Despite being `only' a telefilm, which in itself is usually a guider to something rather stylised to set patterns and formulas, whatever the content may be, `Our Guys' turns out to be something rather special. It is not due to the supporting cast: they did their job well, even very well; It is not even due to the director, Guy Ferland or even Paul Brown's adaptation of the book by Bernie Lefkowitz: again well carried out. What does make this telefilm stand out is the then seventeen-year-old Heather Matarazzo. Her interpretation of a somewhat backward adolescent was simply brilliant. Showing immense intelligence she was able to keep her performance under control as it was never overdramatized; from joyousness to deep grief and all the other feelings that can be shown on screen, Matarazzo, with Ferland's equally intelligent directing, gave a superbly convincing interpretation without the slightest hint of ridiculising the personality and character of any person who may be unfortunate enough to be mentally retarded. Almost an impossible rôle, but this young actress showed great maturity at such a young age. I hope a few more of her films reach us here in this corner of Europe.
20 Reviews
Great Performance by Heather Matarazzo in a Sketchy Story
wes-connors1 May 2015
After a big homecoming Glen Ridge High School football game, several muscular young men are shown undressing and showering. After the shirtless credits, we meet attractive hometown detective Ally Sheedy (as Kelly Brooks) at the post-game celebration. Also present is "mildly retarded" student Heather Matarazzo (as Leslie Faber). A mainstreamed special education student, Ms. Matarazzo is infatuated with the handsome football players and imagines she is dancing with them. Rumors in Glen Ridge are that Matarazzo was assaulted with a broom and baseball bat in a basement, by members of the school's beloved football team. Assisted by prosecutor Eric Stoltz (as Robert "Bob" Laurino), Ms. Brooks investigates...
There is something wrong with this story. It may be that it was dramatized as an ABC-TV movie and had to hesitate. It was based on a true story, but this review is only going to cover what is depicted on screen. We are led to believe a significant group of students would watch a young woman raped with a broom, baseball bat and stick. The young men demonstrate no sexual participation or gratification. The young woman seems upset but okay after the acts and promises not to tell. Something this brutal, this sadistic, and nobody called 9-11? Nobody took her to the hospital? Guess that's possible, but the barbarism may be overstated. If not, the level of evil present suggest the football players should be put away for life...
To be fair, there are a couple of times when we hear about other sexual activities. For example, Matarazzo states Scott Vickaryous (as Paul Archer) wanted her to "play" with him. Later, we learn oral sex may have been a part of the experience. These, and other possible sexual encounters, are not seen. Also troubling is how the defendants and their enablers are almost universally unlikable. Even the non-jock "good guy" Kett Turton (as John Tierney) advocates rape with his van sign, "Jocks will see what it feels like to get raped in jail." He expresses the view that rape is okay, under specific circumstances. Yet, the story does examine the glorification of athletes and the tendency to cover-up their lapses into lawlessness...
Finally, the performance by Matarazzo of a mentally disabled young woman is stellar. Her "Leslie Faber" is one of the most touching and realistic portrayals of an intellectually challenged individual, to date. Oddly, there are no "Best Actress" Emmy Award consideration. Anyone who knows people like "Leslie" will see the realistic character traits employed by Matarazzo. Much applause to the actress, her director Guy Ferland and writer Paul Brown for bringing this character to life. This characterization should help people understand how to live with people who are cognitively challenged. It's important to understand "Leslie" and "Louis" (Kevin Howarth) have sexual desires, and we need to react appropriately to their feelings.
******* Outrage at Glen Ridge (5/10/99) Guy Ferland ~ Heather Matarazzo, Ally Sheedy, Eric Stoltz, Sara Botsford
There is something wrong with this story. It may be that it was dramatized as an ABC-TV movie and had to hesitate. It was based on a true story, but this review is only going to cover what is depicted on screen. We are led to believe a significant group of students would watch a young woman raped with a broom, baseball bat and stick. The young men demonstrate no sexual participation or gratification. The young woman seems upset but okay after the acts and promises not to tell. Something this brutal, this sadistic, and nobody called 9-11? Nobody took her to the hospital? Guess that's possible, but the barbarism may be overstated. If not, the level of evil present suggest the football players should be put away for life...
