Tag Archives: Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore Takes The Fight For Same-Sex Marriage To Italy

Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore – who is currently world tour promoting lesbian movie Freeheld – has spoken out in support of the LGBT community in Italy, after being asked by a reporter whether it was right for same-sex couples to raise a child together.

Having a family is a matter of human rights. Everyone should have the right to have a family. People taking care of each other, that’s what it means to be a family.”

Italy is the last Western European country, which has no legal recognition for cohabiting same-sex couples.

In recent months, the Italian Senate has begun debating a bill to legalise same-sex civil unions last month.

And despite facing fierce opposition in the Catholic country, it is expected to pass.

Amid a debate around same-sex civil unions, a group a senators proposed prison sentences for gay couples who use overseas surrogates.

Anti-gay rights demonstrations, including one named a “Family Day”, have taken place across the country as well.

Top 10 LGBT Films Released in 2015

2015 was a really interesting (and important) year for LGBT movie-goers as more LGBT-themed films got accepted and publicised by the mainstream.

While that meant that we heard about some duds (such as Stonewall, which was rightfully ripped to shreds by critics), it also meant that some true cinematic diamonds got the spotlight they deserved.

So, to help you to sort the wheat from the chaff, here’s our list of the top 10 LGBT films released in 2015.

1. Carol

Carol, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, is one of the most talked about films of the year. Not only does it star Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a May-December relationship (that also has a class divide) but it’s also beautiful shot and the depiction of 1950s America is absolutely exquisite.

Just about everyone has high praise for Carol and with its leading ladies having both picked up Golden Globes nominations for their brilliant performances in the movie, but it’s being tipped for Oscar nominations as well.

Long story short: if you can only see one film on this list, see Carol.

2. Freeheld

Starring Ellen Page and Julianne Moore in a May-December relationship, based on a true story, Freeheld tells the tragic story about a police officer named Laurel Moore who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

With the help of some friends, Moore and her domestic partner Stacie Andree fight to ensure that Laurel’s pension benefit get passed on to Stacie even after Laurel passes.

Prepare to shed some serious tears watching this one.

3. Grandma

Grandma is an unusual twist on the buddy movie genre. It stars out actress Lily Tomlin as the titular grandma, who, after the death of her long-time partner and having split up with her girlfriend after four months, has to help out her 18-year old granddaughter.

Her granddaughter is pregnant and needs money for an abortion, but, being broke and having had her credit card confiscated by her mother, the two women have to find the cash for the procedure, opening old relationship wounds and rehashing old arguments along the way.

4. Liz In September

Despite autumn being the best season of the year, this one doesn’t offer much to smile about as the titular ‘Liz’ is a lesbian who has terminal cancer. Things aren’t going much better for her love interest either as she has lost her son to cancer.

It sounds pretty miserable on paper, true, but Liz In September has gotten a warm reception from critics at least, especially for the performance of Patricia Velasquez (who came out this year) so it’s worth a watch.

5. The Danish Girl

While The Danish Girl has been controversial for casting a cisgender actor as a trans woman, the film tells the real-life story of a trans woman name Lili Elbe who was one of the first people to get sex reassignment surgery.

The film sheds light on the changing relationship between Lili and her wife Gerda.

The film also shows the love triangle between the two women and Lili’s childhood friend; though divisively it veers form the real-life turn of events and sees Lili and Gerda stay together.

6. All About E

Romance! Criminal hijinks! A queer woman of colour triumphing over a racist buffoon! All About E has got it all, as it stars the titular ‘E’ and her gay best friend as they get into trouble after accidentally steal money from the club where E works.

A gay Mission Impossible this is not, but it is a great deal of fun and you’ll really enjoy seeing E and her ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship.

7. Summertime

Blue Is The Warmest Colour take a seat; Summertime (La Belle Saison) is the best gay, French film on the block. Featuring farm girl Delphine as she leaves her parents place in the countryside to come to the city, the movie follows her as she meets a feminist named Carole who she promptly falls in love with.

Plot twist, Carole has a boyfriend and though Carole soon ditches him, there’s more drama when Delphine’s dad falls ill and suddenly she’s being forced to choose between staying with her heteronormative family (who want her to marry a man) and ditch her girlfriend or leave her family behind for the love of her life.

8. Reel In the Closet

Stonewall, frankly, was a pile of rubbish and as mentioned, we don’t recommend that you watch it. At all. But, if you’re still looking for your LGBT history fix, Reel In The Closet is a brilliant alternative as not only does this documentary feature commentary from actual LGBT people who faced huge difficulties in the 20th century but it also features footage from the era too.

Admittedly, this one may make you well up as you learn exactly what struggles the older generation of LGBT folk had to face when they were younger, but it’s incredibly educational.

9. The Girl King

There are (and this is a rough approximation) 1 billion and one films about heterosexual historical figures getting married, cheating and dabbling in royal politics. So why can’t queer characters get the same movie tropes? Lucky for us, The Girl King solves that problem, focusing on the (very real) Queen Christina of Sweden as she assumes the throne at a young age following her father’s death.

A true rebel, despite her title, Christina is pretty fond of peace (despite everyone around her wanting war), wearing men’s clothing and sword-fighting too, but you’ll mostly likely be interested in her romance with Countess Ebba Sparre who becomes one of her ladies in waiting. It’s a bit over the top, and it’s not meant to be taken too seriously, but if you want to see a badass, queer queen, then give it a watch.

10. Tangerine

This list began with a critically acclaimed movie that’s been gathering up awards and so it will end with another; Tangerine, a comedy/drama about two trans women of colour who go about locating their pimp.

In addition to showing a great step forward in film-making (it was filmed entirely on an iPhone), Tangerine could also potentially result in Oscar nominations for its two leads, which would make them the first trans actresses nominated for an Academy Award. Watch this if you want to see ground-breaking movie making in action.

What are Ellen Page’s Favourite Lesbian Films? We Have The Answers

Ellen Page and Julianne Moore are currently promoting their well-crafted lesbian movie, Freeheld.

In a recent video interview, Page names a few lesbian themed movies she loves – Desert Hearts, Blue is the Warmest Color and Fucking Amal (Show Me Love). Excellent choice!

However, Moore adds some other cool LGBT films to the list (including those she’s been in) and Ellen is quick to add A Single Man, The Kids Are All Right and The Hours.

What are your favorite LGBT movies? http://t.co/sbBi3tLpjX

— Freeheld Movie (@freeheldmovie) October 7, 2015

Discover the best in Lesbian Films on demand over at KitschMix.TV

In “Seeking Dolly Parton” Two Women Ask an Ex-Boyfriend to Help Get Pregnant

The most famous film (and perhaps one of the only ones) about lesbians and sperm donors is The Kids Are All Right, the Oscar-nominated film starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as a couple whose children go looking for their donor. In that film, Moore’s character cheats on her wife and sleeps with the sperm donor, making the film incredibly divisive amongst gay and bisexual women.

Seeking Dolly Parton, is only marginally better in terms of how divisive it may be. The film, which gets its name from the type of rose rather than the famed country singer, features queer couple Celina and Charlie who make the decision to have a child together after two years of dating.

While Charlie is unsure about the whole baby-having idea, the two ask their gay male friend Jon to be a donor but after he backs out they turn to Josh, who is Celina’s ex-boyfriend and the man she was in a relationship with before she began dating Charlie.

If that sounds like a bit of a mess already then consider this: Josh is also still in love with Celina and sees his status as sperm donor as his way to win his ex-girlfriend back.

While his flirting is sure to grate, this is where Seeking Dolly Parton and The Kids Are All Right differ greatly; Celina and Josh don’t sleep together (despite his best efforts) as she puts her foot down and makes him know that her and Charlie’s relationship is the real deal. She also points out that he wouldn’t be trying it on if Charlie was a man.

That’s certainly a positive takeaway and a nice fork from the usual trope-y path and Seeking Dolly Parton does do Charlie and Celina’s relationship justice in many ways (many critics have called the pairing believable, romantic, and cute), but queer female viewers may take issue with the Josh focus that the film gradually begins to take.

In the latter section of the film, Seeking Dolly Parton becomes as much about Josh’s place in the story as much as it is Charlie and Celina’s. That could be a dealbreaker but at least all three characters are fleshed out enough for it to work well.

Seeking Dolly Parton will be available from Vimeo On Demand from September 25, 2015.

