Outrage (2009 film)
| Outrage | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kirby Dick |
| Written by | Kirby Dick |
| Produced by | Amy Ziering[1] |
| Cinematography | Thaddeus Wadleigh[1] |
| Edited by | Douglas Blush Matthew Clarke[1] |
| Music by | Peter Golub[1] |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $287,198[2] |
Outrage is a 2009 American
Synopsis
Overview
Outrage argues that several American political figures have led closeted gay lives while supporting and endorsing legislation that is harmful to the
Subjects
Among other subjects, the film includes:
- AIDS pandemic in the gay community reluctantly, unlike the health crises he handled in other situations. New York and San Francisco were the main epicenters of AIDS in the early 1980s. Critics, most notably Larry Kramer, believe Koch handled the AIDS crisis poorly because he was closeted.[14][15][16]
- Ken Mehlman, the former Republican national chairman, was named in the film as a closeted homosexual though he was against policies friendly to gays.[1][4][12][17] Mehlman publicly came out in 2010.
Interviews
People interviewed in Outrage include:
Openly gay politicians
- Tammy Baldwin, former Congresswoman of Wisconsin, now Senator[1][3][5][21][6]
- Barney Frank, former Congressman from Massachusetts[3][4][12][5][21][6][7][8]
- David Catania, District of Columbia Council member[5][6][9]
- Neil Giuliano, former Mayor of Tempe, Arizona[22]
- Jim Kolbe, former Congressman from Arizona[11][3][4][21][6]
Others
- Wayne Barrett, investigative reporter and senior editor for the Village Voice[1]
- Elizabeth Birch, former Executive Director of Human Rights Campaign[13][6][7]
- Kirk Fordham, former chief of staff to US Congressman Mark Foley[3]
- Patrick Guerriero, former Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans
- Dan Gurley, former Field Director of Republican National Committee[9][23]
- Jim Hormel, former US Ambassador to Luxembourg[22]
- Larry Kramer, founder of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power[1][3][13][7][8][10]
- Tony Kushner, playwright of Angels in America[1][3][12][6]
- Rodger McFarlane, former Executive Director of Gay Men's Health Crisis[13]
- Kevin Naff, Editor at The Washington Blade[6]
- Hilary Rosen, Democratic lobbyist[6]
- Michelangelo Signorile, radio host[13][6][10]
- Andrew Sullivan, columnist for The Atlantic[1][3][13][6][8]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Organization | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Jury Award | Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival | Best Documentary | Won[24] |
| 2010 | Emmy Award
|
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences | Outstanding Investigative Journalism: Long Form | Nominated[25] |
Reception
Film critics responded, for the most part, with positive reviews. Scott Foundas of
Controversies
Naming
While some journalists named the political figures discussed in the film,[7][30][31] other prominent news organizations, such as The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR, did not report names.[23][32][33] Dick questioned this reluctance, saying, "The press often reports on things that are very painful to the subjects they are writing about. [Closeted gay politicians] are public officials; this is reporting on hypocrisy, and there is an obligation on the press to write about it."[23]
NPR review
In a review for NPR,[10] film critic Nathan Lee named Outrage's primary subjects. NPR altered Lee's review by removing these references.[34][35] Lee responded in a comment on NPR's website:
I personally disagree with NPR's policy—there is no other area of 'privacy' that elicits such extreme tact. [I] also feel that it is a professional affront to my responsibility as a critic to discuss the content of a work of art, and an impingement of my First Amendment right to free speech and the press.[34]
NPR deleted this comment as well.[34] An NPR editor later explained these actions, noting that, "NPR has a long-held policy of trying to respect the privacy of public figures and of not airing or publishing rumors, allegations and reports about their private lives unless there is a compelling reason to do so."[36] This statement drew immediate criticism, as NPR had previously speculated on the sexual orientation of public figures such as Adam Lambert and Queen Latifah.[36][37] This led to questions about why closeted entertainers presented a "compelling reason" for reporting while closeted politicians did not.[38]
GLAAD Media Awards
Outrage did not receive a nomination for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's 21st GLAAD Media Awards.[39] Some journalists wrote that this decision must have been a deliberate snub because Outrage had been one of 2009's most prominent LGBT films.[40][41][42][43] GLAAD responded to the criticism by arguing that Outrage "doesn't promote awareness, understanding and respect for LGBT lives and thus does not fit the criteria for the GLAAD Media Awards".[44] Dick said that he was troubled by GLAAD's apparent stance against reporting on closeted anti-gay politicians, noting that "by taking this position, GLAAD is playing into the same philosophy that has kept the closet in place in politics for decades and has caused so much damage".[45]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Anderson, John (April 25, 2009). "Film Reviews: Outrage (Documentary)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Outrage (2009) - Box Office Mojo
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Hehir, Andrew (May 7, 2009). "Behind Washington's closet door". Salon. Salon Media Group. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Paris, Barry (June 18, 2009). "'Outrage': Documentary opens the closet door on gay politicians". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Zak, Dan (May 8, 2009). "'Outrage' Drags Politics' Conservative Wingtips Out of the Closet". Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Towle, Andy (April 23, 2009). "Closeted Gay Politicians Hung Out to Dry in Outrage". Towleroad. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Turan, Kenneth (2009-05-08). "Movie Review: Outrage". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Scott, A. O. (May 7, 2009). "Secret Lives in the Age of Gay Rights". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Plant, Tim (May 7, 2009). "Secret Lives: Kirby Dick's new documentary looks at closeted politicians". Metro Weekly. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Lee, Nathan (May 8, 2009). "White-Hot 'Outrage' Over The Capitol Hill Closet". Movies. NPR. Retrieved April 12, 2013. This NPR piece is reported to have previously included the byline of Nathan Lee, and to have listed Charlie Crist. Megan Slack (May 29, 2009), "'Outrage' Documentary: Activists Outing Gay Conservatives, Huffington Post.
