Pride (2014)

Directed by Matthew Warchus
Written by Stephen Beresford
Starring Ben Schnitzer, George MacKay, Faye Marsay and Paddy Considine

U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.

With themes of solidarity, human rights and equality for all, "Pride" is a remarkable and inspirational film that shows that the likeliest of people can come together for a common cause. But it's also an example of just how terrible people are.

Equally hilarious and frustrating, this film flips back and forth between showing the good in humanity and showing people who are the reason the "C" word was created. Of course, this is just the reality of the world, specifically when fighting for rights, whether it be for the gay community or workers. But damn… there are a lot of people in this movie that make you just want to punch your screen.

A huge part of the humor in this film comes from the reactions people have to being around gay people. Mind you this was in the mid 80s, when AIDS was on everyone's mind and homosexuals had one foot in the closet. Seeing all the different reactions from all of the different characters was quite entertaining.

Perhaps, the most compelling thing about this movie was it's message. Unfortunately, it is as equally prevalent today as it was during the events of this story. That message can be broken down into three simple things. You should never hide who you are. Always stand up for yourself. Love your fellow man. It's a shame that this is still something that needs to be said today.

Lead by a brilliant ensemble of characters, "Pride" proves to be one of the better films in recent memory. It takes an event that happened thirty years ago and compares it to the world today. It is beautifully written and honestly performed. Like the characters in the movie, gay, straight or "as yet undecided", I feel everyone could take something away from this picture.

My Rating: 8/10

Love is Strange (2014)

Directed by Ira Sachs
Written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei and Darren E. Burrows

Ben and George get married after years of being together without the law being on their side. After their honeymoon, George is fired from his teaching post, forcing them to stay with friends separately while they sell their place and look for cheaper housing-- a situation that weighs heavily on all involved.

An eloquent study of how love can conquer the most arduous situations, this film has the added element of a homosexual couple and their tribulations soon after the ban on same-sex marriage in New York was lifted. Not only is it a film about romantic love, but also familiar love.

John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are great as the couple who experiences all of these trials. Their chemistry together seems genuine as if they had been together for all of the decades their characters claim.

Set to the music of classical composers, this film seemed as if it were orchestrated specifically to Chopin and Beethoven in a sort of mash-up symphony. The music gave an added sense of peace and at times, sadness that classical composers have been known for. It is rare that the music influence stands out so much in a positive and non-distracting way. It truly added to the film New York setting.

I wouldn't call this movie amazing, but it was certainly touching and entertaining. Film's such as this aren't trying to change your life are change the way you see movies. They just try to tell a nice, clean story that you can enjoy. And this movie succeeded at that.

My Rating: 6.5/10