Ellen Page Discusses ‘Freeheld’ and ‘Into the Forest’ with Julianne Moore and Evan Rachel Wood

It was a busy weekend for Ellen Page at the Toronto International Film Festival, but its been fantastic week too.

Not only did she attend the premiere for Freeheld with her girlfriend Samantha Thomas, but she was also busy walking the red carpet Evan Rachel Wood, who plays her sister in the dystopian flick Into the Forest.

The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Page and her colleagues for both films. Watch below

Too Cute: Romance Blossoms Between Ellen Page and Julianne Moore In This Adorable New ‘Freeheld’ Clip

Watch Ellen Page get her flirt on with Julianne Moore in this sneak peak from Freeheld.

The film, directed by Peter Sollett, is based on the true story about lesbian police officer Laurel Hester (Moore) who, after a cancer diagnosis, fights the government for equal rights so her pension benefits can go to her partner (Page)

In this sneak peak, Laurel and Stacie are just starting to connect, and their volleyball bonding is absolutely adorable.

It’s getting harder and harder to wait for the October 2nd release of Freeheld (October 9th for a wider audience).

For more Freeheld watch the full trailer here.

Ellen Page Brings Girlfriend Samantha Thomas As Her Date To Freeheld Premiere In Toronto

Ellen Page and her girlfriend Samantha Thomas made their red carpet debut as a couple on Sunday in Toronto.

Page, and the artist and surfer have been dating for several months and when asked why she decided to make their relationship public at this time, the Juno star said simply:

I’m in love.”

Freeheld has been a passion project for Page so the premiere seemed like the right time for their glamorous public debut.

Page told E! News

Walking down the carpet holding my girlfriend’s hand is pretty special. It’s pretty awesome.”

The actress, who came out in February 2014, stars in the true story of a lesbian couple who fight for domestic partner rights after one of them is diagnosed with cancer.

So it was perhaps only fitting that she would use the occasion of its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival to go public with the new love in her life.

Samantha also joined Ellen at the special party Vanity Fair threw for Freeheld which also stars Julianne Moore, Steve Carell and Michael Shannon.

The two looked awesome as they both wore tuxedo ensembles.

During the premiere event, close friend Ruby Rose couldn’t help but gush about her close friend’s latest project.

Writing on Instagram, she said

When your best friend is the most talented, funny, beautiful, generous, humble human being it’s hard to not smile until it hurts. Ellen, I am so proud of you and will always be grateful for everything you are and will always be to me.”

https://instagram.com/p/7l37hKsZTs/

She later posed with Page and Thompson, but not before talking about their chic looks.

https://instagram.com/p/7l5kqHsZW_

https://instagram.com/p/7mM0bRMZWk

Ellen Page on Freeheld: ‘How Can I Make This Film If I’m A Closeted Person?’

Ellen Page has told Out Magazine that she felt compelled to come out, after securing a role as a lesbian character in Freeheld.

Page came out in an emotional speech to the Human Rights Campaign in February 2014 – within weeks of casting for the drama Freeheld being announced.

In the film, based on true events, Julianne Moore plays Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police detective diagnosed with terminal cancer whose fight to leave her pension to benefits to partner Stacie Andree (Page) sparked a change in the law.

I remember thinking, Ellen, how in God’s name could you make this film and not be out?

What’s interesting to me is how long it took to make the movie — for it to finally come together — and how my internal progression toward coming out was naturally in line with it.

Stacie and Laurel’s story is incredibly inspiring and did take a lot of courage, particularly in a time of such unimaginable difficulty.

It really did make me go, Dude, just tell people you’re gay. Just get over yourself, honestly, and support those who are not as privileged.

It’s like, You have fucking privilege, so do something with it.”

In the same interview her co-star, Moore says working with Page opened her eyes to how hard it is to be in the closet.

Ellen had so recently come out, and this is going to sound silly, and hopefully not hurtful, but I don’t think I was aware of how painful it is to be closeted. It was all very eye-opening for me. She was so unprotective [of herself] – I was very touched by that. It definitely made me more sensitive to the nuances of our movie.”

Page also recently revealed Freeheld, directed by Peter Sollett was one of the reason she decided to come out. The 28-year-old, who came out last year, said:

I thought, ‘How can I make this film if I’m a closeted person?’ Keeping that part of myself hidden was affecting my work, my ambition, my relationships.”

