secret, Laurel and Stacie embark on a love affair that they intend to last a lifetime, going so far as to purchase a home together as registered domestic partners. But when Laurel is diagnosed with cancer, she can't hide any longer and is forced to use her personal experience to make sure that Stacie can benefit from her pension long after she's gone. Hester's fight was originally put on...
- 9/14/2015
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Julianne Moore hopes her new film will entertain – and maybe even help eradicate homophobia.
The actress stars alongside Ellen Page in Freeheld, which is based on a true story. Moore plays Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police officer who – after being diagnosed with terminal cancer – fights to leave her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Page).
"I feel that discrimination of any kind happens because people pursue other people as 'other,' as different from themselves, as far away. Whether it's gender or race or sexual identity or culture, if we think that they're very far away from us,...
The actress stars alongside Ellen Page in Freeheld, which is based on a true story. Moore plays Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police officer who – after being diagnosed with terminal cancer – fights to leave her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Page).
"I feel that discrimination of any kind happens because people pursue other people as 'other,' as different from themselves, as far away. Whether it's gender or race or sexual identity or culture, if we think that they're very far away from us,...
- 9/14/2015
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- People.com - TV Watch
Is "Freeheld" this year's "Still Alice"? The former is the Lgbt drama/love story that just played the Toronto International Film Festival (read our review here) starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, the latter is the Alzheimer's tearjerker from last year also starring Moore. Both appear to be sappy and full of schmaltz ("Still Alice" was poor, Rotten Tomatoes reviews from Tiff for "Freeheld" are already rotten). But hey, a treacly, feel-good movie poorly received by critics doesn't always kill it dead, at least not where awards are concerned. (see Moore's Oscar win for "Still Alice" last year). Here's the official synopsis: Read More: Watch: First Clip From 'Freeheld' Starring Julianne Moore & Ellen Page Based on the Oscar®-winning short documentary and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia, Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester [Julianne Moore] and Stacie Andree [Ellen Page] and their fight for...
- 9/14/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
A year ago at the Toronto International Film Festival, Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne debuted the films - Still Alice and The Theory of Everything - that would go on to land them Oscars.
This year, they're both back in Toronto with the movies they were making in between award-show speeches. Their heads have stopped spinning, but their disbelief hasn't.
"I don't know if I ever let it even get close enough to me that I thought it was a possibility," says Moore. "Now I look at it like: Did that happen? What?"
She breaks into a hearty laugh. "I mean, my gosh. It was such a lovely experience and kind of hard to believe."
Two days after winning the Academy Award for best actress, Moore was on an ice-skating rink in Brooklyn, shooting the Rebecca Miller comedy Maggie's Plan along with another veteran of the season, Ethan Hawke of Boyhood.
This year, they're both back in Toronto with the movies they were making in between award-show speeches. Their heads have stopped spinning, but their disbelief hasn't.
"I don't know if I ever let it even get close enough to me that I thought it was a possibility," says Moore. "Now I look at it like: Did that happen? What?"
She breaks into a hearty laugh. "I mean, my gosh. It was such a lovely experience and kind of hard to believe."
Two days after winning the Academy Award for best actress, Moore was on an ice-skating rink in Brooklyn, shooting the Rebecca Miller comedy Maggie's Plan along with another veteran of the season, Ethan Hawke of Boyhood.
- 9/14/2015
- by Cineplex.com and contributors
- Cineplex
Julianne Moore gives her all as a dying New Jersey detective battling to leave her pension to her partner, played by Ellen Page, but it’s not enough to save Peter Sollett’s fact-based drama from feeling vapid
Freeheld should have been an important movie. With gay marriage recently made legal in all 50 Us states, Peter Sollet’s fact-based drama couldn’t have come at a better time to remind the world how far equality has come in America, and how fresh the fight still is. Instead, Freeheld comes across as shockingly trite.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary of the same name, Freeheld stars Julianne Moore as Laurel Hester, a respected New Jersey detective, terrified of being exposed as a lesbian to her colleagues, including her sympathetic partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon, in rare good guy mode). She softens up when she meets the much younger Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), a forthright auto mechanic,...
Freeheld should have been an important movie. With gay marriage recently made legal in all 50 Us states, Peter Sollet’s fact-based drama couldn’t have come at a better time to remind the world how far equality has come in America, and how fresh the fight still is. Instead, Freeheld comes across as shockingly trite.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary of the same name, Freeheld stars Julianne Moore as Laurel Hester, a respected New Jersey detective, terrified of being exposed as a lesbian to her colleagues, including her sympathetic partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon, in rare good guy mode). She softens up when she meets the much younger Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), a forthright auto mechanic,...
- 9/14/2015
- by Nigel M Smith
- The Guardian - Film News
Read More: The 2015 Indiewire Tiff Bible Cynthia Wade's Oscar-winning 2007 documentary "Freeheld" tracks the stirring experiences of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester, who fought for the right to give her pension to her younger partner Stacie after Hester was struck with brain cancer. Adapting the situation into narrative form, screenwriter Ron Nyswaner takes a page from his "Philadelphia" playbook with an ultra-sentimental, by-the-book scenario pitched to many more viewers than its built-in base. Unfortunately, while Julianne Moore and Ellen Page go great lengths to make the central romance convince, Nyswaner's undercooked script and Peter Sollett's direction have the opposite effect, reducing "Freeheld" to a tired formula. "Freeheld" works best in its first act, when it sets up the successful professional life that Hester (Moore) has carried on for nearly three decades. In the field with her longtime partner (Michael Shannon), she's a...
- 9/14/2015
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Usually when you think of a movie as “conventional” it’s meant as a kind of insult. It can be a nice euphemism for boring, trite, or unoriginal pieces of filmmaking. But sometimes conventionality and cliché can be used in interesting ways. This is one of the many enjoyable qualities of Freeheld. Much of it is the type of love story we’ve seen in countless movies: couple meets, go through a period of flirtation, become increasingly close and intimate, then something happens, in many instances one of them becomes sick, and the story turns into one of those better to have loved and lost, tearjerker types of movies. They often serve their purpose, some sort of emotional bloodletting (or tearletting?) because all love stories end in sadness.
