UPDATE: The new film Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is killing it with both critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes reported these platinum scores. Roger Sharpe fights a legal battle to overturn New York City's 35-year ban on pinball machines. Based on a true story. [ Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game credits: Dir: Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg/ Mike Faist, Crystal … [Read more...]
Firebird | Film
Two gay men risk everything for love in Soviet-occupied Estonia as a KGB investigation threatens to discover their relationship. Based on a true story. [ Firebird credits: Dir: Peeter Rebane/ Tom Prior, Nicholas Woodeson, Oleg Zagorodnii/ 107 min/ Drama, Romance/ Government Enforced Morality/ UK/ 2021] Now on Amazon Streaming External Reviews “This Estonian-British … [Read more...]
Operation Hyacinth | Film
In communist Poland, a police officer tasked with arresting gay men gradually gains sympathy for them and begins to question the brutal system in which he has played so pitiless a role. [ Operation Hyacinth credits: Dir: Piotr Domalewski/ Tomasz Zietek, Hubert Milkowski, Marek Kalita/ 112 min/ Drama, Foreign/ Sexual Liberty, Government as Bigot, Anti-Socialism/ Poland/ 2021/ … [Read more...]
Welcome to Chechnya
An underground railroad in the Russian republic of Chechnya risks all to protect gay people from the government's official policy of torture and extermination. [ Welcome to Chechnya credits: Dir: David France/ Olga Baranova, David Isteev, Maxim Lapunov/ 107 min/ Documentary/ Democide, Government as Bigot, Government as Torturer, Sexual Liberty/ 2020] External Reviews "A … [Read more...]
Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree (2012)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN DOCUMENTARIES Libertarian activist Derrick J. Freeman chronicles his arrest and incarceration for five "crimes" -- videoing police, dancing in a public place, smoking cannabis, wearing a hat in court, and riding a bike -- in a civil disobedience spree that demonstrates just how petty and dangerous is our ever-expanding body of law. [ Derrick J's … [Read more...]
The Giver (2014)
When a 16-year-old boy discovers that the "perfect" managed society in which he lives is simply a drugged potemkin village, he must decide whether its superficially happy character is worth the price in terms of foregone human experience and lost liberty. [ The Giver credits: Dir: Phillip Noyce/ 94 min/ SciFi-Drama/ Individualism, Government enforced morality, Equality & … [Read more...]
Footloose (1984 & 2011) | Movie Review
The hit 1984 film Footloose was remade in 2011, not to quite the same acclaim but it has much the same spirit and both films are excellent allegories in government enforced morality. Review of Footloose (2011) The new kid in a small town leads a high-school rebellion against the town’s antidancing law. [Dir: Craig Brewer/ Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid/ 113 … [Read more...]
Pirate Radio (2009)
When the BBC attempts to limit broadcasting of rock and roll in 1960s Britain, a renegade musician starts his own pirate radio station in international waters. Based on actual events. Also listed as The Boat That Rocked. [ Pirate Radio credits: Dir: Richard Curtis/ 117 min/ Music/Dance, Comedy/ Freedom of speech, Free press as hero, Government-enforced morality] This … [Read more...]
Equilibrium (2002)
In a future dystopian world, government forcibly drugs the population to keep it passive--until one of its own agents turns renegade and sets in motion a rebellion. [ Equilibrium credits: Dir: Kurt Wimmer/ Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs/ 107min/ Action-SciFi/ Government Enforced Morality] “For those who like to see their libertarian message delivered with a hail … [Read more...]
Dirty Pictures (2000)
A museum curator on trial for displaying "obscene" photographs defends his free speech rights in a fierce legal battle. Based on a true story. Dirty Pictures credits: [Dir: Frank Pierson/ James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, Diana Scarwid/ 95min/ Drama/ Freedom of Speech, Government Enforced Morality] Click here to see trailer. For the most part, the work of late photographer … [Read more...]