8: The Mormon Proposition
Encyclopedia
8: The Mormon Proposition is an American documentary written by Reed Cowan
, directed by Cowan and Steven Greenstreet
, and narrated by Dustin Lance Black
. The film documents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' involvement in the 2008 California Proposition 8
. It was released on June 18, 2010 by Red Flag Releasing (RFR).
, who is a former Mormon missionary, "planned on making a film about gay teen homelessness and suicide in Utah, but switched his focus to Mormon ideology because of how it contributes to the homophobia
that causes these problems". The film focuses on the wealth and power of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how the Church uses the National Organization for Marriage
to advocate for denial of rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT) Americans. It states that Mormon leader Thomas S. Monson
asked to ensure the passage of the controversial California Proposition 8
. It also states that some homeless people in Utah are LGBT teens who were abandoned by their radical Mormon parents.
According to the New York Times, the film "uncovers the classified church documents and the largely concealed money trail of Mormon contributions that paid for a high-powered campaign to pass Proposition 8", noting that "Mormons raised an estimated $22 million for the cause."
. As "one of the buzzier documentaries to debut at Sundance", the film was purchased for distribution by Warner Bros.
executives Paul Federbush and Laura Kim in their break-out company, Red Flag Releasing. The film debuted to nationwide audiences June 18, 2010. The film was released on DVD on July 13, 2010.
requested comment, the LDS church forwarded its official statement that said in part, "We have not seen '8: The Mormon Proposition.' However, judging from the trailer and background material online, it appears that accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film. Although we have given many interviews on this topic, we had no desire to participate in something so obviously biased."
, a Mormon apologetic
group, has stated that "The film uses quotes that don't exist, misrepresents facts, and perpetuates false and degrading stereotypes about Mormons with same-sex attractions."
The Village Voice noted "cheesy dramatic reenactments" and suggested some flaws, but then went on to say that "the flaws pale against what's illustrated, which is not just how Prop. 8 passed, but the sordid, cynical workings of our political machine."
Michelle Orange of Movieline
commented that "The opening impression — that the LDS acted villainously with regard to Prop 8 — will soon be supported by a raft of facts; that the Mormon church couldn’t have done it alone is a complication the film sidesteps almost completely."
Newsweek
called the film "messy and sometimes downright cheesy", but says that "at its best, which is only at the end, The Mormon Proposition reminds us—no, insists that we remember—that demonizing a group doesn’t make the world a better place."
The Wall Street Journal
noted that "as a spotlight on the suffering of same-sex couples and individuals who are rejected by family and church leaders, the film succeeds. Its critique of the church's recent political activism, however, is as ham-fisted as many of the mid-19th century allegations against the church."
Sean Gandert of Paste Magazine notes that 8 "spends more time than it should on the faith’s general treatment of homosexuality, eventually drifting into an unpleasant streak of overt Mormon-bashing. The film also fails to take into account the many other factors in play during the 2008 election, narrowing events down to one all-encompassing Mormon-based explanation. 8 means well, but is too blinded by its own biases to do its cause justice."
The San Francisco Chronicle
notes that the film is "marred by loaded language and a propagandistic tone that undercuts rather than promotes its purposes." It concludes that "If you're in favor of same-sex marriage, the documentary isn't telling you something new. If you're against same-sex marriage, the documentary - despite sometimes touching shots of loving couples - won't convince you otherwise."
, averaging about $2,660 per venue, and ranking #48 at the box office. The total gross of the film is $100,280.
Reed Cowan
Reed Cowan is a documentary film maker and screenwriter.He is a philanthropist and multiple Emmy Award winner and multiple Emmy Award nominee.-Personal tragedy:...
, directed by Cowan and Steven Greenstreet
Steven Greenstreet
Steven Greenstreet is an American documentary filmmaker, known for the controversial film, 8: The Mormon Proposition, which was selected to premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival...
, and narrated by Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black is an American screenwriter, director, film and television producer, and LGBT rights activist. He has won two Writers Guild of America Awards for his work on the television series Big Love and an Academy Award for the 2008 film Milk.-Early life:Black was born in Sacramento,...
. The film documents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' involvement in the 2008 California Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. It was released on June 18, 2010 by Red Flag Releasing (RFR).
