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Indictment: The McMartin Trial (TV) More at IMDbPro »
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| Index | 27 reviews in total |
36 out of 38 people found the following review useful:
You have faith in our legal system?, 15 January 2004
Author:
Skeptic459 (nren006@ec.auckland.ac.nz) from Auckland, New Zealand.
Because I don't! I defy anyone who has ever been involved in a serious
legal trial to state that western nations have a great and just legal
system. The Mcmartin trial represents a real failure of our system and
should be a warning of what can happen.
Similar trials happened in Australia, England and here in New Zealand. We
had an innocent man here put in prison on the basis of hysteria. Although,
many conspiracy nuts would state that abusive satanic cults exist and are
covered up by the highest levels of government.
The actors that play the Mcmartin's are very good and you real feel sorry
for them as they are caught in a nightmare not unlike Kafka's, the trial.
James Woods is also good playing the motor mouth defence lawyer. Oliver
Stone is also involved as the producer, which is no surprise. I bet both of
these guys know whats up and want to expose the stupidity that was America's
longest and most costly legal battle. Remember this trial went for 10
years!
The film explores all the things that made this trial a joke. The highly
leading questions asked by social workers to children. The fact that
Mcfarlane pressured the children to admit to sexual abuse. The politicians
using this as a spring board to getting elected. The fact that the children
even identify Chuck Norris as one of the villains. The correctly defined
anatomical dolls. Judy Johnson and her bizarre alcoholic, schizophrenic
ravings. The children giving bizarre confessions where they would be flown
out to places to be abused. Then came satanism. The children stating that
they were brought through tunnels and abused underground. No physical
evidence of tunnels were ever found under the Mcmartin pre-school. The
Mcmartins apparently dressed in black robes, chanted and ritually abused the
children according to the victims.
Does anyone find any of this highly unlikely?
Normally if you are going to sexually abuse children, by the time you get
to Peggy Buckey's age you have a major history. Child molesters do not just
fall out of the sky. This case is about cultural anxiety. At this point in
history the two genders had become more equalized. Both mom and dad were
working. So more and more parents were dropping off their kids at daycare
centers. The problem was that many people felt very nervous about their kids
being at these centers. An actual book came out reporting abuse that went on
in daycare centers. I have not read this book but I would imagine only a
minority of centers would be abusive to kids. As things become more equal
the divorce rates were also increasing as woman were walking out of bad
marriages. This just increased the uncertainty felt at this time.
The problem is that there are still people who think that the Mcmartins are
guilty. I am all for stopping molesters but this is just getting hysterical.
It is exactly the same as the Salem witch trials. We think that we have
changed since then. Well we haven't really! We can still just as easily
deceive ourselves. If you look around the web you will still find websites
that claim that the tunnels existed and there was a huge government cover
up. Why would the government bother? Even if the Buckeys were working for a
satanic pornography ring that is connected to the government, which I highly
doubt. Why wouldn't the government then hang the Buckey's out to dry if they
were caught? If they stated that they were satanic molesters working for the
government then they would look crazy.
The other pet peeve I have about this case is that Kee Mcfarlane and her
ilk were never held accountable for their actions. Social workers and mental
health workers should be held more accountable. Mcfarlane's poor interview
techniques caused children to believe that they were victims of a satanic
cult. It seems the higher up in the food chain that you are. The more likely
that you'll never be held accountable for your actions. It is a sad fact but
in my experience and observations, it is a true fact.
Satanic ritual abuse has been proven to be false. The whole thing collapsed
when the FBI, lead by Kenneth Lanning, COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE
WHATSOEVER of the existence of any satanic cults. Lanning's official report
is available online. However the conspiracy nuts state this is just more
evidence of a cover up. That the FBI are part of this satanic cult or that
the cult is so extraordinarily tricky that they avoid detection. I don't
know about you dear reader but this sounds ridiculous to me! Lanning used
the sound logic that the bigger the cult the more physical evidence that
they would leave. None was ever found.