- ^ a b c Milvy, Erika (April 27, 2009). "Kirby Dick Is Outraged!". Advocate. Here Media. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Foundas, Scott (June 11, 2009). "Outrage peers behind the closet door at Washington's not-so-secret gays". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Thompson, N. P. (June 7, 2009). "The elixir of role-playing: Notes on Outrage". Slant. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Humm, Andy (February 3, 2013). "Ed Koch: 12 Years as Mayor, A Lifetime in the Closet". Gay City News. New York. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ Bellafante, Ginia (January 18, 2013). "Judging Mayor Koch's AIDS Record, Whispers Aside". The New York Times. Big City (column). Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ^ Wachter, Paul (August 26, 2010). "Ken Mehlman Owes Gays an Apology, Says Gay Activist Who Outed Him". AOL News. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Huff, Jeanne (September 17, 2007). "Tourists flock to Minneapolis airport men's room". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
- Daily News. New York. October 5, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
- ^ State Of Minnesota vs Larry Edwin Craig. Case No. 27-Cr-07-043231. (Hennepin County District Court 07/02/2007), Text. Note: In order to access the records, search by name or case number in the Criminal/Traffic/Petty Case Records database.
- ^ a b c d Guthmann, Edward (May 10, 2009). "'Outrage' takes on closeted gay politicians". San Francisco Chronicle. SFGate.com. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b "Full cast and crew for Outrage (2009)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c Leiby, Richard (2009-05-06). "Documentary's Camera Aims To Shed Light On D.C.'s Closet". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- Miami, Florida: Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. April 24, 2009.
- ^ Popkey, Dan (July 21, 2010). "Two films with Idaho political connections to be honored at Emmy Awards". The Idaho Statesman.
- ^ Foundas, Scott (2009-05-05). "Kirby Dick's Outrage Outs Closeted Pols and the Media that Protect Them". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2009-06-14. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Curiel, Jonathan (2009-05-08). "Review: Outrage". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Anderson, John (2009-04-25). "Outrage". Variety. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ White, Armond (2009-05-06). "Outrage". New York Press. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ^ Foundas, Scott (2009-05-06). "Outrage: Dick Outs, Gays Hide". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Reinhard, Beth (2009-05-01). "New film doesn't 'out' Gov. Crist". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 2009-06-17. [dead link]
- ^ "Outrage: New film outs gay politicians". CNN. 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2009-06-17.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "White-Hot 'Outrage' Over The Capitol Hill Closet". NPR.org. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ a b c Hernandez, Eugene (2009-05-11). ""Outrage" Review Spiked for Naming Names". indieWIRE. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Baron, Zach (2009-05-11). "NPR Censors Its Own Review of Outrage, Cites "Old-Fashioned" and Quite Possibly Dishonest Policy". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2009-06-14. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ a b Buchanan, Kyle (2009-05-11). "NPR's Hypocrisy: Outrage Review Censored, Gay Idol Speculation OK". Movieline. Archived from the original on 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ "Why Is NPR Picking And Choosing Which Public Figures To Out?". Queerty. 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ Buchanan, Kyle (2009-05-22). "NPR Responds to Movieline's Accusations of Hypocritical Outrage Handling". Movieline. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ "21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Abramovitch, Seth (2010-01-13). "Outrage Endures the Final Insult with a GLAAD Awards Snub". Movieline. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Knegt, Peter (2010-01-13). ""Outrage"-ous GLAAD Media Award Nominees". Indiewire. Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "GLAAD Nominates Every Movie + TV Show With Gay Characters, Appeal, Punchlines. Except Outrage?". Queerty. 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Bolcer, Julie (2010-01-15). "Did GLAAD Snub Outrage?". The Advocate. Retrieved 2010-11-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Rogers, Mike (2010-01-15). "Outrage not Nominated for a GLAAD Award". BlogActive. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Towle, Andy (2010-01-20). "Outrage Director Kirby Dick Responds to Awards Snub: 'Isn't it Time for GLAAD to Stop Protecting the Closet?'". Towleroad. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
Further reading
- "How Queer Is That? - Funny how prominent conservatives with antigay records are so often caught in gay sex scandals, isn't it?". Back Story. ISSN 0028-9604.
External links
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