Freeheld presents this cliché story as an alternate universe version of the actual, real-life story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree. The movie shows them meeting,...
Freeheld presents this cliché story as an alternate universe version of the actual, real-life story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree. The movie shows them meeting,...
- 9/14/2015
- by Darren Ruecker
- We Got This Covered
Toronto – Nothing is more disheartening than writing a negative review about a movie with admirable intentions. “Freeheld,” which debuted tonight at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, is based on the true story of Laurel Hester, an Ocean County, New Jersey police officer who fought to have her pension benefits assigned to her domestic partner Stacie in 2005. Unfortunately, an impressive cast and significant real-life events can’t trump the fact it’s a badly made movie. When we first meet Laurel (Julianne Moore) she’s in the middle of a stake out with her partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon). Along with a few other officers they are trying to nail a drug dealer working the boardwalk. When things go wrong, Laurel shows up to save the day which is meant to telegraph the fact that she’s a damn good cop. It’s elementary script writing directed like an episode of...
- 9/14/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Read More: Watch: First Clip From 'Freeheld' Starring Julianne Moore & Ellen Page "Freeheld," starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell and Michael Shannon, is about a terminally ill New Jersey police whose legal battle to pass on her pension benefits to her domestic partner became a flashpoint for Lgbt activism. The drama is based on a true story and is directed by "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" director Peter Sollett. The official film synopsis reads: "New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester (Moore) was in the closet before she met Stacie Andree (Page), a young mechanic with a load of moxie and a spark of butch sexiness. Laurel's love for this feisty, unabashed woman prompts her to come out — which alienates several of her colleagues, whether due to knee-jerk homophobia or, as with Laurel's partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), a sense of betrayal at not having been told earlier.
- 9/10/2015
- by Sonya Saepoff
- Indiewire
Expect the glitz to be a little glitzier and the glam to be a little glammier as the Toronto International Film Festival celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year. Hundreds of films will unspool between September 10th and 20th as big-name stars and aspiring talents converge on T.O. to drown in cinema. Here are just a few of the top films that will play Tiff before coming to a theatre near you: Freeheld
Director: Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist)
Starring: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell
Based on the 2007 Oscar-winning short, this true-life drama stars Moore as Laurel Hester, a New Jersey cop dying of cancer who takes on the five-man board (known as “freeholders”) that’s denied her request to have her pension benefits transferred to her same-sex partner Stacie (Page). The 28-year-old, openly gay Page is one of the film’s producers and began developing...
Director: Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist)
Starring: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell
Based on the 2007 Oscar-winning short, this true-life drama stars Moore as Laurel Hester, a New Jersey cop dying of cancer who takes on the five-man board (known as “freeholders”) that’s denied her request to have her pension benefits transferred to her same-sex partner Stacie (Page). The 28-year-old, openly gay Page is one of the film’s producers and began developing...
- 9/9/2015
- Cineplex
From big blockbusters to small independent films, here are the movies I.m dying to see this Fall. (Official synopsis provided by studios)
September 18 (Friday)
About Ray When a young woman (Elle Fanning) decides to transition from female to male, her announcement is met with both opposition and support from her mother (Naomi Watts) and her lesbian grandmother (Susan Sarandon).
Black Mass In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history. -- (C) Warner Bros
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials In this next chapter of the epic "Maze Runner" saga, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien...
September 18 (Friday)
About Ray When a young woman (Elle Fanning) decides to transition from female to male, her announcement is met with both opposition and support from her mother (Naomi Watts) and her lesbian grandmother (Susan Sarandon).
Black Mass In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history. -- (C) Warner Bros
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials In this next chapter of the epic "Maze Runner" saga, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien...
- 9/4/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
As the days get darker and the cold winds of Autumn approach, it’s time to look ahead at the upcoming movies set to hit cinemas this Fall.
The huge slate includes the return of the Jedis, the rebirth of Frankenstein and a new age of Good Dinosaurs. These movies will take audiences to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, on a voyage to Mars and to the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest.
Here’s our list of the 2015 Fall movies that we can’t wait to see!
September
The Visit (Sept 11)
Writer/director/producer M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, Unbreakable) and producer Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge and Insidious series) welcome you to Universal Pictures’ The Visit. Shyamalan returns to his roots with the terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents’ remote Pennsylvania farm for a weeklong trip.
The huge slate includes the return of the Jedis, the rebirth of Frankenstein and a new age of Good Dinosaurs. These movies will take audiences to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, on a voyage to Mars and to the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest.
Here’s our list of the 2015 Fall movies that we can’t wait to see!
September
The Visit (Sept 11)
Writer/director/producer M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, Unbreakable) and producer Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge and Insidious series) welcome you to Universal Pictures’ The Visit. Shyamalan returns to his roots with the terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents’ remote Pennsylvania farm for a weeklong trip.
- 9/3/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Slated to have its World Premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, here’s a first look at the final two posters for Freeheld.
Directed by Peter Sollett, Freeheld stars Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles and Steve Carell.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary by Cynthia Wade (80th Academy Awards), and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia (Ron Nyswaner), Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Directed by Peter Sollett, Freeheld stars Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles and Steve Carell.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary by Cynthia Wade (80th Academy Awards), and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia (Ron Nyswaner), Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
- 8/28/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Coming on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality is a noticeable increase in the amount of Lgbt stories in mainstream entertainment. First “Fun Home” takes top honors at the Tony Awards, then film awards season frontrunners “Carol” and “Grandma” feature more strong and complicated lesbian characters. Joining Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Lily Tomlin in the awards race is Oscar nominee Ellen Page and last year’s leading actress Oscar winner Julianne Moore in what look to be two of the most powerful performances of the season. “Freeheld,” based on the real-life story of Ocean County cop Laurel Hester, is screenwriter Ron Nyswaner’s adaptation of the Oscar-winning, Cynthia Wade-directed 2007 documentary of the same name. Helmed by Peter Sollett, the film centers on Hester’s terminal cancer diagnosis and subsequent fight to have her pension benefits transferred to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Page,...