Synopsis
Director Reed CowanReed Cowan
Reed Cowan is a documentary film maker and screenwriter.He is a philanthropist and multiple Emmy Award winner and multiple Emmy Award nominee.-Personal tragedy:...
, who is a former Mormon missionary, "planned on making a film about gay teen homelessness and suicide in Utah, but switched his focus to Mormon ideology because of how it contributes to the homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
that causes these problems". The film focuses on the wealth and power of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how the Church uses the National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
to advocate for denial of rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
(LGBT) Americans. It states that Mormon leader Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
asked to ensure the passage of the controversial California Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. It also states that some homeless people in Utah are LGBT teens who were abandoned by their radical Mormon parents.
According to the New York Times, the film "uncovers the classified church documents and the largely concealed money trail of Mormon contributions that paid for a high-powered campaign to pass Proposition 8", noting that "Mormons raised an estimated $22 million for the cause."
Release
8: The Mormon Proposition premiered to sell-out audiences at the 2010 Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
. As "one of the buzzier documentaries to debut at Sundance", the film was purchased for distribution by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
executives Paul Federbush and Laura Kim in their break-out company, Red Flag Releasing. The film debuted to nationwide audiences June 18, 2010. The film was released on DVD on July 13, 2010.
Reaction to film trailer from the LDS Church
When The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
requested comment, the LDS church forwarded its official statement that said in part, "We have not seen '8: The Mormon Proposition.' However, judging from the trailer and background material online, it appears that accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film. Although we have given many interviews on this topic, we had no desire to participate in something so obviously biased."
Reaction to the film from Mormon Apologetics
The Foundation for Apologetic Information & ResearchFoundation for Apologetic Information & Research
The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research is a non-profit organization that specializes in Mormon apologetics and responds to criticism of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . FAIR is made up of volunteers who seek to answer questions submitted to its web site...
, a Mormon apologetic
Mormon apologetics
Mormon apologetics is the systematic defense of Mormonism against its critics. Notable Latter-day Saint apologists include early church leaders such as John Taylor, B. H. Roberts, James E. Talmage and modern scholars such as Hugh Nibley, Orson Scott Card, and Jeff Lindsay...
group, has stated that "The film uses quotes that don't exist, misrepresents facts, and perpetuates false and degrading stereotypes about Mormons with same-sex attractions."
Critical reception
Based on 24 reviews collected by the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of critics gave 8: The Mormon Proposition a positive review, with an average rating of 6.0/10.The Village Voice noted "cheesy dramatic reenactments" and suggested some flaws, but then went on to say that "the flaws pale against what's illustrated, which is not just how Prop. 8 passed, but the sordid, cynical workings of our political machine."
Michelle Orange of Movieline
Movieline
Movieline is a website, formerly a Los Angeles-based film and entertainment magazine, started in 1985 as a local magazine and went national in 1989. Known for its cult status and popularity among film critics, the magazine eventually was retooled and named Movieline's Hollywood Life. The magazine...
commented that "The opening impression — that the LDS acted villainously with regard to Prop 8 — will soon be supported by a raft of facts; that the Mormon church couldn’t have done it alone is a complication the film sidesteps almost completely."
Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
called the film "messy and sometimes downright cheesy", but says that "at its best, which is only at the end, The Mormon Proposition reminds us—no, insists that we remember—that demonizing a group doesn’t make the world a better place."
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
noted that "as a spotlight on the suffering of same-sex couples and individuals who are rejected by family and church leaders, the film succeeds. Its critique of the church's recent political activism, however, is as ham-fisted as many of the mid-19th century allegations against the church."
Sean Gandert of Paste Magazine notes that 8 "spends more time than it should on the faith’s general treatment of homosexuality, eventually drifting into an unpleasant streak of overt Mormon-bashing. The film also fails to take into account the many other factors in play during the 2008 election, narrowing events down to one all-encompassing Mormon-based explanation. 8 means well, but is too blinded by its own biases to do its cause justice."
The San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
notes that the film is "marred by loaded language and a propagandistic tone that undercuts rather than promotes its purposes." It concludes that "If you're in favor of same-sex marriage, the documentary isn't telling you something new. If you're against same-sex marriage, the documentary - despite sometimes touching shots of loving couples - won't convince you otherwise."
Box office performance
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $42,566 in 16 theaters in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, averaging about $2,660 per venue, and ranking #48 at the box office. The total gross of the film is $100,280.