8: The Mormon Proposition

Name: 8: The Mormon Proposition
Genre: Documentary
Released: June 18, 2010
Duration: 80 min
Rating: 55

2010

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

8: The Mormon Proposition

Now Playing: 8: The Mormon Proposition

Movie Details & Credits

Red Flag Releasing (RFR) | Release Date: June 18, 2010 | R

Summary: Director Reed Cowan experienced first-hand what it was like to grow up gay in Utah in the Mormon faith, and he turned his attention to the historic campaign by the Mormon Church to pass Proposition 8 in California believing that it was the cornerstone of an ideology that has worked for decades “to damage gay people and their causes.” TheDirector Reed Cowan experienced first-hand what it was like to grow up gay in Utah in the Mormon faith, and he turned his attention to the historic campaign by the Mormon Church to pass Proposition 8 in California believing that it was the cornerstone of an ideology that has worked for decades “to damage gay people and their causes.” The film is his emotional outcry to what he found. (RedFlag Releasing)
… Expand

Director: Reed Cowan and Steven Greenstreet

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 80 min

See All Details and Credits

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

As an exposé, there could hardly be a stronger case for ensuring and strengthening the separation of church and state -- or a stronger message to gay people as to the magnitude of the challenge to win equal rights. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Cowan, a gay Mormon himself, deftly melds facts with emotions, alternating between a history of the church's anti-gay drive and interviews with those directly affected by it. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

A hard-hitting exposé of a shameful episode. Read full review

Mark Jenkins

The movie poignantly demonstrates that, 41 years after Stonewall, there are still places in this country where gay people cannot simply be themselves. Read full review

Ernest Hardy

The flaws pale against what's illustrated, which is not just how Prop. 8 passed, but the sordid, cynical workings of our political machine. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

The interviews throughout are the best part of the movie - the least heavy-handed, yet most effective, element. There is a message here of the necessity for tolerance, but 8: The Mormon Proposition would have been better had its makers presented it in a more consistent, artful fashion. Read full review

J.R. Jones

A chaotic sequence midway through shows Mormon and gay-rights protesters shouting abuse at each other in San Francisco, and that's pretty much what the whole movie feels like. Read full review

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Ssurgul

Aug 12, 2010

I find it amusing that there are some that try and fling feces at this documentary because it 'vilifies' the Mormon Church. However, upon watching this documentary, they vilified themselves. These are their emails, their records, their audio, their web ads, their television ads. This was aI find it amusing that there are some that try and fling feces at this documentary because it 'vilifies' the Mormon Church. However, upon watching this documentary, they vilified themselves. These are their emails, their records, their audio, their web ads, their television ads. This was a relatively rough and unrefined documentary, but the mechanics aside, it was informative and serves as a sharp wake-up call to all Americans of what bad religion, far too much money, and fanaticism can do to our politics and our freedoms. This is one of the things the Founding Fathers tried to prevent by keeping Church and State separate. It is only through issues like Prop 8 and this documentary that we are forcibly reminded of the need to disentangle the two as was meant to be originally.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

WesleyC.

Jun 18, 2010

I live in Palm Springs, CA and I went to see a movie on Prop 8 even though I knew it all. OMG, the movie revealed things I didnt know about Prop 8, Mormon's, Brigham Young University, suicide rates of Utah Mormon Youth and elected Utah officials. Many statements and images will never I live in Palm Springs, CA and I went to see a movie on Prop 8 even though I knew it all. OMG, the movie revealed things I didnt know about Prop 8, Mormon's, Brigham Young University, suicide rates of Utah Mormon Youth and elected Utah officials. Many statements and images will never leave my mind and ears!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

BenJ.

Jun 19, 2010

California's Prop 8 impacted the lives of real people. The film explores that impact and provides background as to why the Mormon community felt that it needed to bankroll the election. The film had some rough transitions, but overall the message was sobering. It is scary what California's Prop 8 impacted the lives of real people. The film explores that impact and provides background as to why the Mormon community felt that it needed to bankroll the election. The film had some rough transitions, but overall the message was sobering. It is scary what otherwise good people can do when they think that God is on their side.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful

Tony

Dec 26, 2010

The message is a worthwhile one, but I'm not sure it needed a feature-length doc to tell it. There are some compelling stories of those affected by the church's actions, but they are muddled by text and figures that get a little tiresome. I was ultimately disappointed, but it is worthThe message is a worthwhile one, but I'm not sure it needed a feature-length doc to tell it. There are some compelling stories of those affected by the church's actions, but they are muddled by text and figures that get a little tiresome. I was ultimately disappointed, but it is worth seeing, especially for those involved in the cause.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Melissa

Jun 19, 2010

Another pathetic attempt to blame "Mormons" for preventing gay marriage when it is the majority of Americans that do not support gay marriage. Certainly the members of the LDS church were involved in protesting gay marriage, but so were thousands of other people from different faiths or Another pathetic attempt to blame "Mormons" for preventing gay marriage when it is the majority of Americans that do not support gay marriage. Certainly the members of the LDS church were involved in protesting gay marriage, but so were thousands of other people from different faiths or Christian denominations. This film maker seems determined to prove that religion is bad (specifically Mormons) and that gays are the victim here. Pathetic indeed.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

Adam

Jun 19, 2010

This is completely one-sided. A gay person's attempt at making it seem like it was the "Mormon" church that was solely responsible for Prop 8. It fails to acknowledge that it isn't the church at all but thousands of Christians from all different denominations that were involved in This is completely one-sided. A gay person's attempt at making it seem like it was the "Mormon" church that was solely responsible for Prop 8. It fails to acknowledge that it isn't the church at all but thousands of Christians from all different denominations that were involved in denying gays to marry. This whole issue has nothing to even do with equal rights. The film maker needs to stop feeling so upset because he can't marry his boyfriend and recognize that the majority of people do not support gay marriage. Until a film is made that does not point the finger at one group against gay marriage then there won't be one worth watching.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 6 REVIEWS