When We Rise, the long-awaited TV miniseries about the battle for LGBTQ rights, will finally premiere tonight at 9/8c.
Expectations and excitement are high for the series, marking a reunion for writer Dustin Lance Black and director Gus Van Sant, who last collaborated on Milk.
Related: Dustin Lance Black says ‘When We Rise’ under attack from alt-right but even Trump will like it
Van Sant directs tonight’s two-hour episode.
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The adaption of Cleve Jones’s memoir stars Guy Pearce (as a younger version of Jones), and Mary Louise Parker as women’s rights activist Roma Guy. Also rounding out the cast: Rachel Griffiths, who plays Guy’s wife, Whoopi Goldberg as Pat Norman (the first openly gay employee of the San Francisco Health Department), and Rosie O’Donnell as Del Martin (co-founder of the first lesbian organization in the country).
Related: ABC bumps LGBTQ rights miniseries “When We Rise” to cover more Trump
Of the project, Black says:
It’s been the honor of my life to research and craft these stories of family, diversity and equality over the past three years. To have collaborators of this caliber sign on to help bring these stories to life is a tremendous vote of confidence, and I hope a testament to the relevancy and necessity of our continued march toward justice for all.
Check out the preview below:
https://youtu.be/UwvgMNE9ozg
Neonegro
I watched the first 30 minutes and turned it off. Boring as hell with bad acting.
NateOcean
Embarrassingly bad script/writing.
Superimposes modern day sensibilities and attitudes on the people and events of 45 years ago. E.g. vapid millennials. Did they have those back then?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
I haven’t seen it yet — and it might be good for all I know — but just speaking generally, I suspect the desperate need not to offend (however unintentionally) anyone’s feelings creates an inoffensive mush
CaliKyle
Vapid millenials? We are your only hope at this point, old man. Putting aside pointless shite such as microaggressions and college chicks convinced that every guy on campus is either an actual or potential rapist, Millenials are going to be who saves your butts from the amoral greed, narcissism and endless war mongering of the generations that preceded us. That said, When We Rise celebrates those who had the courage and determination to own their identity and demand respect/rights. Proof that there was at least one thing gay and female Boomers did right. Watch the series. Contrary to what has been said here the acting and writing are stellar, the story both compelling and entertaining.
Heywood Jablowme
It’s based on Cleve Jones’ memoir so I wonder how much of the *modern sensibility* was imposed by DLB (who at least has the excuse of being born in 1974) or perhaps misremembered in a modern P.C. way by Jones himself. Larry Kramer for instance is always doing that.
@CaliKyle: Yes – despite all the Boomer-bashing lately, in general GAY Boomers have a lot to be proud about.
ChrisK
Miss Cali get off the soapbox. None of your us against them babbling makes any sense. I’d say the generation that gave you your rights to sit here today and be the duchebag that you are was the better generation. There was a time little boy when you had no rights.
NateOcean
Heywood’s comment is spot on. I, too, wondered how much of this was Cleve Jones’ retelling of the story vs. DLB’s script writing.
Cleve is still around, but sadly many of the others are not. So there’s not much cross-checking on some of the events.
I’ve noticed even during my life that each time a story is retold details change. People are left out of the retelling, and others have their position elevated. All that, aside from the fact that script writers (out of necessity), sometimes combine characters for efficiency in story telling. Understandable, as this is a docu-drama and not a documentary.
The Cleve Jones character carries himself with a little too much confidence and with modern day sensibilities, and not so much a character of the times. I expected him to whip out his iPhone and Tweet his friends about the protest he organized on MeetUp.
Herman75
DLB is not a millennial.
Herman75
Very impressive. I hope the rest of the series is as good as last night.
Also, young Cleve Jones was played by Austin McKenzie (Melchior, Spring Awakening). I thought he was amazing.
Many great lesbian characters. Emily Skeggs as Roma Guy is superb.
Sluggo2007
I watched the first episode last night. It was difficult to enjoy because it read like a documentary, was kind of choppy and the script wasn’t exactly first-rate. I am hoping it gets better on Wednesday. You would think with the pedigree that it has (Dustin Lance Black, Gus Van Sant), that it would be riveting. Sadly, not so.
HalcyonDays
I thought they told a huge, sweeping story very well. I also admired many of the performances. Looking forward to the other three parts.
My only criticism is that it is overly PC and, as another poster said, too modern in its sensibility.
ivanw222
I thought it was very good and am eager to see the rest of it. There were a few things left unsaid, like who did Cleve Jones get into the van with when he left home? But overall I thought it was good.
Xzamilloh
I’ll sit this one out… I’m a little fatigued with “Struggle Pop Culture”
barkomatic
The characters didn’t have authentic attitudes of people at the time. I assume DLB did this on purpose so that younger LGBTQ/straight people can relate to them and I don’t necessarily oppose that. This is not a new practice and almost all movies and TV shows have done this for decades.
The attitudes of some of the feminist characters are overtly modern. I remember gay men and lesbians actually getting along much better in those days.
Gates
Didn’t hold my attention at all, The characterizations did not match the 1970s. I had to force myself to finish the first part. I don’t thnk I’ll bother to watch the rest. If it picks up and improves I can catch it on demand.
Daniel-Reader
It’s really well done. I like the approach to the storytelling and the variety of experiences covered.