The star of Juno, X-Men and Hard Candy, who is currently working on a Vice film about the most homophobic countries in the world, added: “It was a constant burden. It was so toxic.”

The actress has since become an ardent campaigner for LGBT rights.

Read the full interview in Out Magazine.

Freeheld is released on October 2. Watch the full trailer below:

‘Carol’ Features a May/December Lesbian Romance, Is an Oscar Contender

When it comes to TV shows, queer women don’t have it so great with representation as the few characters we do see are typically young, white and femme. When it comes to film, the picture is even worse as one the rare occasion that we see queer female characters in films, they almost always end up cheating on their female partners with men, or they barely get one line to say.

But as luck would have it, there will be plenty of lesbian representation to choose from in the run up to ‘Oscar’ season, where films are released with the best possible chance at being nominated (and eventually winning) an Academy Award. Several films are garnering Oscar buzz, including Carol, Freeheld and Grandma.

Carol, which stars Cate Blanchett in the title role, is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, The Price of Salt.

Set in 1952, Carol, who’s 46 and married, meets and falls for a shop clerk named Therese (played by Rooney Mara) who is 30 years old. That plot alone would be interesting to watch – the two women have a class difference as well as that age gap – and it seems that critics have really taken to it.

Not only did Carol win the Queer Palm awards at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (which is awarded to the best LGBTQ+ movie at the event), but reviews of the movie have also been incredible positive. One review suggested that Blanchett and Mara carry the film with ‘glamorous allure’ while another said that the film is a ‘masterpiece’ from director Todd Haynes. It’s also said that to be a strong Oscar contender.

And then there’s Freeheld which stars Julianne Moore and Ellen Page (in another May/December relationship), a drama based on a real story. In real life, a police officer named Laurel Hester was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and wished for her pension benefits to be passed on to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Not only is this film a real tearjerker (albeit a hopeful one) but the cast is made up of many actors who have won or have been nominated for Oscars – something which could positively influence Oscar voters into supporting the film.

Grandma, meanwhile, stars Lily Tomlin (who is gay in real life) as a 75-year old lesbian grandmother who breaks up with her 40-year old girlfriend and goes on an adventure with her granddaughter as they try and raise $600 before sundown.

Stellar performances are presented throughout this movie but according to critics, Tomlin really shines, which is why some are quite certain that she’ll get an Oscar nomination too.

Unfortunately we won’t know which films are nominated until sometime in January, but the fact that these three movies are in the running at all is brilliant.

As mentioned, queer female representation in Hollywood is abysmal – especially when it comes to older women (and older women in relationships with younger women too) – and so it’s incredibly uplifting to see that some some filmmakers are bucking a trend. Roll on 2016.

Ellen Page And Julianne Moore’s Sizzle In New Cover For Out Magazine

Take a look at the new Out cover with Julianne Moore and Ellen Page.

From Page

I remember thinking, Ellen, how in God’s name could you make this film and not be out? What’s interesting to me is how long it took to make the movie – for it to finally come together – and how my internal progression toward coming out was naturally in line with it. Stacie and Laurel’s story is incredibly inspiring. It made me go, Dude, just tell people you’re gay. Just get over yourself, honestly, and support those who are not as privileged. It’s like, You have fucking privilege, so do something with it.”

Moore plays a New Jersey detective, Page stars as her lovestruck mechanic spouse, and Steve Carrel as a “middle-class Jewish homosexual from New Jersey” in Freeheld.

Based on Oscar-winning documentary short of the same title, Freeheld tells the true story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page), domestic partners fighting to ensure that Stacie will receive Laurel’s pension benefits after Laurel is diagnosed with lung cancer.

Ellen Page: Straight Actors Who Play LGBT Characters Shouldn’t Be Called ‘Brave

Ellen Page has said it is ‘borderline offensive’ to call straight actors ‘brave’ for taking on gay roles.

In an interview with TIME Magazine, Page said that when people call straight actors courageous for becoming a gay character for a film or TV show it’s “borderline offensive” to the LGBT community.

Maybe this is a bad thing to say, but I have a hard time when people call actors brave. I don’t really get that, because our job is to read something on a page.”

Page who portrays one-half of a lesbian couple in Freeheld opposite Julianne Moore — explained why such a characterisation is inherently insulting by way of contrast:

When people are [called] brave in regards to playing LGBTQ people, that’s borderline offensive. I’m never going to be considered brave for playing a straight person, and nor should I be.”

