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If you’re looking for a provocative and political movie that will give you plenty of food for thought, Outrage is the flick for you. If you’re in Albuquerque, the Guild Cinema has a three-day showing beginning today.
Thanks to an early screening courtesy of the Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, one of the film’s sponsors, I got a sneak preview. My main reaction: Outrage tells an important — and often infuriating — tale.
The film, directed by Kirby Dick, is a 90-minute expose that tracks Washington D.C.-based blogger Mike Rogers’ crusade to out closeted gay politicians who hypocritically oppose basic civil rights for gays and lesbians.
That’s, of course, also where the movie gets tricky — since numerous politicians vigorously deny accusations of homosexuality, like Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who figures prominently in the storyline.
Or ex-U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, the Idaho Republican who infamously was caught in a Minneapolis airport men’s room cruising for anonymous gay sex.
Many of the movie’s accusations are backed up by convincing testimonials — men stepping forward with first-hand knowledge of politicians leading double lives. But to be fair, some of the allegations aren’t as convincing. About the allegations leveled at Crist, the Weekly Alibi screener Devin O’Leary writes:
It’s a mighty plausible argument, but I wouldn’t want to have to prove it in court.
Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank
Outrage opens with audio of Craig’s now infamous, cringe-worthy interrogation with the cop who busted him, and from there applies loads of context and analysis from a virtual who’s-who of national gay politics – including sitting U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin.
Later on, Craig is seen on TV during the 1990s criticizing former President Bill Clinton as a “nasty, bad, naughty boy” – with a crooked grin on his face.
Amazing.
Several GOP members of Congress – current and former – as well as prominent Democratic pols, like former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, are profiled in the movie.
Beyond the film’s focus on hypocrisy and politicians, there’s a subplot that reaches toward growing acceptance for gays and lesbians – once they come to grips with who they are.
Ex-U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, an Arizona Republican, is a case in point. Years after the lawmaker voted in favor of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, Kolbe came out – and in the film says that “a sense of peace and calm came over me.”
He even relates the story of when he came out to fellow Arizonan, Sen. John McCain, who told Koble he’s sexual orientation didn’t matter to him. “‘It’s OK. It doesn’t matter’,” Kolbe recalls McCain telling to him, “‘you’re a good legislator.’”
Despite the obvious (and many) reasons for, well, outrage, the movie is also filled with uplifting words from the likes of activist Larry Kramer and radio personality Michelangelo Signorile.
“There is a right to privacy,” Frank says at one point, “but there is no right to hypocrisy.”
To many, that may be a debatable point. But set against a backdrop of contemporary struggle for equality, it’s a debate this film embraces with a vengeance.
Outrage showtimes are 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. July 21-23 at Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema
