Outrage (2009)

Simply put this is a documentary on closeted American politicians who vote anti-gay. Documentary film maker Kirby Dick has made the subject of hypocrisy and the need to expose hypocrisy the paramount concern of his work, and feeling that a gay politician who votes against his own people (as it were) should know better, he proceeds to name names. Now this is a very sensitive subject outing, both in the gay and straight communities, and to do so in a film presents many issues, not least of which that you might be wrong. All the recent big names (both alleged and confirmed) are here, including former Idaho Senator Larry Craig (a recording of whose interview with a Minnesota police officer post men’s room bust begins the film), Florida’s current governor, U.S. senate candidate and possible presidential aspirant Charlie Crist, Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and of course New Jersey’s former chief of state Jim McGreevey.

The film has been criticized for making claims that are hard to substantiate, though it seems that Dick has been very vigilant about trying to source his claims, though the credence you’ll give a charge often boils down to whether or not you believe a handful of alleged ex-boyfriends and one night stands. The films also been criticized for focusing almost exclusively on men (the only Lesbian politician in the film is openly one, Wisconsin Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin), and Republicans. However when acknowledge the crux of the film, which is hypocrisy, this all makes since. The Republican party has taken up the anti-gay cause in a way the Democratic party has not, and since the film doesn’t concern itself with alleged closet cases who have not been public about, and insistent on voting against an expansion of gay rights, then the scope of the film is going to fall squarely on a handful of largely older, Republican men. I don’t really know how I feel about everything presented in the film, but certainly its interesting in a tablody sense, and dose open up a relevant, if inherently awkward piece of public dialogue. Thumbs Up.