In Citizenship classes at school, we were on the subject of rape, and watched The Accused, an Oscar-winning film that was released in 1988, starring Jodie Foster. This was a truly eye-opening film for me, and although disturbing at parts, was compelling, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
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Jodie Foster won her first Oscar for her role inThe Accused(1988), based on an actual ... more
incident. While out for a night of fun at a poolroom, before her character knows what's happening she finds that the men she's been flirting with have pinned her down...
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What are the limits of justice? Of social responsibility? The Accused takes a powerful and ... more
thought-provoking look at human nature and individual moral conscience, and a judicial process that treats the victim like a criminal.Jodie Foster gives an Oscar...
Jodie Foster won her first Oscar for her role inThe Accused(1988), based on an actual ... more
incident. While out for a night of fun at a poolroom, before her character knows what's happening she finds that the men she's been flirting with have pinned her down...
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What are the limits of justice? Of social responsibility? 'The Accused' takes a powerful ... more
and thought-provoking look at human nature and individual moral conscience and a judicial process that treats the victim like a criminal. Jodie Foster gives an O...
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Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Pat O'Connor - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over, 15 years and over - Starring: Geraldine O'Rawe, Colin Firth, Saffron Burrows, Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell
...at school, we were on the subject of rape, and watched The Accused, an Oscar-winning film that was released in 1988, starring Jodie Foster. This was a truly eye-opening film for me, and although disturbing at parts, was compelling, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
After having a row with her boyfriend, Sarah Tobias, heads for a bar, where her best friend works, to discuss the situation and relax. Some harmless, drunken, drug-induced ... ...case and tries to get the rapists convicted. However, as Sarah was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and some may say acting provocatively, it is an uphill struggle. In court, Sarah is made out to be a whore who put on a sex show and later regretted her actions, and cried rape.
Sarah, angry and upset, battles against the stereotypes (trailer trash, cheap whore, you can imagine) and is determined to get both the rapists and ... more
In Citizenship classes at school, we were on the subject of rape, and watched The Accused, an Oscar-winning film that was released in 1988, starring Jodie Foster. This was a truly eye-opening film for me, and although disturbing at parts, was compelling, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
After having a row with her boyfriend, Sarah Tobias, heads for a bar, where her best friend works, to discuss the situation and relax. Some harmless, drunken, drug-induced flirting spirals out of control, and she is brutally gang-raped in a back room, cheered on by a crowd of spectators.
Katherine Murphy, a successful lawyer, takes on Sarah's case and tries to get the rapists convicted. However, as Sarah was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and some may say acting provocatively, it is an uphill struggle. In court, Sarah is made out to be a whore who put on a sex show and later regretted her actions, and cried rape.
Sarah, angry and upset, battles against the stereotypes (trailer trash, cheap whore, you can imagine) and is determined to get both the rapists and the cheering spectators who encouraged the rape put away for life. But how easy can it be when the whole system is stacked against her?
The film now seems dated, and seems more like a cheap made-for-TV film, but Jodie Foster's strong performance holds the film together. The other actors are adequate, but nothing special. Without her, this film would not have such a profound effect on you.
Her Oscar was well-deserved. She is a fantastic actress, and she plays the crumbling, humiliated Sarah perfectly. I don't think anyone else could have done it better. The rest of the cast are unknowns; Jodie (Panic Room, Silence Of The Lambs) is the only big-name star.
Sarah is not portrayed as saintly or perfect, but she was realistic and is a true heroine. She was not likeable at first, but the feisty, strong-willed character soon grows on you, and you genuinely feel for her. This makes the rape scene even more horrific, as it happens later on in the film, as a flashback.
The Accused is based on a true story, which is even more horrifying. It really opens your eyes up to the horror of rape, and although you may find it disturbing, like I did, it really is worth a watch - it's very educational and raises many questions in your mind about how the law deals with rapists.
Rape is the worst violation that anybody can go through, and the way that Sarah Tobias was treated was horrendous. A woman always has the right to say no to sex, no matter how skimpy her clothes or how much of a 'tease' she was being prior to the actual sex. The Accused lets you make up your own mind on whether she was 'asking for it', or was raped, but the eventual message is loud and clear, 'No means no'.
