Audience Member
HBO films presents an extensive cast doing a dramatization of a terrible tragedy that should happen to no one The true story recounting the beating of a gay college student Matthew Shepard in Wyoming from over 200 interviews in the city of Laramie Dozens of interviews of people played by Peter Fonda, Clea Duvall, Jeanine Garafalo, Laura Linney, Christina Ricci, Steve Buscemi, Dylan Baker, Joshua Jackson, Clancy Brown, and Margo Martindale Laramie is live and let live; many of its residents are strict Catholic and very homophobic Yet the film crew covering the story draw enough heat to get people on both sides of the issue The whole country watches with even having protesters calling for the attackers to answer for their crimes Matthew barely survived by remaining in a coma and his attackers were brought before the justice system yet one of the officers was sadly exposed to him being HIV positive after he bled profusely from his injuries His passing then shifted things entirely I like that this isn't an ordinary documentary film; it's pacing is brisk, the actors give it their all to portray real-life individuals dealing with the aftermath, the music is touching, and it has everybody not choosing a particular side about what's right or wrong In America you don't have the right to feel the fear that plagues every day, we never understand the magnitude of people's hatred, the hurt can still come for those gone that can't speak for themselves, maybe time can filter out some things, how can things change and what can come out of it that's concrete and lasting? It's sad that we learn the underlying fears gay people have to go through every day from pretending to be straight and avoiding persecution or physical violence if they're ever outed Director Moisés Kaufman amazingly handles this documentary drama with such care, no skimping on the important stuff, and saying something about a small town that feels strongly about hate, outrage, sadness, and hope This offers great insight of changing attitudes of America along with the swirling emotions Laramie goes through; it questions our basic humanity, and gives an accurate picture of the current state of affairs of tolerance in America's schizoid version of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Sooner or later we have to confront ourselves
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/13/23
Full Review
Steve D
I don't like the monolog based approach but it is powerful and beautifully acted.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/11/23
Full Review
jon c
HBO films presents an extensive cast doing a dramatization of a terrible tragedy that should happen to no one
The true story recounting the beating of a gay college student Matthew Shepard in Wyoming from over 200 interviews in the city of Laramie
Dozens of interviews of people played by Peter Fonda, Clea Duvall, Jeanine Garafalo, Laura Linney, Christina Ricci, Steve Buscemi, Dylan Baker, Joshua Jackson, Clancy Brown, and Margo Martindale
Laramie is live and let live; many of its residents are strict Catholic and very homophobic
Yet the film crew covering the story draw enough heat to get people on both sides of the issue
The whole country watches with even having protesters calling for the attackers to answer for their crimes
Matthew barely survived by remaining in a coma and his attackers were brought before the justice system yet one of the officers was sadly exposed to him being HIV positive after he bled profusely from his injuries
His passing then shifted things entirely
I like that this isn't an ordinary documentary film; it's pacing is brisk, the actors give it their all to portray real-life individuals dealing with the aftermath, the music is touching, and it has everybody not choosing a particular side about what's right or wrong
In America you don't have the right to feel the fear that plagues every day, we never understand the magnitude of people's hatred, the hurt can still come for those gone that can't speak for themselves, maybe time can filter out some things, how can things change and what can come out of it that's concrete and lasting?
It's sad that we learn the underlying fears gay people have to go through every day from pretending to be straight and avoiding persecution or physical violence if they're ever outed
Director Moisés Kaufman amazingly handles this documentary drama with such care, no skimping on the important stuff, and saying something about a small town that feels strongly about hate, outrage, sadness, and hope
This offers great insight of changing attitudes of America along with the swirling emotions Laramie goes through; it questions our basic humanity, and gives an accurate picture of the current state of affairs of tolerance in America's schizoid version of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Sooner or later we have to confront ourselves
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
One of those films shot in documentary style where only a few actors can act with the intention of the documentary style and they look like real interviewees and where the others do over act it a bit. It still works very well and you really get that sense of a community coming divided and also coming together, and with the story of Matthew it becomes a heart rending film.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/24/23
Full Review
Audience Member
I thought this was pretty good. Watched it a while ago and can't remember a ton, but I think it told the story well. It's good creativity to do something like this...not necessarily focus on the main event but the attitudes surrounding it.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
Full Review
Audience Member
91%
For such an unbalanced looking semi-docudrama, the magnetic cast makes this dramatic reconstruction of one of America's most intimately devastating tragedies all the more worth it.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
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