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.
Greetings again from
the darkness. A touching story based on the struggles of two people in
love … that description fits, but leaves out the crucial details that
make the saga of Laurel and Stacie so poignant and important. Laurel
Hester was an Ocean County, New Jersey police officer who, like most
non-heterosexual people of the era, went to extremes to conceal that
part of her life for fear of personal and professional reprisals.
We
catch up with Laurel (Julianne Moore) and her police partner Dane Wells
(Michael Shannon) while on a drug bust in 2002. This scene is meant to
quickly establish that Laurel is an excellent cop who is fully trusted
by other cops. Soon after, we find Laurel and her god-awful volleyball
skills flirting with Stacie (Ellen Page), a much younger auto mechanic.
The two strike up a romance that leads to buying a house and jumping
through the legal hoops required under the Domestic Partnership Act.
When
Laurel is diagnosed with late stage lung cancer, the battle for her
pension benefits begins as she goes up against the Freeholders who
control Ocean County. While Stacie holds out hope for a cure and full
recovery, Gay activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell) swoops in to
generate media attention through protests and chants against the County.
His cause is Gay marriage, while Laurel simply wants equality. It's an
odd differentiation that the movie dwells on, but never quite explains.
A
significant social issue, a stroll on the beach, a pet dog, and a
terminal illness … this sounds like the TV Guide synopsis of the latest
Lifetime Channel movie. Perhaps that was the goal of screenwriter Ron
Nyswaner (Philadelphia, 1993), whose next movie is a sex-change love
story. Fortunately, the extremely talented cast elevates the material to
an emotional level that allows viewers to connect. Those opposed to the
issue include the macho cops from Laurel's own squad room, and the
ultra-conservative faction on the County board – who predictably runs
and hides when the conflict reaches its peak.
Julianne Moore and
Ellen Page do outstanding work in allowing us to accept a romance that
at times looks more like a mother/daughter relationship due to the age
difference. Humor is injected with a rare drywall joke and possibly the
first ever on screen tire-rotation contest. However, this isn't a story
for laughs. Rather, director Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah's Infinite
Playlist, 2008) shows one of the many personal stories that have led to
the legal authorization of gay marriage and rights. We view this
acceptance through the eyes of Laurel's partner Dane, and Michael
Shannon's low key performance prevents the role from being too clichéd.
The film suffers a bit with Steve Carell's over-the-top portrayal of the
over-the-top Goldstein, but it does ring true in that desperate times
call for desperate measures.
Certainly the film suffers from
technical and script issues, yet the true story and the emotional
subject matter, along with the fine performances, provide a clear look
and reminder of some of the obstacles faced by good people over the
years. Be sure to watch the closing credits for photographs of the real
Laurel, Stacie, Dane and Goldstein – each (except Laurel, of course)
have cameos in the film.
