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Freeheld
2015 103 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★6.3
Romance, Drama
Director: Peter Sollett
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
New Jersey car mechanic Stacie Andree and her police detective girlfriend Laurel Hester both battle to secure Hester's pension benefits after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Budget:
$7M
US Gross:
$546,201
Worldwide:
$573,335
Starring
Julianne Moore
Actor
Elliot Page
Actor
Steve Carell
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2015
— Sebastian Prize
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2015
— Golden Shell
Key opinion
Freeheld is a drama based on the true story of a police officer’s battle to secure pension benefits for her partner after a terminal cancer diagnosis. While the lead performances are widely praised, the film faces significant criticism for its predictable, derivative screenplay and its struggle to evoke genuine emotional depth.
| Acting | Julianne Moore and Ellen Page deliver committed, soulful performances that anchor the film's emotional narrative. | |
| Acting | Michael Shannon provides a strong, memorable supporting performance that bolsters the film's social context. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as a predictable, clichéd affair that relies on generic melodrama rather than deep character exploration. | |
| Culture | Opinions on the film's cultural impact are divided; some see it as a vital, accessible story about equality, while others argue it is derivative and irrelevant given subsequent advancements in LGBTQ+ cinema and legal rights. | |
| Emotion | The emotional impact is polarized; some viewers are deeply moved by the struggle against injustice, while others find the execution dry, sterile, and manipulative. | |
| Acting | The performance of Steve Carell is divisive; supporters praise his contribution to the story's gravity, while critics find his portrayal unconvincing. |