I found the rape scene very disturbing. It was extremely graphic and realistic, and is the best simulated sex scene, consensual or not, I have ever seen. The jeering, disgusting shouts of encouragement really do chill you to the bone; it's beyond belief how anyone can allow a defenceless woman to be treated like a piece of meat (unwillingly) passed around a group of friends. Some might argue the scene was unnecessary, but I felt that it added more of a real dimension to the film.
This provoked many reactions in me; frustration, anger and sadness being the main ones, which just goes to show the strength of the acting. The style of the film is very 'eighties', but don't let that put you off from a brilliant film.
Some parts were very difficult to watch, and struggled not to cry at. The scene that I found hardest to watch was the one where Sarah encounters one of the 'audience' of her gang-rape, who pretends to know her from somewhere. Sarah, who doesn't recognise him, thinks he is just coming onto her, and brushes him off, but he procedes to viciously taunt and mock the terrified Sarah, even making crude hand gestures.
I have never had any experience of sexual abuse, but this film shows you the true horror of it, matter-of-factly, without sugar-coating it to appeal to a wider audience. How many films can you say about that? Most deal with the difficult subjects (rape, racism, abortion, etc) sensitively but slightly patronisingly. This isn't one of them.
I am not normally one for gritty dramas, and I much prefer the lightweight romantic comedies, but I am really glad I watched this film. After seeing it in school, I bought it on DVD. It's only exceptional DVD's that I buy, and this is definitely one of them.
If this review sparked your interest, see this. It has only recently been released on DVD, according to Amazon, but the £12.99 is worth it. I don't think this would be widely available in video rental shops, but it's worth a look.
The film was made in 1988, and the rating is 18, but some people (over 18) may find it too disturbing for them, but I'd really recommend that you give it a watch.
Advantages: Reminds us that we are more than animals Disadvantages: Might disturb some people.
I've given consideration to the welcomed constructive criticism of this early review of mine and decided to address them by editing the review and presenting it in a more reader-friendly manner and also expanding it out to be more informative. Thanks to all who offered up advice on the review. *****************************************
Have you ever heard, or been involved in the discussion about some rape victims getting what they deserved because ... ...this film might just be the answer to any who take, or are sympathetic to that view. Jodie Foster plays Sarah Tobias, a troubled young woman in a dead end waitress job. She drinks too much, takes pot and has Mr. Insensitive for a boyfriend. Following an argument with her boyfriend Sarah dolls herself up and goes to unburden her sorrows to her friend who is working at a local bar. Whilst chatting away to her on a break they get involved in some male ...
Scotsmanmatt 24.11.2004 (29.03.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Accused (DVD)
Advantages: Compelling viewing Disadvantages: Rape scene is very distressing and quite graphic.
...Kelly Mcgillis earned Jodie Foster the Academy Award for Best Actress 1989.
I first came across it when it was shown on television in the early nineties and later bought it on video. It is the story of a waitress, Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster) who is gang raped in a local bar. Kelly Mcgillis plays her attorney who helps her in the fight for justice despite originally agreeing to a plea bargin.
The film is compelling watching and Foster plays her ... ...enabled her to cope with the way her character was questioned in court, something which sadly still happens to rape victims today. This is a thought-provoking film which makes its point well...that everyone is entitled to justice no matter who they are or where they come from.
A word of warning, though. This film well deserves its 18 certificate as, during the trial, the rape scene is portrayed in graphic detail which, whilst important to the storyline ...
melaniepither 02.08.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Accused (DVD)
Advantages: A film with an actress that really deserved the oscar Disadvantages: Can be a little too graphic
...As a waitress she had the knowledge of her local pub, the regulars, the routine, but one night after a few too many drinks and an argument with her boyfriend,she walks into the most horrifyong situation a young woman can walk into. She is viciously gang raped by a group of newly graduated and heavily drunk college students. Only one man witnesses the crima and only one innocent young man can save her, but is the price of friendship worth more or ... ...This is without a doubt the most contraversial and perhaps even successful role Jodie Foster has undertaken to date (although I am a big fan of the film Nell) She won an oscar for this role and rightly so. Kelly McGillis plays Fosters lawyer, and does a wonderful job in elevating the drama in the film
A must see film, although if you're squemish, there are points where I'd look away. ...