- 8/27/2015
- backstage.com
The San Sebastian Festival is almost here and three new competing titles have recently joined those previously announced for the Official Selection. Chinese director Liu Hao returns to San Sebastian with "Back to the North," five years after competing in the Official Selection with "Addicted to Love;" the Belgian moviemaker Joachim Lafosse will present his new film, "The White Knights;" and Peter Sollett will bring to the Festival the film "Freeheld," starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles and Steve Carrell.
For its part, the New Directors section closes with inclusion of the Swedish production, directed by Peter Grönlund, "Thieves Honor."
Official Selection
"The White Knight" Joachim Lafosse (Belgium - France)
Joachim Lafosse brings to the screen the Zoe’s Ark controversy which made headlines in 2007: a story about the limits of the right of interference. Jacques Arnault, head of Sud Secours Ngo, is planning a high impact operation: he and his team are going to exfiltrate 300 orphans victims of Chadian civil war and bring them to French adoption applicants. Françoise Dubois, a journalist, is invited to come along with them and handle the media coverage for this operation. Completely immersed in the brutal reality of a country at war, the Ngo members start losing their convictions and are faced with the limits of humanitarian intervention.
"Freeheld" Peter Sollett (U.S.A)
Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carrell and Josh Charles star in this film based on true events. The true love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells, and activist Steven Goldstein, unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defence, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
"Back to the North" Liu Hao (China)
Xiao Ai is diagnosed with a terminal illness and does not have long to live. She is concerned that her parents will become a "lost family" and have no one to take care of them after her death, so she decides to persuade them to have another child... The latest film by Liu Hao, who competed at San Sebastian in 2010 with "Addicted to Love."
New Directors
"Thieves Honor" Peter Grönlund (Sweden)
An intense social drama about a woman's struggle for survival on the margins of society. When street pusher Minna can't pay her rent she cheats a few young criminals on a drug deal and takes the money. She happens to meet Katja, the mother of a child who has been taken from her by the social authorities.
For its part, the New Directors section closes with inclusion of the Swedish production, directed by Peter Grönlund, "Thieves Honor."
Official Selection
"The White Knight" Joachim Lafosse (Belgium - France)
Joachim Lafosse brings to the screen the Zoe’s Ark controversy which made headlines in 2007: a story about the limits of the right of interference. Jacques Arnault, head of Sud Secours Ngo, is planning a high impact operation: he and his team are going to exfiltrate 300 orphans victims of Chadian civil war and bring them to French adoption applicants. Françoise Dubois, a journalist, is invited to come along with them and handle the media coverage for this operation. Completely immersed in the brutal reality of a country at war, the Ngo members start losing their convictions and are faced with the limits of humanitarian intervention.
"Freeheld" Peter Sollett (U.S.A)
Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carrell and Josh Charles star in this film based on true events. The true love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells, and activist Steven Goldstein, unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defence, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
"Back to the North" Liu Hao (China)
Xiao Ai is diagnosed with a terminal illness and does not have long to live. She is concerned that her parents will become a "lost family" and have no one to take care of them after her death, so she decides to persuade them to have another child... The latest film by Liu Hao, who competed at San Sebastian in 2010 with "Addicted to Love."
New Directors
"Thieves Honor" Peter Grönlund (Sweden)
An intense social drama about a woman's struggle for survival on the margins of society. When street pusher Minna can't pay her rent she cheats a few young criminals on a drug deal and takes the money. She happens to meet Katja, the mother of a child who has been taken from her by the social authorities.
- 8/23/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Toronto International Film Festival has added 5 Galas and 19 Special Presentations to its huge and highly anticipated international lineup including the Closing Night Film, Paco Cabezas’s Mr. Right.
In July, it was announced that Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition will open the 2015 Festival. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis, Demolition will have its world premiere on September 10 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Toronto audiences will be among the first to screen films by directors Ridley Scott, Deepa Mehta, Lenny Abrahamson, Brian Helgeland, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, Jason Bateman, Cary Fukunaga, Catherine Corsini, Stephen Frears, Tom Hooper, Hany Abu-Assad, Meghna Gulzar, Terence Davies, Jonás Cuarón, Julie Delpy, Rebecca Miller, Rob Reiner, Catherine Hardwicke, Pan Nalin, Lorene Scafaria, David Gordon Green, Matthew Cullen, Gaby Dellal, James Vanderbilt and Marc Abraham.
The various films listed below star Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Gary Oldman, Toni Collette, Drew Barrymore,...
In July, it was announced that Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition will open the 2015 Festival. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and Judah Lewis, Demolition will have its world premiere on September 10 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Toronto audiences will be among the first to screen films by directors Ridley Scott, Deepa Mehta, Lenny Abrahamson, Brian Helgeland, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, Jason Bateman, Cary Fukunaga, Catherine Corsini, Stephen Frears, Tom Hooper, Hany Abu-Assad, Meghna Gulzar, Terence Davies, Jonás Cuarón, Julie Delpy, Rebecca Miller, Rob Reiner, Catherine Hardwicke, Pan Nalin, Lorene Scafaria, David Gordon Green, Matthew Cullen, Gaby Dellal, James Vanderbilt and Marc Abraham.
The various films listed below star Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Gary Oldman, Toni Collette, Drew Barrymore,...
- 8/18/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
New films by Liu Hao, Joachim Lafosse and Peter Sollett join line-up.
Peter Sollett’s Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, is one of three new titles to join the Official Selection competition at the upcoming San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 18-26).
Based on true events, the film centres on Us police lieutenant Laurel Hester (Moore) and her registered domestic partner Stacie Andree (Page) who battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The film, set to world premiere at Toronto (Sept 10-20), is one of several features announced in Official Selection that will compete for San Sebastian’s Golden Shell.
