Outrage (2009)

An indictment of closeted politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the U.S.

Director:

Kirby Dick

Writer:

Kirby Dick

Stars:

Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Wayne Barrett

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tammy Baldwin	...	Herself (as Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin)
Wayne Barrett	...	Himself
Elizabeth Birch	...	Herself
Chris Bull	...	Himself
John Byrne	...	Himself
David Catania	...	Himself
Gary Cathey	...	Himself
Steve Clemons	...	Himself (as Steven Clemons)
Mark Cromer	...	Himself
Kirk Fordham	...	Himself
Barney Frank	...	Himself (as Congressman Barney Frank)
Neil Giuliano	...	Himself
Larry Gross	...	Himself
Patrick Guerriero	...	Himself
Dan Gurley	...	Himself

Storyline

An indictment of closeted politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the U.S.

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Plot Keywords:

injustice | politician | anti gay | reference to the new york times | reference to the advocate | 

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Taglines:

Do ask. Do tell.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Glass Closet

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$32,589, 10 May 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$44,416, 29 January 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chain Camera Pictures, Red Envelope Entertainment, Sundance Institute, The

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the DVD commentary, director Kirby Dick notes that when he attended screenings of the film during its initial release, audience members would come up to him and tell their own stories, including stories about sexual encounters, with the politicians depicted (and 'outed') in the film.

User Reviews

Good intentions aren't a substitute for deeply flawed logic.

How funny that a film about the importance of forthrightness is so often dependent on anonymous sources and hearsay. Its politics aren't repellent at first, as Kirby Dick only outs politicians involved in public sex scandals. But then he just goes after whomever he pleases. Dick goes so low as placing a photo of Rep. David Dreier next to a disco ball and underwear-clad men at a pride parade. Then we're shown an embarrassing slip-up by news anchor Shepard Smith, a lead-in to outing him too. Many of these individuals' sexual orientation is none of our business. Being outed for hypocrisy is one thing; being outed anecdotally is quite another.

The more aimless the documentary gets — and it meanders ceaselessly — the more frustrating its politics become, concealing an inconsistent moral standard with flashy graphics and rousing, but outrageous political claims. "If every gay person would come out of the closet, the gay rights movement would be over," claims one interviewee. This is the film's concluding point, with Harvey Milk discussing the importance of gay visibility. Inexplicably, the film fundamentally refrains from analyzing the irony that most of the high profile public figures outed here would never have gotten their positions if they were openly gay. Dick fails to realize his good intentions aren't a substitute for deeply flawed logic.

43/100