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Outrage

EMAILPRINTMagnolia Pictures

Outrage reviews
64
9.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 4 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary

Written by: Kirby Dick

Directed by: Kirby Dick

Release Date:
Theatrical: May 8, 2009

Running Time: minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Kirby Dick, Barney Frank, Larry Kramer, Michelangelo Signorile, and Tammy Baldwin

Outrage is a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians with appalling gay rights voting records who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the United States' most powerful policymakers, Outrage takes a comprehensive look at the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media's complicity in keeping their secrets. With analysis from prominent members of the gay community such as Congressman Barney Frank, former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey, activist Larry Kramer, radio personality Michelangelo Signorile, and openly gay congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Outrage probes deeply into the psychology of this double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, the double standards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures, and much more.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

San Francisco Chronicle Jonathan Curiel

A powerful new documentary that addresses the issue of "hypocritical" male politicians.

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91

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

The movie excoriates the hypocrisy of self-hating gay lawmakers (several of whom it outs), yet it also explores the burden of the public closet.

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83

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

Audience reaction to Outrage will depend heavily on how people feel about outing. Dick’s film probably won’t persuade anyone who finds the practice to be a loathsome and intrusive invasion of privacy, but after a relatively dry beginning, the film builds in passion and intensity until attaining a stirring cumulative power.

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80

Village Voice Scott Foundas

Moment by moment, Outrage proves duly provocative, well sourced, and almost certain to go more viral than swine flu.

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75

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Even in the 21st century, public discussions of homosexuality still make a lot of people awfully jittery. With passion and candor, Outrage argues that everyone needs to just get over it.

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75

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Outrage succeeds as activism, but it excels as a window into certain political psyches.

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75

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

The result is persuasive but incomplete. Dick is working here as a journalist, and the story is far from fully unfolded. Still, what he proffers will keep you thinking, talking and engaged.

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75

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Despite its title, Outrage is calm, riveting, and provocative.

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75

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

This film is a muckraking provocation whose time has come.

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70

Washington Post Dan Zak

A crisp, efficient, sometimes petty but often infuriating documentary about alleged gay politicians who actively campaign and vote against gay rights.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

While the anger of Outrage is to be expected, the surprise of the film is how much sadness you take away as well, the sadness of people who feel compelled to pretend to be what they are not.

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70

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Proves to be an engrossing and entertaining polemic that successfully walks a fine line between thoughtful debate and, well, juicy gossip.

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70

Variety John Anderson

An exploding bathroom stall of a movie, Outrage makes an excellent ipso facto case for itself: If closeted gay politicians vote against equal rights for gays to protect their own secrets, outing them is for the common good.

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63

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

The film's pretty good about saying why so much in the culture encourages a political life in the closet, either tacitly or directly. But even The Advocate had a problem with calling it a brilliantly orchestrated conspiracy.

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60

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Some of the accusations feel more sordid than satisfying.

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50

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

What makes Outrage a bankable indie film is the promise of personal embarrassment--everyone loves a good outing. Except for the person at the center of it.

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50

Film Threat Matthew Sorrento

The average viewer will be satisfied with the product, even if the film offers hardly any new information. The doc buff will witness a film that can't surface above the steady nonfiction output at the art house.

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50

New York Post Lou Lumenick

What is Dick's excuse for outing one cable news anchor but not a rival counterpart who is far better known? The anchor isn't antigay, but Dick likes the other network's politics better. Hypocrisy? Your call.

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50

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Mr. Dick, whose previous documentaries have examined sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, the inner workings of the movie ratings system and the life and work of the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, is a cerebral muckraker. While his techniques are not as nakedly tendentious as Michael Moore’s (and his movies, as a consequence, are not as much fun), he hardly pretends to be a detached or unbiased observer.

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40

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and Outrage argue that the closet suffocates decency and happiness, and the film ends with a freeze-frame of the now-popular folk hero Harvey Milk. However, were we to give up our right to self-denial, I contend that America would cease to be a land of freedom.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Arnold P gave it a7:
Interesting but not as compelling as it should have been on material that has been already covered in the underground press. It probably will not be seen by many heterosexuals and the pity is that the hypocrisy exposed of these politicians will not be viewed by the public that needs to see it. There is much gossip aired, not concrete enough evidence that somehow feels insufficient To hear the wisdom of an Andrew Sullivan is yet worth the price of admission. Probably seen a few years ago it would have been groundbreaking, but seeing the likes of Ed Koch or a Larry Craig just makes them look pathetic. Flawed but still worthwhile film.

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