Other new titles in competition include Back to the North (Xiang bei fang), which will see Chinese director Liu Hao return to Seb Sebastian five years after Addicted To Love played in Official Selection in 2010.
The film is about a woman diagnosed with a terminal illness who is concerned...
Peter Sollett’s Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, is one of three new titles to join the Official Selection competition at the upcoming San Sebastian Film Festival (Sept 18-26).
Based on true events, the film centres on Us police lieutenant Laurel Hester (Moore) and her registered domestic partner Stacie Andree (Page) who battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The film, set to world premiere at Toronto (Sept 10-20), is one of several features announced in Official Selection that will compete for San Sebastian’s Golden Shell.
Other new titles in competition include Back to the North (Xiang bei fang), which will see Chinese director Liu Hao return to Seb Sebastian five years after Addicted To Love played in Official Selection in 2010.
The film is about a woman diagnosed with a terminal illness who is concerned...
- 8/18/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Issue driven films with a ton of heart usually find their way into the awards season one way or another. Hopefully, it’s because they’re good movies and legitimately important, either for the culture or the world in general. Sometimes though, it’s just due to how shamelessly manipulative they can be on an emotional level. Hopefully, one new entry into the former category will be Freeheld, which is hitting the awards season at a very timely moment in history. A Trailer hit last week (which you can see below) and it appears to be hitting all of the right notes in order to appeal to Oscar in a potentially significant way come its October theatrical release. The film is about same sex marriage and centers on two women fighting for the benefits that straight couples take for granted. Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) is a Lieutenant in the New...
- 7/28/2015
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
A trailer for the new drama Freeheld tells the love story of one couple who helped guarantee that #LoveWins.
Julianne Moore stars in Freeheld as a New Jersey cop who takes on her own local government when she's diagnosed with lung cancer.
Laurel Hester (Moore) would make worldwide headlines in her fight for equality by demanding that her partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) receive her pension if she were to perish.
Director Peter Sollett's movie is based on a 2007 documentary of the same name, which won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
Freeheld also features Michael Shannon as Laurel's gruff-but-supportive friend, and Academy Award nominee Steve Carell as the couple's lawyer.
This is a reunion for Steve Carell and Julianne Moore, having previously starred together in the hit comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Freeheld bows on October 2 in the Us in limited release.
Julianne Moore stars in Freeheld as a New Jersey cop who takes on her own local government when she's diagnosed with lung cancer.
Laurel Hester (Moore) would make worldwide headlines in her fight for equality by demanding that her partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) receive her pension if she were to perish.
Director Peter Sollett's movie is based on a 2007 documentary of the same name, which won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
Freeheld also features Michael Shannon as Laurel's gruff-but-supportive friend, and Academy Award nominee Steve Carell as the couple's lawyer.
This is a reunion for Steve Carell and Julianne Moore, having previously starred together in the hit comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Freeheld bows on October 2 in the Us in limited release.
- 7/24/2015
- Digital Spy
Directed by Peter Sollett, watch the powerful trailer for Freeheld starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, and Steve Carell.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary by Cynthia Wade (80th Academy Awards), and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia (Ron Nyswaner), Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Ellen Page is one of the producers on the film.
Opening on October 2nd (limited) & October 16th (wide), this emotional and compelling film...
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary by Cynthia Wade (80th Academy Awards), and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia (Ron Nyswaner), Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Ellen Page is one of the producers on the film.
Opening on October 2nd (limited) & October 16th (wide), this emotional and compelling film...
- 7/24/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The upcoming biographical drama, Freeheld released its bountifully bittersweet debut trailer. The film, starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as a same-sex couple embroiled in a legal battle over the allocation of the former.s pension benefits, is especially timely with its topical focus on gay marriage. With Oscar buzz for the project brewed well before a single scene was shot, watch the first clip below. The trailer shows the stars with dramatic chops in gear as Freeheld approaches the real-life tragic events centering on a closeted New Jersey police detective, Laurel Hester (Moore) and her domestic partner in an auto mechanic, Stacie Andree (Page). The partnership endures for six years until Laurel receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Laurel becomes especially concerned about Stacie.s future when she realizes that their relationship will not yield the benefit of having her pension pass to her spouse upon her death. Thus, a...
- 7/23/2015
- cinemablend.com
Ellen Page and Julianne Moore have, over the courses of their career, received critical acclaim for numerous dramatic performances, with Moore’s filmography including the likes of films such as Safe, Boogie Nights, Far From Heaven, and I’m Not There, among others, culminating in an Academy Award for Best Leading Actress for her role in 2014’s Still Alice. Page, meanwhile, has been seen in Whip It, Inception, and The East. The two performers, however, have yet to work together, a fact that is poised to change with their upcoming feature Freeheld. The film’s synopsis is below.
New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester, and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree, both battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The film, which is based on the story of a real-life couple, sees Moore and Page play the two leads, directed by Raising Victor Vargas‘ Peter Sollett.
New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester, and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree, both battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The film, which is based on the story of a real-life couple, sees Moore and Page play the two leads, directed by Raising Victor Vargas‘ Peter Sollett.
- 7/23/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Lionsgate released the first trailer for their upcoming drama “Freeheld” on Thursday. Based on a true story, the film follows New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) and her registered domestic partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) as they battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The film also stars Michael Shannon as Hester’s partner and Steve Carell as a gay lawyer who helps Hester and Andree rally support for their cause. The film was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Peter Sollett. Also Read: Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore Reverse Oscars' Trend of Rewarding Older Actors,...
- 7/23/2015
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Hollywood is renowned for the waves and phases of its output, and in terms of reflecting current social issues, it is generally always trying to catch up. The current flurry of movie projects that suddenly seek to address the life-long fight for equality for same-sex couples is one for which we can be grateful, however, as studios finally appear to be widening their historically narrow view of who can be represented onscreen in lead roles, and in what context. Each wave of thematically related movies must have one that leads the charge, of course, and in this case, that movie is Freeheld – for which we finally have a trailer.
