Heart of the Beholder (2005)

Based on the true story of a family who opened the first videocassette rental stores in St. Louis in 1980. The family was ruined by a corrupt prosecutor who had been blackmailed by a ... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Tipton

Writer:

Ken Tipton

Stars:

Carrie Armstrong, Conrad Bachmann, Priscilla Barnes

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Carrie Armstrong	...	Vesta
Conrad Bachmann	...	Rudy
Priscilla Barnes	...	Miss Olivia
April Barnett	...	Rhonda
Roseanne Benjamin	...	Vicky
Barbara Allyne Bennet	...	Miss Bennet
Sarah Brown	...	Diane Howard
Katelin Chesna	...	Marci
Samantha Coker	...	Protester
Stella Croxon	...	Stenographer (as Stellarina Croxon)
Dabier	...	Partrick (as Dabir Snell)
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Larson
Daphne Duplaix	...	Detective Deborah Burbach
John Dye	...	D.A. Eric Manion
Greg Germann	...	Bob Harris

Storyline

Based on the true story of a family who opened the first videocassette rental stores in St. Louis in 1980. The family was ruined by a corrupt prosecutor who had been blackmailed by a religious group because the family refused to remove Martin Scorsese's controversial film, "The Last Temptation of Christ", from their stores.

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Plot Keywords:

censorship | intolerance

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Taglines:

The movie Hollywood doesn't want you to see!

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Beholder Productions [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

River City Entertainment, Catchlight Films, Susan Johnston Casting

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

User Reviews

A Perfect Gift for Those Who Simultaneously Have Their Heads in the Clouds, Buried in the Sand, and Shoved Deep Into The Place Where the Sun Don't Shine

Based on real events, yes. Based on the actual facts of those real events, no.

This movie, according to the principals, was the darling of the film festival circuit for almost three weeks. The term "film festival," again according to the principals, is any event in which four or more people watch a movie.

The movie takes the odd stance of championing freedom of speech and suppression of speech -- both under the guise of the First Amendment. Apparently, if you are "in the right," you should be able to say whatever you want, but if you are "in the wrong," anything you say is oppressive and illegal. In this movie, one group is definitely pegged as being "in the right."

Personally, I like the rules in America that say nobody has to shut up. Everybody gets to speak their mind. Even those with ugly, revolting points of view get to say what they want. That's America.

People are allowed to say "Don't shop at XXXXX. They do things we don't like. Go ask Wal-Mart, Sony, Disney, Burger King, etc. All of them have had campaigns against them.

And people are allowed to sell anything legal despite protests. Again, go ask Wal-Mart, Sony, Disney, etc.

And no crime has been committed by these protests even if one party feels "forced" to withdraw a product. They can still sell it. It's their choice.

Disney is a perfect example. They have top movies and cartoons that will never be seen again because of protests over 50 years ago. It's their choice. No law is being broken because of the protests.

In America, people are allowed to say, Don't shop at XXX, their commercials are xxx. People are allowed to say, Don't shop at XXX, they made fun of xxx. People are allowed to say, Don't shop at XXX, they sell a T-shirt with a slogan that offends us.

The oil companies, Big Tobacco, automakers, chain stores, restaurants, Wall Street -- all have endured fanatical protests of a much higher and more strident nature. Are they victims also?

The actual facts would have made an accurate, but boring, portrayal of the down-and-dirty dealings of activists versus business. Accurate and boring, yes, but quite a bit better than horribly slanted and boring.

The saving grace of this movie, unlike other doggie doo, is that you won't run across it unless you actively search for it. It has never risen to "discount bin" status.