The infamous Laurence Pazder was even involved in this trial. The man who
with Michelle Smith gave us Michelle remembers. The book that started the
whole SRA hysteria. Why satanism? If you ACTUALLY read Anton Lavey he states
that you should treat animals and humans with respect. His writings are also
a rip off of Ayn Rand. Some ultra right wing people will be disturbed and
not very happy about that fact!
I would also like to add that this hysteria still goes on. The case of the
West Memphis three to me is the most infamous. You have three young men
convicted of child murder. Why? Because they dared to dress in black,
explore alternative belief systems, such as Wicca and listened to heavy
metal. Most notably Metallica. Madness! All of this is dangerous
madness!
The last peeve I have is that because of this mess. The teaching profession
has taken the most major blows. Here in New Zealand there are few male
teachers, 90 percent of teachers are now female. This issue is one of the
major factors of why men no longer want to become teachers. They are afraid
of being accused of child molestation. Men who want to work with children,
especially young children, are considered to be strange. No real man wants
to work with kids! This modern hysteria has only added to this cultural
stereotype. As a result our school system suffers as boys struggle to find
male role models. Boys are failing but girls are succeeding.
Some films have to be watched so we can learn from them and not repeat our
own mistakes. This film is also a critique of the legal system. To me it
illustrates that some fundamental changes have to happen for our legal
system to function adequately. I give this 10 out of 10 and think everyone
should have to watch it. All those who have never had dealings with the
courts, well this is an education and a half.
19 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
Really good, 1 May 2000
Author:
SpideyTerry from Ardmore, PA
Indictment really catches the mind and makes you think. How one day, everything is normal and fine, but then it is instantly turned upside down. Of course for the McMartin family, there world is turned upside down in the most horrifying way: they, who ran a child-care facility, are accused of child molestation. With exception of Danny Davis (brilliantly played by James Woods) and the defense, the McMartin family is friendless and the issue of wheter they did it or not is lost on the public. They make the assumption they did it and treat them like dirt. It's like a modern Salem witch hunt. People like to be optimistic and think something like this will never happen in the US and people accused of a crime will never be treated this way, but this movie really proves the notion of 'Innocent until proven guilty' can be lost on people when the crime is big enough. See this movie.
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
Important Movie, 7 January 2001
Author:
Alex-372 from The Hague, The Netherlands
Indictment is a movie showing how untested pop psychology and bad
(circular)
reasoning
can still produce witch hunts in this day and age, and an appeal to both
the
viewer
and the public in general to always keep a critical eye towards the facts
like a laser beam.
Nor was this case a one-off. In fact, when I saw the announcement for this
movie,
I thought it was about the "Little Rascals Day Care Center" in Edison, NC.
Only
a year before the McMartins were released from jail, an almost cloned
incident
happened in Edison, when the owner, Robert Kelly jr. and his wife
were
charged with massive child abuse - as well as satanism, cannibalism,
abductions... they were also accused of taking the children along in space
ships,
killing animals, sacrificing babies in the middle of the day care center
during
open hours, etc (although no children were ever reported
missing).
There too, the case started out with a single vindictive mother
with
an agenda of her own, and was built upon "recovered memories",
etc.
However, unlike the McMartins, who spent up to half a decade in jail
awaiting
trial, the Kelly's were actually convicted and sentenced to twelve
consecutive life sentences.
Their convictions were later quashed on appeal.
What is also shown out in this movie is the way "true believers"
think.
Kee, played by the gorgeous Lolita Davidovitch, doesn't look for
corrobable
evidence, but simply affirmation of her already drawn up
conclusions.
Here is where the circular thinking comes in.