Freeheld has been in development for over six years, and is based upon the Academy-Award winning short documentary of the same name, made by Cynthia Wade in 2007. It tells the true story of Stacie Andree, whose domestic partner – New Jersey police...
Freeheld has been in development for over six years, and is based upon the Academy-Award winning short documentary of the same name, made by Cynthia Wade in 2007. It tells the true story of Stacie Andree, whose domestic partner – New Jersey police...
- 7/23/2015
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
It's magical sometimes when films come by just at the right moment to touch viewers, make a statement, and perhaps change lives.
The first trailer for "Freeheld" is here, and this might be one of those cases now that the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be legal in all states. Based on the 2007 Oscar-winning documentary short of the same title, "Freeheld" tells the story of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) and her fight to leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page).
From the trailer, the movie looks to be part love story between Laurel and Stacie, and part political fight after Laurel is diagnosed with lung cancer. She wants her benefits to go to her partner, just as all the other cops' benefits go to their spouses in case of death.
It's a stirring story, and a stark reminder of how...
The first trailer for "Freeheld" is here, and this might be one of those cases now that the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be legal in all states. Based on the 2007 Oscar-winning documentary short of the same title, "Freeheld" tells the story of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) and her fight to leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page).
From the trailer, the movie looks to be part love story between Laurel and Stacie, and part political fight after Laurel is diagnosed with lung cancer. She wants her benefits to go to her partner, just as all the other cops' benefits go to their spouses in case of death.
It's a stirring story, and a stark reminder of how...
- 7/23/2015
- by Kelly Woo
- Moviefone
Julianne Moore and Ellen Page continue their fascinating involvement with gay-themed movies and gay filmmakers in Freeheld, opening October 2. New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester, and her registered domestic partner,...
- 7/23/2015
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
"If you could have anything, what would it be? What's your dream?" Lionsgate has debuted the official trailer for Peter Sollett's new film Freeheld, a moving drama starring Ellen Page and Julianne Moore as domestic partners. The story focuses on their struggle to keep a pension intact when Laurel Hester, played by Julianne Moore, is diagnosed with cancer. The supporting cast includes Steve Carell, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles and Luke Grimes. This has one of those very inspirational, hopeful, powerful messages of "change the world" at the end, complete with pop song. But it also looks really good, especially the two lead performances. Ellen Page looks to be at her best, and Moore is always at her best. #loveislove Here's the first official trailer for Peter Sollett's Freeheld, originally from Buzzfeed: New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore), and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page...
- 7/22/2015
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of the films you'll find on my Oscar predictions lists for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor is Peter Sollett's upcoming film Freeheld and today the first trailer for the potential Oscar contender in those categories and more has arrived. Starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, the film centers on New Jersey car mechanic Stacie Andree (Page) and her police detective girlfriend Laurel Hester (Moore) as they battle to secure Hester's pension benefits after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Steve Carell, Luke Grimes, Michael Shannon and Mary Birdsong co-star. Lionsgate is targeting an Oct. 2 release date and I fully expect this one to be at the Toronto Film Festival and most likely Telluride and New York. We'll know soon enough, but for now give the trailer a watch and see what you think. yt id="FX9KLZlE344" width="640"...
- 7/22/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Brace your tear ducts: Freeheld stars Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as real-life New Jersey couple Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree, respectively, who fought for domestic-partner benefits more than a decade ago. (Michael Shannon stars as Laurel's straight, atheist cop partner, and Steve Carell plays a Jewish Lgbt activist.) Laurel gets stricken with terminal lung cancer and tries to secure her pension for her partner before she dies. If your co-workers are wondering why you're weeping silently at your desk, just send them the link.
- 7/22/2015
- by E. Alex Jung
- Vulture
Read More: How Julianne Moore Pulled Off Her Devastating Performance in 'Still Alice' A trailer has finally dropped for "Freeheld," the Peter Sollett-directed awards hopeful starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as a lesbian couple fighting for equal rights. Based on the true story of New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester (Moore), "Freeheld" examines what happens to a loving partnership when it isn't seen equal in the eyes of the law. Hester falls in love and begins a romantic partnership with Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), a car mechanic, before being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Fearing for her partner's future, she appeals the county's board of chosen freeholders with the hopes of ensuring that her pension benefits will be passed on to Stacie. Fresh off of her first Oscar victory, Moore might be headed for an encore if this new footage is any indication. The actress looks positively heartbreaking in this role,...
- 7/22/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
Since Ellen Page stunned us with her diabolical smarts in "Hard Candy" and her straightforward drollness in "Juno," we haven't gotten to see the Oscar-nominated actress in many movies that live up to her compelling charms. Remember "Smart People" with Sarah Jessica Parker? No? Do you ever think about her exposition-spewing character Ariadne in "Inception"? What about the time Woody Allen wasted her (and Judy Davis!) in "To Rome with Love"? Enough is enough. A new trailer just debuted for "Freeheld," a drama about a real-life woman named Laurel Hester (played here by Julianne Moore) who was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and fought to ensure that her pension benefits would be passed along to her partner Stacie (Page). The trailer is gripping; watch it at Buzzfeed. (We'll add it here when an embeddable version is released.) Last year when Page came out as a lesbian at a Human Rights Campaign event,...
- 7/22/2015
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
The true story told in "Freeheld" is one that Ellen Page has been passionate to share for years. Attached to star in the movie since 2010, the movie is based on the Oscar-winning short documentary by Cynthia Wade about Stace Andree, a woman who was denied the pension benefits of her longtime female partner, New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester, when the latter became terminally ill. Together they mounted a legal battle for Stace's benefits to be assigned to her partner. “I remember just seeing the trailer for the documentary and I was instantly brought to tears,” Page, who is also a producer on the film, told EW. “Tremendous love stories between women have been made, of course. Some of them are my favorite movies. But to have a love story that brings up the civil rights issue, in relation to women—that we haven’t seen enough in the forefront.