She also discussed the growing level of diversity in entertainment that’s been cropping up lately — and what it could mean for the future of the biz.

It’s evident from what people are watching on television that people want diversity. They want it. Whether they consciously know it or not, I’m not sure, but look at Orange Is the New Black. You’re seeing actors that, if that show didn’t exist, we might not have ever seen — that are extraordinary.”

This trend makes Page “excited,” she said,

because the whole reason to go to a film is to disappear into another world, and to have your humanity connect with someone else’s, who you might not ever meet in your life!

To be moved and have more compassion, that’s the wonderful thing all art can do, and particularly film!”

For Page, this goes well beyond a celebration of the LGBT community, too.

I want to see gay stories, of course, because I’m gay, and I want to connect to a reflection of my life on film, but I also want to see what it’s like to be a young Native person, African-American, African-Canadian. Hopefully that will keep changing.”

Page recently confronted Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz about his discrimination of LGBTI people in the name of ‘religious freedom,’ and she addressed the debate in the interview.

The tricky thing about religion is you can’t even have a conversation. You just cannot have a conversation. It doesn’t affect me: For me it goes in one ear and out the other. But when you think of young people who are potentially being preached to by said person and their parents believe it, and they happen to be gay or trans or what-have-you, they’re going to have a really, really challenging time.”

Page said she is often told that she will find God and be with a man.

And that’s what’s so sad about it. Getting infused with that amount of shame into your body and into your mind. Potentially getting kicked out of your house. Potentially in a place where you’re homeless and every night of your life is life-or-death. That’s when I have no time for this religious argument. I don’t understand being part of a religion where your religious liberty or your religious freedom is based on other people not being treated equally. I don’t understand that – I really don’t.”

Ellen Page Says Her Role in ‘Freeheld’ Impacted Her Decision to Come Out

Ellen Page and Julianne Moore recently did an interview with Glamour to discuss their new film Freeheld, which centres on New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester, who while battling lung cancer fought to pass on her pension benefits to her partner, Stacie Andree, and won her case just weeks before her death in 2006.

In the interview, Page says, seven years ago, she was sitting in a hotel room in Detroit with her then girlfriend when she received an email asking whether she was interested in being cast in a movie.

It contained a link to the trailer for Freeheld, the documentary about a New Jersey detective Laurel Hester, who, while dying of lung cancer, fought until her last breath to pass on her pension benefits to her partner Stacie.

She won her case weeks before her death in 2006.

Page was asked whether she would be interested in playing Stacie in a cinematic version, and after three minutes, said she was ‘in tears’.

I was super closeted at the time. I was moved, so unbelievably moved. I wanted to be involved.”

She then became a producer of Freeheld, and working on the project helped her to come out on Valentine’s Day last year.

I thought, how can I make this film if I’m a closeted person? Keeping that part of myself hidden was affecting my work, my ambition, my relationships. It was a constant burden — it was so toxic. As a gay woman, playing a gay character is a pretty monumental moment.”

Julianne was also clearly moved by this couple.

These women were forerunners of this year’s case. They were very regular people. Laurel was a detective, and Stacie a mechanic. And for the first time in their lives, they were public about their sexuality in a way that they hadn’t wanted to be. So what they did was major. They really put themselves on the line.”

Watch the trailer for Freeheld, starring Page and Julianne Moore, below:

For more on Ellen and Julianne, read the rest of their interview in Glamour’s September issue.

Ellen Page And Julianne Moore Fight For Gay Rights In First Trailer For ‘Freeheld’ (Video)

Ellen Page’s Freeheld 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.

Page, who is also a producer on the film, told EW

I remember just seeing the trailer for the documentary and I was instantly brought to tears. 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.”

The movies cast includes Julianne Moore, Steve Carell, and Michael Shannon, plus a score by Hans Zimmer. And with a fall release date set for October 2nd, could we be looking at an awards contender? The first trailer has arrived.

Watch it below and let us know what you think.

Ellen Page Prepares To Become Lioness

Ellen Page already has her next project lined up. She’ll play real-life US Marine Lance Corporal Leslie Martz, in producer James Dahl’s developing war drama Lioness (not to be confused with the English women’s football team).