To be fair, there are a couple of times when we hear about other sexual activities. For example, Matarazzo states Scott Vickaryous (as Paul Archer) wanted her to "play" with him. Later, we learn oral sex may have been a part of the experience. These, and other possible sexual encounters, are not seen. Also troubling is how the defendants and their enablers are almost universally unlikable. Even the non-jock "good guy" Kett Turton (as John Tierney) advocates rape with his van sign, "Jocks will see what it feels like to get raped in jail." He expresses the view that rape is okay, under specific circumstances. Yet, the story does examine the glorification of athletes and the tendency to cover-up their lapses into lawlessness...
Finally, the performance by Matarazzo of a mentally disabled young woman is stellar. Her "Leslie Faber" is one of the most touching and realistic portrayals of an intellectually challenged individual, to date. Oddly, there are no "Best Actress" Emmy Award consideration. Anyone who knows people like "Leslie" will see the realistic character traits employed by Matarazzo. Much applause to the actress, her director Guy Ferland and writer Paul Brown for bringing this character to life. This characterization should help people understand how to live with people who are cognitively challenged. It's important to understand "Leslie" and "Louis" (Kevin Howarth) have sexual desires, and we need to react appropriately to their feelings.
******* Outrage at Glen Ridge (5/10/99) Guy Ferland ~ Heather Matarazzo, Ally Sheedy, Eric Stoltz, Sara Botsford
Rigged and Artificial
cstotlar-115 February 2011
This movie had every good intention and I applaud its search for justice. Heather Matarazzo was phenomenal in her role and portrayed a complex girl's feelings and their ambiguities with great skill and compassion. My feelings are rather strongly pro keeping sports in line with the academic pursuits of others. In too many high schools the athletic departments enjoy unchecked authority; the resultant misbehavior of their students is often allowed - sometimes even encouraged - to a ridiculous extent. And yes, in too many cases the "student" athletes get preferential treatment from adults behaving more like children than their charges. The other characters in the film, among the students, were cardboard if even that and the bias so loaded against them on screen as to cause the film to lose a valuable part of its creditability. They weren't just horrid people in every way but... The film was never intended to be a balanced portrayal of some people who lost all ideas of balance but in so vilifying them throughout, the film itself becomes grotesquely unbalanced. It served its purpose, I suppose, but it really wasn't a good film at all.
Curtis Stotlar
Curtis Stotlar
You will remember this film long after the credits roll
karenthomas611 June 2004
Do not be daunted by the sensational nature of the crime, depicted in this film. The director did not go for shock value. This film is sensitive and poignant despite the grotesque nature of the crime.
This is not your typical made for TV movie. For Heather Matarazzo's performance alone, put this film on your "must see" list. Since the producers used the real names of several perpetrators, I feel confident that the script must be very accurate. (Some of the guilty were shielded from public exposure due to their status as minors.) Most "based on a true story" movies take great liberties with facts, characters and events to make a more dramatic or cohesive film and I tend to dismiss them as entertainment, not documentary.
If you watch this film, I think you will be haunted by the protagonist long after the final credits.
This is not your typical made for TV movie. For Heather Matarazzo's performance alone, put this film on your "must see" list. Since the producers used the real names of several perpetrators, I feel confident that the script must be very accurate. (Some of the guilty were shielded from public exposure due to their status as minors.) Most "based on a true story" movies take great liberties with facts, characters and events to make a more dramatic or cohesive film and I tend to dismiss them as entertainment, not documentary.
If you watch this film, I think you will be haunted by the protagonist long after the final credits.