When a child is asked if it has been abused, and the answer is yes, then
it
must
be telling the truth. However, if the answer is no, then something must be
keeping
them from telling the truth, in this case, "they're in denial". And so
they
will be
cojoled, even threatened, until the answer is yes. They how's, when's and
even who's
are less important, and as a result many of testimony becomes fantastical,
even impossible.
Or, to quote from an article on False Memory Syndrome:
"When the victim responds, " but I get along fine with my parents, they
aren't perverts".
- the trusted advisor responds, "Wow, they must have been really horrible
for you to
have repressed it that deep. If you won't recall, you won't get better."
"
Also, Gerardo and OJ trial regular Ira Reiner (who gravely described OJ's
gloves
as "loosely fitting, working man's gloves") don't come off very well at
all,
not
surprisingly.
Nor have these modern witch hunts limited themselves to North America
-
there have been similar mass arrests after allegations of satanic abuse in
the
north of Scotland, recently in the UK the daily mail undertook a campaign
of
publicly naming child molesters, many of whom were confused with other
people,
one man had a neckbrace like one of the men in the newspaper and
needed
police protection after both his and his neighbors house had been
stoned,
and a PEDiatrician needed protection after children had painted "PEDo" on
her house.
Nor is mass hysteria and mass psychology limited to child abuse -
recently
in Holland a scuzzy politician tried to whip up public support by
claiming
as "outrageous" the number of middle aged citizens of Maroccan and
Turkish
descent claiming disability - totally and conveniently ignoring the fact
that
among the physically demanding and dangerous industries, like steel,
chemicals,
and the cleaning industry, these groups were hugely over represented in
the
decades after WWII and still are today.
This movie is an indictment of mass hysteria, and is an appeal for every
citizen
to think for him or herself, and be very critical, even cynical of
whatever
news is presented
to them on a platter every night at six.
See it.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
One of the best made-for-TV-movies I have ever seen, 30 June 1999
Author:
Dino-38 from Moscow, Russia
Believe me, folks, Schindler's List is nothing comparing it to this movie. Although that's a HBO television production, it's excellent. James Woods is marvelous as Danny Davis, Ray Buckey's defense attorney at The McMartin Trial. Other roles are wonderful too. There is no bad performance in this film. Music, cinematography, editing and script are at a very high level too. This film is unique, because that is the only film telling us about The McMartin Preschool Trial, the biggest and the most expensive child-abuse trial in the world's history and a tragedy, which tore apart a McMartin-Buckey family and a nation.
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Stunning, Disturbing, 4 May 2005
Author:
jmorrison-2 from Farmington Hills, MI
Tremendously disturbing and well-acted film. What is most troubling is the fact that this episode really occurred. Remarkable portrayal of how easily something like this can get so totally out of control. It is hard to imagine this feeding frenzy among, supposedly, educated and sophisticated people. James Woods is dead-on perfect as an initially slimy, opportunistic attorney, who finds himself slowly horrified by what he finds himself in the middle of. His courtroom questioning of Dr. McFarlane (Lolita Davidovich)is riveting. An impressive, well-done movie, but extremely troubling for what it says about our justice system.
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Rivetting!, 11 October 2000
Author:
fiozinho from Lisbon
A brilliant account of justice gone haywire as an innocent family is dragged through the courts and all but destroyed by rumours of child abuse. This (true) story is a universal one - it all happened in the early eighties but similar injustices have happened again in Britain recently following witch-hunts by irresponsible national newspapers. (Do we never learn?) The film itself is excellent, with fabulous performances all round but especially by an as-always-knockout James Woods and Mercedes Ruehl. Director Mick Jackson moves it along at a terrific pace - two and quarter hours flies by. Highly recommended!
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Relentless, terrifying tale of legal power and emotion gone amuck., 18 January 2000
Author:
Louis Rugani (x779@webtv.net) from United States
This is a frightening revelation, a case history of the public immolation of
an innocent Los Angeles family that is suddenly overwhelmed by mindless
evil.