Martz was stationed in Iraq for a time, but Lioness is concerned with her stint in Afghanistan, leading a ‘Female Engagement Team’. Her agenda was ostensibly to gain the trust of Afghan women and prepare them for independence, but Martz was also tasked with surreptitiously extracting intelligence from those same women about their Taliban husbands.

The soldier, who now lives in San Diego, was also waging a personal war on several fronts. She was hiding the fact that she was a gay woman in the military, and on top of that found herself torn between the desire to prove herself and her superiors and the allegiance she developed toward the women and children whose strength and courage she grew to admire.

Lioness doesn’t have a director yet, but newcomer Rosalind Ross has written the screenplay and will join Dahl on the producers list. Dahl is also behind the Rolling Stones movie The End Of The Tour, starring Page’s To Rome With Love co-star Jesse Eisenberg.

Page has two films set for release – the sci-fi drama Into The Forest and the biohraphical romance Freeheld, although neither currently has a release date.

Ellen Page Discusses Marriage Equality, Her Career as a Lesbian Actress

Ellen Page made our hearts skip a beat last year when she came out of the closet.

This week the actress spoke to Variety about how she feels Hollywood helped pave the way for LGBT rights, and what coming out meant for her.

I’m happier than I probably could imagine. Now it doesn’t feel like I was ever not out. It’s hard for me to imagine not existing in the way that I’m existing now. It boggles my mind that it seemed so difficult and so impossible. I wish I’d done it sooner, quite frankly. Some dark cloud has completely evaporated, thank goodness.”

She added

There are still not many young people out in Hollywood. There’s this narrative that people are attached to: You cannot come out because it’s going to hurt your career. And that’s potentially true. When I made the decision to come out, I wasn’t naive to that.”

On Hollywood, being out and acting she said

… the roles that do exist, you’re specifically a device for the male character or you’re hypersexualized in regards to the male gaze. For whatever reason, people can believe straight actors playing gay roles, but there’s this idea they can’t believe gay actors playing straight roles. And for me, it got to a point where it didn’t matter.”

Hollywood (for all it failings) has helped drive LGBT stories to a larger audience. There is now growing acceptance for gay and lesbian story lines; and gay rights and marriages.

Aside from all the silliness of Hollywood and what we do, stories are told that are really important, and that touch people and transform how they feel about things, whether it’s been “Philadelphia,” “Brokeback Mountain” or “Milk.” And I think it definitely can change minds and push things forward.

Whenever you’re telling a story about a minority group, it’s potentially not as appealing because there’s a feeling it’s not going to get the audience a financier needs. I feel like that’s been proven wrong time and time again, particularly when you’re looking at the diversity on TV right now. You can tell that’s what people want.”

On coming out, and her new role as LGBT spokesperson, the actress added

I feel extremely fortunate and humble when I have experiences with LGBT people who come up to me and say how I helped them come out. Those moments are really extraordinary. They are typically really emotional. The biggest feeling I get is gratitude. I totally stayed in the closet, and I felt guilty about it. I was finally able to get out, and that was my life journey. I’m interested in gay issues. It’s natural for that to be a part of my life.”

Julianne Moore: The Fight For LGBT Rights Doesn’t End With Marriage Equality (Video)

For many, the battle for gay rights ends with marriage equality, but we need to consider the wider spectrum of LGBT issues in ‘mainstream’ society.

Yesterday, Oscar winning actress and LGBT ally Julianne Moore posted a video for Lambda Legal’s #IDo campaign to help raise funds and awareness.

In the video, she highlights the reasons why the crusade for gay civil rights must continue once marriage is legal for all. Moore cites school bullying, medical care and violence against transgender individuals as three such examples, urging others to say “I do.”

Moore is seen as the perfect ambassador for Lambda’s efforts. Her résumé contains a diverse mix of LGBT projects, including roles in The Hours, A Single Man, The Kids Are All Right, and the upcoming Freeheld, in which she plays a terminally ill police officer who must fight to secure pension benefits for her partner (Ellen Page).

I think it’s a very basic human-rights issue. Everybody has the right to marry the person they love and be represented as a couple and family. … It’s something that people will look back on in years to come and say, ‘I can’t believe it took so long for us to recognize this.’ It’ll be like segregation and giving women the right to vote.”

