An American Crime
The true story of a child's punishment that became a woman's crime.
"This," said Prosecutor Leroy New, "has been the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana;" the first crime of child abuse that broke through reticence and denial to register with the public. In Tommy O'Haver's heartbreaking and hard-hitting film, An American Crime, Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener portrays Gertrude Baniszewski, the seemingly ordinary housewife who imprisons and tortures a beautiful teenager, played by Academy Award nominee Ellen Page, in the basement of her house - two portrayals that will resonate with audiences long after they leave the theatre. An American Crime also stars James Franco and Bradley Whitford.
Member Reviews
Disturbing - detersti
As I watched this movie I couldn't believe that this was something that actually occured. It seemed too extreme and unbelieveable to think that so many people could alctually act this way. As the movie says it was based on a true story and the testimony is from the court transcripts so it must be close to the real thing. The story overshadows the performances and makes it difficult to say who did well and who didn't simply because you are drawn so far into the story.Average crime movie - Fudgeflaps
I find it disturbing that this was based on a true story. The woman must have had some pretty serious issues to behave the way she did.
So it translated into a moderately good, but very unsettling movie.
I wouldn't watch it again, but it was fairly easy to sit through without getting bored or frustrated with a lame production.Murder By Abuse - c4th
Catherine Keener and Ellen Page give standout performances as Gertrude Baniszewski and Sylvia Likens in a perplexing and disturbing tale of murder by abuse. The 1965 Indiana case shocked America and raised awareness of the prevalence of neglect and mistreatment of children in our society.
Director Tommy O’Haver did not want to sensationalize the violent abuse suffered by Sylvia Likens. In reality, the perpetrators treated their victim like an inanimate toy which they kicked and tossed around like an old rubber ball. Ironically, a true depiction of this and far more disturbing atrocities would be less believable than this toned down version showing selective incidents. An American Crime displays enough brutal violence and has sufficient shock value to arouse the desired emotions in its viewers. To sensationalize the violent nature of this crime and take this movie over the top would have created a piece that appeals to a different and much smaller audience. Instead of a graphic tale of horror, O’Haver wisely chose to create a crime drama that turns its focus to the underlying horrors of this case.
O’Haver manages to raise many intriguing questions by avoiding the distraction of extreme violence and mutilation. How did early signs of abuse go unnoticed by school authorities, clergy, and other adults? Why were early pleas for help dismissed? Why did witnesses to inappropriate behaviour choose to keep it to themselves and not get involved? In a nutshell, how did we as a society become so passive about the basic responsibility of looking out for each other that we have to replace moral obligation with legal obligation.
I highly recommend this entertaining and thought provoking drama about "the most terrible crime committed in the state of Indiana".
Member Reviews
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Disturbing - detersti
As I watched this movie I couldn't believe that this was something that actually occured. It seemed too extreme and unbelieveable to think that so many people could alctually act this way. As the movie says it was based on a true story and the testimony ...Average crime movie - Fudgeflaps
I find it disturbing that this was based on a true story. The woman must have had some pretty serious issues to behave the way she did.
So it translated into a moderately good, but very unsettling movie.
I wouldn't watch it again, but it was fairly ...Murder By Abuse - c4th
Catherine Keener and Ellen Page give standout performances as Gertrude Baniszewski and Sylvia Likens in a perplexing and disturbing tale of murder by abuse. The 1965 Indiana case shocked America and raised awareness of the prevalence of neglect and mistreatment ...