Early on, we are schooled to believe in the innate ideals of American
justice. Yet the McMartin family, which operated a small child-care facility
not unlike those we've ourselves seen in our own neighborhoods, one day
becomes caught up in the gears of a monstrous machine powered by unreasoning
vengeance.
One can only imagine the McMartins' horror as their world instantly turns
into a helpless, waking nightmare of slander and violence. Almost totally
friendless as they become engulfed by the evil that has found them, they
face national hatred and vilification, prison, and personal
ruin.
"Indictment" has become a classic textbook study of the McMartins' ghastly
descent into the dark side of American jurisprudence and media hysterics. As
such, it transcends entertainment, and stands as a warning.
This was written on January 18, 2000. It was on this day ten years ago that
Raymond Buckey and his mother Peggy McMartin Buckey were finally cleared of
the 52 criminal charges of which they had been accused since 1984.
See this film.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Just as scary today as it was then- still topical, 11 April 2006
Author:
rondine (susan.rondine@cox.net) from Mesa, AZ
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
One of the most gripping, interesting, "can't-put-it-down" movies I've
ever seen. EVERY time this movie is on TV I cannot but help watch it.
The screenplay and the acting are masterful and suspenseful- EVEN
though I've seen it more than once! Now THAT'S a test of greatness-
when you can watch something over & over & it still has a sense of
suspense and awe.
The casting is masterful- James Woods as the historically sleezy lawyer
who usually takes cases that are awful and usually guilty of whatever
they've been accused of. Mercedes Ruhel as the prosecutor is great
because of her stoically indignant style of prosecution. This combines
in the movie to make it look like initially the media *did* get it
right. But then little by little things go sour. In one of the best
performances she's ever given, Lolita Davidovich is spellbinding as the
child therapist who gets caught up in the whirl-wind of the whole
thing. Starting out with a decent motive, she ends up being the truly
bad seed that started it all. She is awesome in the court room scene,
as is Woods.
If you've read any of the reviews here, you will know that this movie
is about the infamous McMartin trial in which basically a whole family
& their employees at a preschool were accused of hundreds of counts of
child molestation. It turned out after over 5 years; none of the
accusations were true. The media had basically taken over the justice
system in an insipid and insidious way. This was actually the first
time this had happened like this. (Yes, it has since happened again on
a different level in a different way.) Also, the presumption of
innocence for the accused was totally discarded.
The way the media whipped people into a frenzy over the appearance of
things and making these people out to be evil echoes some of the things
that are going on today. In fact, it's very similar to the way Lou
Dobbs has presented immigrants as something evil to be feared. Media...
it can really warp the truth. One of the biggest tragedies is that the
news- which is specifically supposed to enlighten and inform, has
become so much about entertainment that it's lost its soul. This movie
shows so well how things can be twisted- how the media can plant the
seed in the minds of its viewers-- MUCH like the way Kay McFarland
planted seeds in the mind of the children she "interviewed" for CII.
The Salem witch-hunts can happen again. Be on your guard- it really can
happen here in America.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Crucible, 8 August 1999
Author:
matthew wilder (cosmovitelli@mediaone.net) from los angeles
Fat-free account of the legal crucifixion of a pre-school teacher and his mother, caught in the frenzy of an anti-molestation movement. The screenwriter, Abby Mann, sticks to the transcripts, and so the pungent subtext is seen only glancingly: the mania of save-our-children parents, obsessed either by their own guilt or an overidentification with wounded innocents. Gripping from start to finish, the movie also features a rarity: a hyped-up James Woods performance as the defense attorney that is, for once, trim and in keeping with the surroundings.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Stunning, 26 August 2001
Author:
hprill from Austria
This (true) story of a family falsely accused of child abuse was just
stunningly transformed into film - more than seven years of suffering
transformed into two and a half hours of film. The plot is real, the
atmosphere intense, the acting perfect - particularly so from James Woods
and Shirley Knight.
A must-see. 9/10.
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