Could ‘Lesbian Themed’ Movies Rule Next Years Oscars?

Indiewire have updated their 2016 Oscar predictions, and they predict a very real possibility that over half of this year’s female acting nominations could go to portrayals of gay women.

Lesbians have represented at the Oscars before. Charlize Theron won for playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Nicole Kidman played Virginia Woolf, and Annette Bening almost won for her rule in the The Kids Are All Right.

Also read: When It Pays To Be A Lesbian At The Oscars

So who has been tipped?

There is a possibility that openly gay actress Lily Tomlin could get a nomination for playing someone openly gay in Grandma. Which is actually a first – a lesbian actress being nominated for playing a lesbian character – shock horror!

Tomlin would also become the only second gay person to be nominated for playing a gay person. Ian McKellen is currently the only other example.

In Paul Weitz’s Grandma, Tomlin plays a lesbian poet who goes on a road trip with her granddaughter after she breaks up with her long-term partner.

This is her first lead role in a film in over 27 years, and she’s incredible in it. Sony Pictures Classics is surely going to rev up a campaign for her come fall, in hopes of giving 75 year old Tomlin her first Oscar nomination since 1975, when she was nominated for Nashville. Our fingers are firmly crossed.

Also read: Watch | New Clip Released from Lily Tomlin’s New movie ‘Grandma’

If Tomlin does get nominated, she would almost certainly be competing against Cate Blanchett, who got insanely good reviews out of Cannes for Todd Haynes’ Carol. Blanchett plays half of a 1950s lesbian romance in the film, the other half being played by Rooney Mara, who beat out Blanchett for Cannes’ Best Actress award.

Mara is a very likely nominee too, though The Weinstein Company could very well campaign her in supporting.

Also read: Watch | First Teaser of Cate Blanchett’s new Lesbian / Bi-Feature Film ‘Carol’

Either way, this is three possible lesbian nominees.

And then there’s Freeheld, which we’ll likely be released at the Toronto Film Festival.

The movie stars last year’s best actress winner Julianne Moore, who is paired with Ellen Page. The film is a classic Oscar bait story of real life lesbian Laurel Hester (Moore), a police officer in Ocean County, New Jersey. Following her diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2005, Hester repeatedly appealed to the county’s board of chosen freeholders in an attempt to ensure her pension benefits could be passed on to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Page).

Also read: Will Ellen Page’s “Freeheld” Be A Surprise Box Office Hit?

The film is actually based on a documentary short that won an Oscar, and is written by the same man who got a nomination for his screenplay for Philadelphia.

We obviously won’t know until we see it, but both Moore and Page sure seem like contenders for best actress and best support. That would also make Moore the only person to receive two nominations for playing queer characters.

Will Ellen Page’s “Freeheld” Be A Surprise Box Office Hit?

Later this year, we will get to watch Ellen Page’s much-anticipated movie Freeheld. And sources are tipping the film to become a box office hit, with some entertainment observers and fans noticing the growing anticipation for this movie since Lionsgate won the bidding war for its rights at the Berlin Film Festival.

Page is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, a critically acclaimed artist whose acting range is beyond reproach. However, this is a film which could do something different for her reputation and that is it could turn her into a major ‘box office draw’. Especially as in this project she has been coupled with an A-list, Oscar winning, movie star Julianne Moore – who can bring large numbers of fans to any movie.

Also read: Ellen Page and Julianne Moore’s New Drama ‘Freeheld’ Is Backed Big For Nationwide Distribution

Freeheld is a film that has the potential to draw ‘huge’ numbers at the box office because of its ‘human story’ of a couple fighting to have one of the partner’s pension benefits transferred to the other, a story which many entertainment fans can relate to. Moreover, many heterosexual movie fans will be drawn to any project which she is part of because of both women’s sensational acting range.

This is also a great movie for lesbian visibility. As we all agree its not often lesbian stories are told or documented on the big screens of Hollywood. However, Freeheld could be seen as a film of the equal to Philadelphia or Brokeback Mountain in queer visibility.

Page would never really admit that becoming known, as a major box office draw is important to her. However, one thing that she has revealed in her interviews is she is “ultra-competitive” – something she has known since her days as a competitive soccer player in Canada, and that trait has not all of a sudden disappeared as an actress.

