The Matthew Shepard Story (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers (WGA):

John Wierick (written by) &
Jacob Krueger (written by)

Release Date:

4 June 2006 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on the true story of openly gay college student Matthew Shepard, killed in an act of senseless violence and cruelty, that attracted national attention.

Plot Keywords:

Matthew Shepard | Murder | Homosexual | Gay Interest | Gay Straight Relations

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Stockard Channing	...	Judy Shepard
Shane Meier	...	Matthew Shepard
Wendy Crewson	...	Sarah
Kristen Thomson	...	Romaine Patterson
Joseph Ziegler	...	Cal
Yani Gellman	...	Pablo
Sam Waterston	...	Dennis Shepard
Damien Atkins	...	Donny
Philip Eddolls	...	Aaron McKinney (as Philip Edolls)
Paul Robbins	...	Russell Henderson
Judah Katz	...	Defense Attorney
Drew Nelson	...	Lance
Nazneen Contractor	...	Shima
Makyla Smith	...	Casey
Lindsay Murrell	...	Matthew's Date

Also Known As:

L'affaire Matthew Shepard (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Drumheller, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Movie Connections:

Version of Anatomy of a Hate Crime (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Want You To Fall

If it really happened that way...

Then my crying after the movie was completely justified. I had no idea! I did not really follow the entire case (scary, huh? especially since I *am* gay and was in school -- okay, graduate school) which is probably why I didn't get caught up with the story, back then or subsequently.

I'm glad NBC decided to air the movie (which does not surprise me, since "Will & Grace" is also aired on the same network, as are several other shows with gay characters).

I liked the acting in it very much -- Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston were really good. Shane Meier (sidebar: yum!) was excellent and convincing and really knew how to elicit sympathy from the viewer. I hope this comes out on video or gets packaged for sale on video soon. I am not a human rights or gay rights expert, or even activist, by any stretch of the imagination, and will not pretend to be one now, but the movie really was quite human and tugs at your heartstrings. Clearly, for other than sentimental reasons, this is a good movie to have been made and aired -- perhaps in some small way, it would contribute to fair and respectful treatment of others who are of a different persuasion altogeter.