missskyeeyes 04.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Accused (DVD)
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Starring Leslie Nielsen this is yet another Hollywood movie spoof. This one pokes fun at The Fugitive as its main target and actually has some genuinly funny moments. The storyline is simple as always. Ryan Harrison(Leslie Nielsen) is 'wrongfully accused' of murder and is sentenced to imprisonment. Whilst being transported on the prison bus(look for a hilarious spoof of airplane safety procedures) they are involved in an accident on a railway line and Harrison escapes to clear his name.
There are some genuinly funny moments in this movie, with Nielsen putting in his usual dead-pan performance and Kelly le Brock playing the femme fatale. However as with all movies of this type, the humour begins to wear thin after the first 45 minutes or so and I found myself longing for the end to come a little sooner.
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Advantages: Suberb performances, escapes typical Hollywood movies Disadvantages: Needs a DVD with more features and better image
budget, the director goes with what has worked already and it works extremely well for him again.
On the surface, "21 Grams" is a depressing account of three lives. With a skill for subtly lacking in many of his contemporaries with many more films under their belts, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu uses his accident to paint a realistic and gripping picture of suffering and sadness in the world.
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Those of you who saw the film in the cinemas will accuse the DVD for grain in the picture and, sometimes, bad colours (or maybe just my copy?). The vision of the director for the film was very concrete, and the publication remains absolutely faith in this. Dark, "soiled" scenes and shades are transported precisely from the big screen
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feniak 14.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of 21 Grams (DVD)
Advantages: A good happy go lucky musical film Disadvantages: By it's nature it's very lightweight
also appear here and there in the film to play a few tunes and to accompany Cliff. Their most notable instrumental from the film is Foot Tapper.
There are a few incidents which seem to bear no relation to the plot - for example where Cliff visits a town to ask for some bread and ends up proposing to some elderly spinster by mistake which ends up in a Benny Hill style chase around a park. At least it gave Cliff a chance to sing a couple more songs!
There is another part where Ron Moody appears as a mime artist doing a silent movie scene - cleverly done but why?
The film is basically an innocent musical romp with a traditional happy ending, but I won't tell you what it is and be accused of spoiling it! LOL!
The DVD lasts for 1 hour and 43 minutes and 'contains no material likely to offend or harm'. Unless of course you really don ...
A hard-living, fiercely independent woman is gang-raped in the back of a neighbourhood bar. But that is only the beginning of her ordeal. Now she finds herself battling the legal system not once but twice as she and her attorney go after both the attackers and the onlookers whose cheering encouraged the evil assault.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT; TECHNICOLOR DIST. SERVICES
Release date
01/07/2002
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
PHE 8228
Barcode
5014437822833
Screenwriter
Tom Topor
Languages
Main Language
English
Dubbed Language
French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish
Subtitle Language
Arabic
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Theatrical Trailer
Aspect Ratio
1.78 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround, Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital Surround French German Italian Spanish Mono Hungarian
Award information
OSCAR
Best Actress In A Leading Role 1989 (Jodie Foster)
Professional reviews
Review
"...[Foster gives] an extraordinary performance, bolstered by an innate gallantry, a tensile strength of skill and an observation of physical detail..." (Los Angeles Times, p.C4, 14/10/1988)
"...A good, tough melodrama....A splendid performance by [Foster]..." (New York Times, p.C13, 14/10/1988)
DVD Description
Jodie Foster won deserved acclaim for her performance as Sarah Tobias, a hard-living, fiercely independent woman is gang raped in the back of a local bar. She finds herself battling the legal system not once but twice, as she and her attorney, Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis), go after her attackers and the onlookers whose cheering fueled and encouraged the assault. The film is based on a true situation that occurred in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
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