Review of Pride (2014) by Jesse O — 24 Dec 2014

If you've followed my reviews for any length of time, then you're aware that I'm a big supporter of gay rights.  I've never really understood the opposition some have towards gays and how active some people are in denying these people the same rights we are all born with.

  They're more like privileges instead of rights, if they can be so easily denied by individuals who are hiding behind their children to justify their prejudices.  'What about the children?' they'll, very stupidly, say.

  Your fake concern for children fools no one.  In 31 out of 50 states, a rapist has parental rights if the woman gave birth to the child.  If a basketball player makes 31 of 50 shots, he's have 60+ points.

  Isn't this a more pressing and truly socially relevant issue than whether two women or two men fall in love with one another?  Sorry about that rant, but this is something I feel very strongly about.

  But I digress, this film is excellent with a touching and inspiring true story.  Of course, I'm sure that a lot of this was dramatized and exaggerated for effects of the story, to give it a more inspirational touch, but I think it genuinely works, even if it has some corny moments.

Like the scene where the entire room of people breaks into song at the town hall. That was really fucking cheesy. What I like about the film is how it shows how two seemingly disparate and small groups of people, gays and miners, can come together to make an actual change that rippled throughout both groups.

Gays rights in England were recognized due to the miners' support as they blocked a motion put forward. Their blocking the motion meant that gays would have equal rights. While the film does show some of the prejudices that gays go through, I think the film as a bit of an idealistic message.

It's certainly a very nice sentiment, one that I'm entirely supportive of, but one that doesn't show the actual reality of being gay in this world. It's a sad reality, but I think that the majority of the world is still very homophobic at its core.

We've come so far in so many ways, but in others we've just gone backwards and it's a damn shame that some people, fearing retribution or homophobia, spend their entire lives living a life that is not their own.

It's a sad truth. This movie doesn't overlook that sad truth, as Bromley struggles with his sexuality as he can't tell his family who he really is. It also shows the beginning of AIDS, but, again, it doesn't focus as much on that so as not to put too much of a downer on things.

Thankfully the film makes up with a wicked sense of humor. The film is very funny and entertaining as the gays ingratiate themselves with the miners as they grow closer to each other the more they, being the miners, understand.

It's a cliched theme, but this film handles it well and respectfully. This, as you may have guessed, has an excellent cast of great British actors and actresses. Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy are incredible.

I could watch these two perform in German, without subtitles, for two hours and I'd be absolutely enthralled. Both are fabulous here and they add a level of credibility to anything they're in.

And Paddy Considine is nobody to scoff at either. I really love the cast here, the characters are likable and, while many, there's still some depth to a lot of them. It might not be great depth, but they're not one dimensional characters either.

The soundtrack is also really good, it fits the era perfectly. I loved this movie as you can see. It's not as manipulative and sentimental as it could've been and that's a positive in my book.

I can find very little to dislike about this. I love this movie very much. It's funny, heartbreaking, insightful, well-acted, and well-written. I'd definitely recommend this movie.