- 7/22/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
"Freeheld" is the true story of Stacie Andree and her partner Laurel Hester, whose diagnosis of terminal lung cancer sparked a domestic-partner rights debate that was the subject of the 2007 documentary of the same name. The bound-to-be-weepie drama, out October 2, stars Page as Andree and Moore as Hester, and it's directed by Peter Sollett ("Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist") and penned by Ron Nyswaner, who wrote the Oscar-nominated script for "Philadelphia." The couple battled for an appeal, which they finally won just before Hester's death in 2006, after their home state New Jersey refused to allot Andree her partner's pension benefits. Supporting cast includes Steve Carell as a fellow gay-rights activist and Michael Shannon as Hester's cop partner. Lionsgate is distributing. The original film "Freeheld" won the 2008 Best Documentary Short Oscar. Watch: Ellen Pages Comes Out...
- 7/15/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The life rights of Jim Obergefell have been acquired by Fox 2000, in a swift move to bring the story of his fight for marriage equality to the screen. The studio also snapped up the rights to the book Obergefell has written with journalist Debbie Cenziper, titled 21 Years To Midnight, which has yet to hit bookshops. It was the case brought by Obergefell (Obergefell v Hodges) which led to the historic ruling by the U.S Supreme Court, legalizing same-sex marriage throughout America and, by extension, finally making the matrimonial qualifier ‘same-sex’ obsolete.
James Obergefell and his partner, John Arthur, married in Maryland in June 2013, after the U.S Supreme Court declared the Defence Of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional due to its determination that the term ‘spouse’ only applied to unions between a man and a woman.
Obergefell and Arthur resided in Ohio, however, and found that their home state...
James Obergefell and his partner, John Arthur, married in Maryland in June 2013, after the U.S Supreme Court declared the Defence Of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional due to its determination that the term ‘spouse’ only applied to unions between a man and a woman.
Obergefell and Arthur resided in Ohio, however, and found that their home state...
- 7/8/2015
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Here’s a first look at Oscar winner Julianne Moore and Ellen Page in Summit Entertainment’s Freeheld.
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia, Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Ellen Page is one of the producers on the film.
Directed by Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Freeheld opens on October 2nd, 2015 (limited) & October 16th, 2015 (wide).
The post First Photo...
Based on the Oscar-winning short documentary and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia, Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page) and their fight for justice.
A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this.
Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Ellen Page is one of the producers on the film.
Directed by Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Freeheld opens on October 2nd, 2015 (limited) & October 16th, 2015 (wide).
The post First Photo...
- 6/30/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
France, Germany, Spain, South Korea make deals on gay rights drama.
Bankside Films has inked a slew of deals on Peter Sollett’s anticipated drama Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon and Steve Carell.
The company has sold the film to airlines (Entertainment in Motion), Eastern Europe (Megalow Media), France (Selective Films), Germany (Universum), Greece (Hollywood Films), Hong Kong (Edko), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Middle East (Front Row), Portugal (Outsider Films), Scandinavia (Mis.Label), South Africa (M-Net), South Korea (Rainbow Films), Switzerland (Praesens), Spain (Filmax), Taiwan (Movie Cloud) and Turkey (Filma).
Lionsgate picked up Us rights during Berlin while previous deals include UK and Australia/New Zealand (Entertainment One) Benelux (September Films), Italy (Videa), Latin America (Cdc United Network).
Based on a true story, Freeheld follows a gay policewoman’s struggle to ensure that her police pension is passed to her lesbian partner when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Written by [link...
Bankside Films has inked a slew of deals on Peter Sollett’s anticipated drama Freeheld, starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon and Steve Carell.
The company has sold the film to airlines (Entertainment in Motion), Eastern Europe (Megalow Media), France (Selective Films), Germany (Universum), Greece (Hollywood Films), Hong Kong (Edko), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Middle East (Front Row), Portugal (Outsider Films), Scandinavia (Mis.Label), South Africa (M-Net), South Korea (Rainbow Films), Switzerland (Praesens), Spain (Filmax), Taiwan (Movie Cloud) and Turkey (Filma).
Lionsgate picked up Us rights during Berlin while previous deals include UK and Australia/New Zealand (Entertainment One) Benelux (September Films), Italy (Videa), Latin America (Cdc United Network).
Based on a true story, Freeheld follows a gay policewoman’s struggle to ensure that her police pension is passed to her lesbian partner when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Written by [link...
- 5/7/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
See Full Gallery Here
Production wrapped on Peter Sollett’s forthcoming human rights drama Freeheld late last year, and today, the first clutch of images from the movie have debuted online. Taken from the film’s official Facebook page, the stills showcase Oscar-winner Julianne Moore and her co-star Ellen Page as a couple who rallied against the archaic benefits system in 2005.
Based on the 2007 documentary of the same name, Freeheld follows the story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree. The couple fought to change the Domestic Partners Rights Act as its vague parameters – it “grants pension benefits to domestic partners of all New Jersey public employees” – failed to provide those benefits to partners from a same sex relationship. The original documentary stirred up good critical notices upon release and went on to receive the Special Jury Award at Sundance, with its director Cynthia Wade also snagging the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
Production wrapped on Peter Sollett’s forthcoming human rights drama Freeheld late last year, and today, the first clutch of images from the movie have debuted online. Taken from the film’s official Facebook page, the stills showcase Oscar-winner Julianne Moore and her co-star Ellen Page as a couple who rallied against the archaic benefits system in 2005.