How Coming Out Allowed Ellen Page to Reconnect With Fashion

If you’ve been feeling a stronger-than-usual desire to purchase a Saint Laurent suit lately, then Ellen Page is probably the cause.

Page is stepping up a gear when it comes to fashion visibility, and it would seem her coming out has helped pave the way for this.

In the new issue Vogue (April 2015), Page confirms that coming out as gay has reignited the spark when it comes to getting dressed.

Also: More on Ellen Page and Julianne Moore’s New Lesbian Drama ‘Freeheld’

The out actress and activist said:

“I used to feel this constant pressure to be more feminine; a quiet or sometimes not-so-quiet demand — You need to wear a dress or people will think you’re gay.’ Now I feel a sense of freedom in dressing, and I’m enjoying it so much. I love wearing a Saint Laurent suit to an event… I mean, what a gift.”

Page will be playing Julianne Moore’s lesbian love interest in the upcoming film Freeheld, a role which has gained further significance since she publicly came out last year.

Lets take a moment to really appreciate Page’s post coming out wardrobe.

More on Ellen Page and Julianne Moore’s New Lesbian Drama ‘Freeheld’

The highly anticipated film Freeheld is due out some time this year. Written by Ron Nyswaner, who also wrote 1993’s Philadelphia, the part love story and civil rights drama film tells the true story of Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore), a New Jersey police detective who was dealt a devastating blow when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Hester is in a relationship with her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), and the film follows the couple as they both fight against the illness and government officials, who were preventing Hester’s pension benefits from going to Andree.

While a release date has yet to be confirmed, the film was shot last summer and is now in post-production.

Ellen Page came out as a lesbian in 2014. Julianne Moore starred as a lesbian in The Kids Are Alright and is a staunch gay rights campaigner.

Steve Carell, Michael Shannon, and Luke Grimes also star in the drama, which is based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning documentary short of the same name.

Ellen Page and Julianne Moore’s New Drama ‘Freeheld’ Is Backed Big For Nationwide Distribution

Although the new Ellen Page movie is still in post production, companies have been via for the rights to distribute the film across the North American, which is fantastic news as this movie is about a lesbian couple.

In fact, a bidding war erupted after execs saw only a 12-minutes of the film, and it was finally Lionsgate who won the bidding war to the rights to Freeheld, which tells the true story of the late Laurel Hester. Julianne Moore stars as Hester while Ellen Page, who is also one of the producers, plays Hester’s life partner, Stacie Andree.

The film part love story and civil rights drama, and follows Hester’s relationship with her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, as they both fight against the illness and government officials, who were preventing Hester’s pension benefits from going to Andree.

Steve Carell, Michael Shannon, and Luke Grimes also star in the drama, which is based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning documentary short of the same name.

Julianne Moore is a likely best actress Oscar winner this year for her work in Still Alice, so her role in this movie was already generating interest

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page Banned From Filming Gay Rights Film in Catholic School

‘Freeheld’ is based on Cynthia Wade’s Oscar-winning documentary, which tells the true story of lesbian couple Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree, and Hester’s battle to assign her pension benefits to Andree in 2005.

The new film stars Julianne Moore and Ellen Page (who is also a producer on the film), with Moore playing the New Jersey detective dying of lung cancer, and Page playing her New Jersey mechanic girlfriend.

In one scene, the couple applies for a civil union, and the production team needed a building that could pass for a town hall.

Salesian high school in New Rochelle was to provide as a location. However, after review the Catholic high school informed filmmakers that it had changed its mind initially after approving a shoot and allowing still photographs to be taken because of the ‘subject matter’.

Producer, Kelly Bush, said:

“Freeheld captures the inequality and bigotry that one couple faced while coping with cancer and the end of life. That our film was denied access to a location because of the subject matter — a same-sex couple fighting for their legal rights — illustrates just how important it is that this story be told.”

Ellen Page tweeted:

Using religion to justify bigotry makes me sad. Sending my support 2 the LGBT students at the school who I hope r able 2 find acceptance.

— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) October 21, 2014

1. Carol

2. Freeheld

3. Grandma

4. Liz In September

5. The Danish Girl

6. All About E

7. Summertime

8. Reel In the Closet

9. The Girl King

10. Tangerine

Discover the best in Lesbian Films on demand over at KitschMix.TV

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