A nuanced tale of boundary-crossing and bad decisions
fredrikgunerius7 August 2023
This is a classically constructed based-on-true-events TV-movie from the 1990s, with all that this entails, but it's also fairly well-acted, fairly well-balanced and undoubtedly interesting in its discussions on where to draw the line regarding victims and perpetrators in cases of (alleged) sexual abuse between teenagers. Our Guys recognizes the difficulties involved when mental disability, budding sexuality and peer pressure is mixed into a hotchpotch of boundary-crossing and bad decisions. There are no winners in this story, despite what the parents of these kids so desperately want to cling onto. A committed performance by Ally Sheedy, a sensitive one by Eric Stoltz, and a highly impressive one by Heather Matarazzo as the girl elevates this effective drama.
As insensible and denigrating for disabled people as you can find
bellino-angelo201418 July 2023
Before writing about this movie I have to warn you that I have never heard previously about the Glen Ridge r**e (can't use the full word for IMDB standards). Then why did I watch this, you might ask? Well, since in these months I tried to watch as most of Eric Stoltz's movies I could find because I consider him incredibly talented I saw most of his TV movies as well, so one day I stumbled on this one, but in hindsight it was better to skip this one.
Leslie Faber (Heather Matarazzo) is a 17-year old disabled girl that one day in 1989 was r***d with a broomstick and a baseball bat by members of the Glen Ridge High School football team and the case made news although nobody seemed likely to investigate except for detective Kelly Brooks (Ally Sheddy) and attorney Bob Laurino (Stoltz), and they'll make the truth come out.
The idea wasn't bad. But what ruined this for me is that the victim was made to look like she searched for the r**e herself and the jocks did what she wanted when in reality they forced on her. Not only it was disrespectful for the real-life victim but also for disabled people and r**e victims in general. And when Leslie was mocked by a crowd for her disability and it was broadcast on television... that made me lose my patience! It's like putting gravy on the meat and then throwing the meat to a pack of blood thirsty dogs that haven't eaten in a week.
I won't recommend it not even to folks who know the facts because it's such a version full of hatred that makes you wonder if what happened was in the norm.
Leslie Faber (Heather Matarazzo) is a 17-year old disabled girl that one day in 1989 was r***d with a broomstick and a baseball bat by members of the Glen Ridge High School football team and the case made news although nobody seemed likely to investigate except for detective Kelly Brooks (Ally Sheddy) and attorney Bob Laurino (Stoltz), and they'll make the truth come out.
The idea wasn't bad. But what ruined this for me is that the victim was made to look like she searched for the r**e herself and the jocks did what she wanted when in reality they forced on her. Not only it was disrespectful for the real-life victim but also for disabled people and r**e victims in general. And when Leslie was mocked by a crowd for her disability and it was broadcast on television... that made me lose my patience! It's like putting gravy on the meat and then throwing the meat to a pack of blood thirsty dogs that haven't eaten in a week.
I won't recommend it not even to folks who know the facts because it's such a version full of hatred that makes you wonder if what happened was in the norm.
"that would never happen in this neighborhood"... Compelling and disturbing...
MarieGabrielle23 September 2006
This film deals with the true case that occurred in Glen Ridge, New Jersey with the graduating class of 1989. Obviously, what the students did to this girl is disturbing and inexcusable. What is also offensive is the attitude of the community, school and parents; the denial and discrimination.
Eric Stoltz is excellent as prosecutor Dan Laurino,who empathizes with the victim (well-done by Heather Matarazzo). The character Ally Sheedy portrays is a detective who used to work in NYC, and is now on the task force, prosecuting the members of the football team who took part in the gang-rape of a mentally disabled student.
There is much denial and deferral of responsibility, the group mentality of "don't make waves" and the accusations that, as an unstable person, the character Matarazzo portrays had deserved, and even asked for, what happened to her. It is the utmost disgrace that American communities like this still react this way.