Based on the 2007 documentary of the same name, Freeheld follows the story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree. The couple fought to change the Domestic Partners Rights Act as its vague parameters – it “grants pension benefits to domestic partners of all New Jersey public employees” – failed to provide those benefits to partners from a same sex relationship. The original documentary stirred up good critical notices upon release and went on to receive the Special Jury Award at Sundance, with its director Cynthia Wade also snagging the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
- 3/11/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
'Still Alice' and 'Maps to the Stars' box office: Julianne Moore Oscar helps only one movie (photo: Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore in 'Still Alice') (See previous post: "'The Lazarus Effect' Box Office: Olivia Wilde Horror Movie Arrives Comatose.") The Oscars do matter. As mentioned in the previous post, Alejandro González Iñárritu's Birdman was up an estimated 125 percent this weekend, Feb. 27-March 1, 2015, following its four Academy Award wins – including Best Picture. Also up a hefty 24 percent – after adding 553 locations – is Sony Pictures Classics' Still Alice, which earned Julianne Moore the year's Best Actress Oscar for her performance as a woman in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. True, an Oscar win – or key nominations – may not create mammoth blockbusters like Francis Lawrence's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades of Grey, or Clint Eastwood's American Sniper. For that,...
- 3/1/2015
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
The halls are starting to hum softly here in Berlin as the European Film Market swings into gear. The first deals were announced yesterday before the event officially opened, with The Weinstein Co notably boarding Im Global’s The Man Who Made It Snow. This morning, FilmNation unveiled a series of offshore output deals for titles from Open Road, which will kick off with the Jamie Foxx/Michelle Monaghan-starrer Sleepless Nights.
Though it’s not likely to be a frenzy, and with currency concerns in the market internationally, Berlin should see more action in the coming days. Distributors are looking for product for 2016 and beyond, and some memorable buys have emerged here in recent years. In 2014, The Weinstein Company made a record-setting $7M deal for The Imitation Game which has now made about $140M worldwide and has an armful of Oscar nominations to boot.
Much of the pre-buy buzz...
Though it’s not likely to be a frenzy, and with currency concerns in the market internationally, Berlin should see more action in the coming days. Distributors are looking for product for 2016 and beyond, and some memorable buys have emerged here in recent years. In 2014, The Weinstein Company made a record-setting $7M deal for The Imitation Game which has now made about $140M worldwide and has an armful of Oscar nominations to boot.
Much of the pre-buy buzz...
- 2/6/2015
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Lionsgate has won a bidding war to snag the rights to Freeheld, which tells the true story of the late Laurel Hester, a police detective who fought government officials for equal treatment when she was diagnosed with cancer. Julianne Moore stars as Hester while Ellen Page, who is also one of the producers, plays Hester's life partner, Stacie Andree. In a contest that went overnight and into dawn in the German capital, the company beat out numerous other bidders, including Focus Features, Sony Pictures Classics, and Netflix, among others. The deal for North American rights was in the high seven figures, according to
read more...
read more...
- 2/5/2015
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year, a number of actors, athletes, and musicians came out of the closet, reminding fans to be true to who they are. Their statements came with messages of honesty, courage, and pride. But it was their actions in the wake of these public declarations that had the most impact. None of them suddenly were out of a job, or shunned from Hollywood. These entertainers were not denied adoration or encouragement from fans and the industry alike.
Instead, they continued to push forward, owning their truth, and breaking down barriers all at the same time.
Ellen Page
“I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission.” — Human Rights Campaign
Getty Images
What Happened Next: In the months after coming out, the actress reprised her role as Kitty Pryde in X-Men: Days of Future Past and started filming Freeheld with Julianne Moore. The two portray a lesbian couple, Laurel Hester and Stacie...
Instead, they continued to push forward, owning their truth, and breaking down barriers all at the same time.
Ellen Page
“I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission.” — Human Rights Campaign
Getty Images
What Happened Next: In the months after coming out, the actress reprised her role as Kitty Pryde in X-Men: Days of Future Past and started filming Freeheld with Julianne Moore. The two portray a lesbian couple, Laurel Hester and Stacie...
- 12/31/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
This image fills The Film Experience's heart with actressexual joy...
God and Ellen Page in "Freeheld"
Freeheld, a drama based on adocumentary short, has had a difficult journey to the big screen. There have been cancellations, delays, cast-changes, funding issues, you name it. But Ellen Page stuck with it, came out, and the film powered back to life (coincidence? who knows). But it's delightful to see a still which is proof that it the movie is actually happening. For those who haven't been keeping up Freeheld this is the official "about synopsis" from the Oscar winning documentary:
Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester spent 25 years investigating tough cases in Ocean County, New Jersey, protecting the rights of victims and putting her life on the line. She had no reason to expect that in the last year of her life, after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, that her final battle for justice...
God and Ellen Page in "Freeheld"
Freeheld, a drama based on adocumentary short, has had a difficult journey to the big screen. There have been cancellations, delays, cast-changes, funding issues, you name it. But Ellen Page stuck with it, came out, and the film powered back to life (coincidence? who knows). But it's delightful to see a still which is proof that it the movie is actually happening. For those who haven't been keeping up Freeheld this is the official "about synopsis" from the Oscar winning documentary:
Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester spent 25 years investigating tough cases in Ocean County, New Jersey, protecting the rights of victims and putting her life on the line. She had no reason to expect that in the last year of her life, after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, that her final battle for justice...
- 11/4/2014
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Award-winning director Vanessa Roth tends to look deeply into social justice issues in her documentaries -- the effectiveness of the foster care system in Aging Out, the repurcussions of that film in No Tomorrow, equal rights for a lesbian couple in Freeheld (Roth produced), and schools and education in American Teacher and The Third Monday in October. Her most recent film, The Texas Promise, hits close to home as it peers into the state budget cuts to education in Texas. This new documentary from Roth will debut at Austin Film Festival later this week.
Roth answered a few of my questions via email about her work.
Slackerwood: Why is education a recurring theme in your works?
Vanessa Roth: I have so much to say about this that I don’t know where to begin... education as a theme is what all my work focuses on because it is the...
Roth answered a few of my questions via email about her work.
Slackerwood: Why is education a recurring theme in your works?
Vanessa Roth: I have so much to say about this that I don’t know where to begin... education as a theme is what all my work focuses on because it is the...
- 10/22/2014
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
Julianne Moore took photographs while shooting a scene for her new movie with Ellen Page, Freeheld, earlier this week.
