The Laramie Project (TV 2002)

The true story of an American town in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard.

Director:

Moisés Kaufman

Writers:

Moisés Kaufman (play), Moisés Kaufman (screenplay),

Stars:

Kathleen Chalfant, Laura Linney, Steve Buscemi

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Anonymous Female Rancher
Laura Linney	...	Sherry Johnson
Peter Fonda	...	Doctor Cantway
Jeremy Davies	...	Jedadiah Schultz
Nestor Carbonell	...	Moisés Kaufman
Camryn Manheim	...	Rebecca Hilliker
Andy Paris	...	Stephen Belber
Grant Varjas	...	Greg Pierotti (as Grant James Varjas)
Kelli Simpkins	...	Leigh Fondakowski
Clea DuVall	...	Amanda Gronich
Billie McBride	...	Waitress
Bill Christ	...	Man on the Porch
Frances Sternhagen	...	Marge Murray
Regina Krueger	...	Alison Mears
Michael Emerson	...	Reverend

Storyline

Moisés Kaufman and members of New York's Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie, Wyoming after the murder of Matthew Shepard. This is a film version of the play they wrote based on more than 200 interviews they conducted in Laramie. It follows and in some cases re-enacts the chronology of Shepard's visit to a local bar, his kidnap and beating, the discovery of him tied to a fence, the vigil at the hospital, his death and funeral, and the trial of his killers. It mixes real news reports with actors portraying friends, family, cops, killers, and other Laramie residents in their own words. It concludes with a Laramie staging of "Angels in America" a year after Shephard's death.

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Plot Keywords:

matthew shepard | murder | death | angel | beating | 

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Taglines:

Everyone Carries a Piece of the Truth.

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Genres:

Drama | Crime

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

hbo.com - videos, cast bios, photos

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le projet Laramie

Filming Locations:

Golden, Colorado, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cane/Gabay Productions, Good Machine, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The parade was shot the first day of production in the midst of a snow storm. It was May.

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Quotes

Dennis Shepard: My son, Matthew, did not look like a winner. He was rather uncoordinated and wore braces from the age of 13 until the day he died. However in his all-too-brief life, he proved that he was a winner. On October 6th 1998, he tried to show the world he could win again. On October 12th 1998, my first born son, and my hero, lost. On October 12th 1998, my first born son, and my hero, died. 50 days before his 22nd birthday. I keep wondering the same thing that I did when I first saw him in the hospital...

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Connections

Referenced in Brows Held High: Otto, or Up with Dead People (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Moving Right Along"
Written by Meg Christian
Performed by Meg Christian
Courtesy of Olivia Records

User Reviews

Thoughtful, Stunning.

A work that is exceptional both in terms of its structure and in terms of the unique nature of the presentation. It brings into sharp focus many of the complex elements of a horror like this and the profound effects which it has on the many disparate participants.

The quality of the acting is superb evidencing a dedication to the material that goes beyond mere craftwork; many of the performances are obviously from the heart and the soul. Dylan Baker, Amy Madigan, Jeremy Davies, Peter Fonda, Joshua Jackson, and Camryn Manheim are stellar. The courtroom speech by Matthew's Father is historical. The direction is challenging and engaging.

It takes a truly cold, trite, and hardened heart to dismiss such a moving film predicated solely upon the prejudices, regressive political posturing, and obvious homophobia brought to such dismissals.