The next time you see a tragedy in the local news, and a neighbor comments they couldn't believe it happened in his/her neighborhood, chalk it up to the mechanism of denial; the fact that people cannot comprehend such things does not mean they are not happening every day, and that we need stricter laws protecting the disabled. 10/10
Eric Stoltz is excellent as prosecutor Dan Laurino,who empathizes with the victim (well-done by Heather Matarazzo). The character Ally Sheedy portrays is a detective who used to work in NYC, and is now on the task force, prosecuting the members of the football team who took part in the gang-rape of a mentally disabled student.
There is much denial and deferral of responsibility, the group mentality of "don't make waves" and the accusations that, as an unstable person, the character Matarazzo portrays had deserved, and even asked for, what happened to her. It is the utmost disgrace that American communities like this still react this way.
The next time you see a tragedy in the local news, and a neighbor comments they couldn't believe it happened in his/her neighborhood, chalk it up to the mechanism of denial; the fact that people cannot comprehend such things does not mean they are not happening every day, and that we need stricter laws protecting the disabled. 10/10
Pitfalls of Celebrity
rmax3048239 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
An allegation of aggravated sexual assault along with some other unpleasant peccadilloes, including improper use of a broom, are made against half a dozen or so of the most popular high-school jocks in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, by a "mildly retarded" student (Heather Matarazzo). The investigation and building of the case are handed over to the DA's office, where Ally Sheedy and Eric Stoltz are put in charge.
Rumors about the case spread through Glen Ridge, an upper-middle-class suburb where the jocks are adored by everyone in the community. (One of their fathers is a police lieutenant.) Nobody believes Matarazzo. "Our boys would never take a slut like that down to the basement, rape her, and subject her to such sexual humiliation." The question is whether Sheedy and Stoltz will ever be able to shape a sufficiently cogent case that they can bring the jocks to trial. Matarazzo is not an ideal plaintiff. She's desperate for love and friendship, and that makes it easy for faux friends to mislead her into making false statements. A slimy reporter says, "You can trust me," but it turns out the reporter can't be trusted at all. Another student, a very popular girl in school, pulls a Linda Tripp on Matarazzo, pretending to be her bosom buddy but all the while asking her leading questions about the incident -- and taping the results! As a consequence, watching this story unfold is like being on a roller coaster. At first it looks like a good case for Sheedy and Stoltz. But then, oops, the community organizes against the law. Then it looks good again. But then the reporter interferes. Then that obstacle is no sooner overcome, than Linda Tripp pokes her big nose into the investigation and makes public the tapes that seem to indicate Matarazzo was lying. (Well, actually, she WAS lying -- but she was lying to her interrogator in order to please her.) Then that's overcome, but Matarazzo objects to taking the stand because she doesn't want to be characterized as "retarded." Eric Stoltz is fine in the part of the prosecutor. I say that for the simple reason that he and I lived in Pago Pago around the same time. (I hope he wasn't the kid I had that altercation with at the bar of the Seaside Club. If he was, I take back my compliment.) Ally Sheedy is a strange actress and hard to characterize. She did a marvelous self-restrained job in "Fine Art" but I didn't sense any particular effort being put into this role, which was rather formulaic anyway. I mean, neither she nor Stoltz nor anyone else could give a bravura performance in what's essentially a comic book story.
The producers and director had the good sense to choose Heather Matarazzo for the role of victim. The very worst thing they could have done is cast an ethereally lovely, neotenous blond. Instead, Matarazzo, without being at all ugly, looks rather plain and this ordinary quality is complemented by her grooming and make up. Nor have the writers turned her wistful and gentle. She has a temper and is sometimes irritating to listen to, which is all for the good.
Matarazzo's character is the best drawn in the film. The jocks are stereotypes. Pure evil. They think themselves above the law, barge in on some nice girl's party in East Orange, trash the place during a party far worse than "La Dolce Vita's" climactic orgy, and leave without explanation or apology. They deserve to get it in the neck -- and they do.