Julianne Moore Films 'Freeheld'
Moore, sporting blond, blown out locks, was shot snapping pictures from the passenger seat of a parked car on the Queens, New York Freeheld set on Thursday. The actress, who plays a police officer in the movie, completed her undercover look with a button down tucked into a pair of jeans and black boots.
In Freeheld, Moore plays Lieutenant Laurel Hester, a real-life figure in Lgbt history, who fought to extend pension benefits to domestic partners in New Jersey after she received a fatal cancer diagnosis, and learned that her domestic partner, mechanic Stacie Andree, would not receive the benefits. Page, who is producing Freeheld, is playing the part of Andree.
Freeheld is based off of the 2007 documentary of the same name that won an Oscar for best Documentary,...
Julianne Moore Films 'Freeheld'
Moore, sporting blond, blown out locks, was shot snapping pictures from the passenger seat of a parked car on the Queens, New York Freeheld set on Thursday. The actress, who plays a police officer in the movie, completed her undercover look with a button down tucked into a pair of jeans and black boots.
In Freeheld, Moore plays Lieutenant Laurel Hester, a real-life figure in Lgbt history, who fought to extend pension benefits to domestic partners in New Jersey after she received a fatal cancer diagnosis, and learned that her domestic partner, mechanic Stacie Andree, would not receive the benefits. Page, who is producing Freeheld, is playing the part of Andree.
Freeheld is based off of the 2007 documentary of the same name that won an Oscar for best Documentary,...
- 10/3/2014
- Uinterview
Deadline is reporting that Steve Carell will be replacing Zach Galifianakis in Freeheld, an upcoming film from Peter sollett. Already set to star Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, Freeheld is based on 2007 documentary of the same name which focused on two women, Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree, who fought “to amend the Domestic Partnership Act, which grants pension benefits to domestic partners of all New Jersey public employees.”
According to the report, Galifianakis had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Now, Carell will come in and take over his role, that of Steven Goldstein, “a passionate advocate for Garden State Equality.” Moore and Page are set to play Hester and Andree, respectively.
For those who are unfamiliar with the original doc that this feature film will be based on, it was quite a hit on the festival circuit back when it was released, picking up numerous awards, including the Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
According to the report, Galifianakis had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Now, Carell will come in and take over his role, that of Steven Goldstein, “a passionate advocate for Garden State Equality.” Moore and Page are set to play Hester and Andree, respectively.
For those who are unfamiliar with the original doc that this feature film will be based on, it was quite a hit on the festival circuit back when it was released, picking up numerous awards, including the Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
- 8/27/2014
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Steve Carell has been cast in Freeheld.
He will join Julianne Moore and Ellen Page in the adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 2007 documentary of the same name, reports Deadline.
Carell replaces Zach Galifianakis, who dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts.
The film centres around the battle to amend the New Jersey Domestic Partnership Act in order to allow public employees to give pension benefits to their domestic partners.
The battle was launched by terminally ill police officer Laurel Hester, who wished to pass her benefits to her partner Stacie Andree.
Moore and Carell starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Carell will play the supporting role of equality advocate Steven Goldstein.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist's Peter Sollett will direct Freeheld.
Watch a trailer for the original documentary below:...
He will join Julianne Moore and Ellen Page in the adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 2007 documentary of the same name, reports Deadline.
Carell replaces Zach Galifianakis, who dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts.
The film centres around the battle to amend the New Jersey Domestic Partnership Act in order to allow public employees to give pension benefits to their domestic partners.
The battle was launched by terminally ill police officer Laurel Hester, who wished to pass her benefits to her partner Stacie Andree.
Moore and Carell starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Carell will play the supporting role of equality advocate Steven Goldstein.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist's Peter Sollett will direct Freeheld.
Watch a trailer for the original documentary below:...
- 8/27/2014
- Digital Spy
Peter Sollett’s upcoming drama Freeheld is switching out one comedian for another, as Steve Carell is set to take over for a role previously filled by Zach Galifiankis.
Deadline reports that Carell will play Steven Goldstein in the film, which is based on a 2007 documentary of the same name. The documentary follows Laurel Hester’s battle against the New Jersey’s Domestic Partnership Act. Hester sought to amend the act in an effort to grant pension benefits to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Carell’s character Goldstein, founder of the civil rights organization Garden State Equality, was a proponent for the cause.
Deadline reports that Carell will play Steven Goldstein in the film, which is based on a 2007 documentary of the same name. The documentary follows Laurel Hester’s battle against the New Jersey’s Domestic Partnership Act. Hester sought to amend the act in an effort to grant pension benefits to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Carell’s character Goldstein, founder of the civil rights organization Garden State Equality, was a proponent for the cause.
- 8/27/2014
- by Jonathon Dornbush
- EW - Inside Movies
Exclusive: Steve Carell is replacing Zach Galifianakis in Freeheld, the Peter Sollett-directed film based on the 2007 documentary about Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree. They fought to amend the Domestic Partnership Act, which grants pension benefits to domestic partners of all New Jersey public employees. The film stars Julianne Moore and Ellen Page. It’s produced by Page, Kelly Bush, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, James D. Stern, Richard Fischoff, Duncan Montgomery, Jack Selby, Duncan Montgomery, and Cynthia Wade. Ron Nyswaner wrote the script.
Related: Hot Trailer: Channing Tatum & Steve Carell In ‘Foxcatcher’
Galifianakis has dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Carell will play the supporting role of Steven Goldstein, a passionate advocate for Garden State Equality. Carell, who starred with Moore in Crazy, Stupid, Love, found a spot of availability in his schedule between the time he’ll spend promoting his starring roles in Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No...
Related: Hot Trailer: Channing Tatum & Steve Carell In ‘Foxcatcher’
Galifianakis has dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Carell will play the supporting role of Steven Goldstein, a passionate advocate for Garden State Equality. Carell, who starred with Moore in Crazy, Stupid, Love, found a spot of availability in his schedule between the time he’ll spend promoting his starring roles in Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No...
- 8/27/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
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