The Laramie Project
When a small town comes face to face with murder, everybody has a tale to tell.
In October 1998, 21 year-old Matthew Shepard was found savagely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming. The Laramie Project is the portrait of a town painfully forced to confront itself in the reflective glare of the national spotlight.
How did this small town with a "live and let live" philosophy become a town where young men could commit such a crime? The answer may lie in "The Laramie Project," a stunning, profoundly moving picture of community facing an incomprehensible event and its aftermath.
Member Reviews
The Laramie Project - sticksr
I was somewhat disappointed in this movie. I didn't realize that it was a documentary, and was subsequently unpleasantly surprised. However, it was very well-done. The actors did a great job in depicting the horror surrounding the murder of a young gay man in rural Wyoming, and the response of the townspeople. Once again, very well-done and very interesting. I would recommend this to anyone who may be interested in the documentary of a real-life situation.A Portrait Of A Town - revsdd
"The Laramie Project" depicts how the town of Laramie, Wyoming responded to the vicious and senseless 1998 murder of 21 year-old gay man Matthew Shepherd. It's not about the murder itself. Instead, the focus is on the reaction of the townspeople to becoming the centre of attention because of this brutal murder. Filmed largely in a documentary style, the bulk of the "story" is told through a series of interviews conducted by those doing the research for a play abut the murder with the locals. We see the whole range of feelings expressed. Some who hate gays; some who don't hate them but believe the lifestyle to be wrong; some who truly don't care one way or the other; and then there are those who are themselves gay. As we go through this whole range of responses to Matthew's death the movie is sometimes inspiring and sometimes distressing.
There are no gory details about the murder. The focus stays on the townspeople, and at the end we see the two accused as they react to their respective trials. The interview style adopted through most of the movie means that there isn't a lot of "excitement" in the conventional sense, but it is fascinating to see the various reactions to the murders. (The interviewees, of course, were actors playing the parts of the townspeople; perhaps the only thing that would have made the movie more "raw" would have been interviews of the actual townspeople.)
It's a good movie - thought-provoking if not exactly exciting - and certainly worth watching. Don't miss the powerful victim impact statement read to the court by Matthew's father Dennis, played by Terry Kinney. Although he's seen throughout the trial scenes sitting in the courtroom, this was Kinney's only speaking part of the movie and he made the most of it, vividly portraying the pain and anger of a father at the murder of his only son.Well Worth Renting - Excellent! - E
I heard many good things about this film and have wanted to see it for awhile. It did not disappoint. A docu-drama, it does a great job of capturing the reaction of the townfolk after the murder of Michael. It is a tear jerker, especially the poetic scene with the "angels" guarding against the vile agitators. This action and the way it was filmed moved me very very deeply. I have witnessed one other silent protest and both times I have felt the powerful nature fo it ripple through me. Amazing. Beautifully done. Highly recommended.
Member Reviews
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The Laramie Project - sticksr
I was somewhat disappointed in this movie. I didn't realize that it was a documentary, and was subsequently unpleasantly surprised. However, it was very well-done. The actors did a great job in depicting the horror surrounding the murder of a young gay ...A Portrait Of A Town - revsdd
"The Laramie Project" depicts how the town of Laramie, Wyoming responded to the vicious and senseless 1998 murder of 21 year-old gay man Matthew Shepherd. It's not about the murder itself. Instead, the focus is on the reaction of the townspeople to becoming ...Well Worth Renting - Excellent! - E
I heard many good things about this film and have wanted to see it for awhile. It did not disappoint. A docu-drama, it does a great job of capturing the reaction of the townfolk after the murder of Michael. It is a tear jerker, especially the poetic scene ...