I referred to this as a comic book story and that's pretty much what it is. It challenges none of our prejudices. It reaffirms out belief that the world can be divided into Good and Evil. And we don't have a moment's doubt about who's who. What I'm waiting for -- not really, that's just rhetorical -- is a movie almost exactly like this one and a dozen others, but in which the victim is LYING in order to get her name and photo in the papers and garner all those sympathy chips from right-thinking folk like the rest of us.
The film is based on a true story, as are so many others we've all seen, and even more fictional features. (Eg., "The Accused".) Some are good, some are strictly routine. Okay. Fair enough. Now when do we get to see a film about the Tawana Brawley case, in which the teen-aged girl disappeared on a whim for a few days, then had her friends strip her, tie her up, and smear her with dirt, so she could claim she'd been abducted and raped by the police? Now THAT would be a challenge in a way this one simply is not.
Rumors about the case spread through Glen Ridge, an upper-middle-class suburb where the jocks are adored by everyone in the community. (One of their fathers is a police lieutenant.) Nobody believes Matarazzo. "Our boys would never take a slut like that down to the basement, rape her, and subject her to such sexual humiliation." The question is whether Sheedy and Stoltz will ever be able to shape a sufficiently cogent case that they can bring the jocks to trial. Matarazzo is not an ideal plaintiff. She's desperate for love and friendship, and that makes it easy for faux friends to mislead her into making false statements. A slimy reporter says, "You can trust me," but it turns out the reporter can't be trusted at all. Another student, a very popular girl in school, pulls a Linda Tripp on Matarazzo, pretending to be her bosom buddy but all the while asking her leading questions about the incident -- and taping the results! As a consequence, watching this story unfold is like being on a roller coaster. At first it looks like a good case for Sheedy and Stoltz. But then, oops, the community organizes against the law. Then it looks good again. But then the reporter interferes. Then that obstacle is no sooner overcome, than Linda Tripp pokes her big nose into the investigation and makes public the tapes that seem to indicate Matarazzo was lying. (Well, actually, she WAS lying -- but she was lying to her interrogator in order to please her.) Then that's overcome, but Matarazzo objects to taking the stand because she doesn't want to be characterized as "retarded." Eric Stoltz is fine in the part of the prosecutor. I say that for the simple reason that he and I lived in Pago Pago around the same time. (I hope he wasn't the kid I had that altercation with at the bar of the Seaside Club. If he was, I take back my compliment.) Ally Sheedy is a strange actress and hard to characterize. She did a marvelous self-restrained job in "Fine Art" but I didn't sense any particular effort being put into this role, which was rather formulaic anyway. I mean, neither she nor Stoltz nor anyone else could give a bravura performance in what's essentially a comic book story.
The producers and director had the good sense to choose Heather Matarazzo for the role of victim. The very worst thing they could have done is cast an ethereally lovely, neotenous blond. Instead, Matarazzo, without being at all ugly, looks rather plain and this ordinary quality is complemented by her grooming and make up. Nor have the writers turned her wistful and gentle. She has a temper and is sometimes irritating to listen to, which is all for the good.
Matarazzo's character is the best drawn in the film. The jocks are stereotypes. Pure evil. They think themselves above the law, barge in on some nice girl's party in East Orange, trash the place during a party far worse than "La Dolce Vita's" climactic orgy, and leave without explanation or apology. They deserve to get it in the neck -- and they do.
I referred to this as a comic book story and that's pretty much what it is. It challenges none of our prejudices. It reaffirms out belief that the world can be divided into Good and Evil. And we don't have a moment's doubt about who's who. What I'm waiting for -- not really, that's just rhetorical -- is a movie almost exactly like this one and a dozen others, but in which the victim is LYING in order to get her name and photo in the papers and garner all those sympathy chips from right-thinking folk like the rest of us.
The film is based on a true story, as are so many others we've all seen, and even more fictional features. (Eg., "The Accused".) Some are good, some are strictly routine. Okay. Fair enough. Now when do we get to see a film about the Tawana Brawley case, in which the teen-aged girl disappeared on a whim for a few days, then had her friends strip her, tie her up, and smear her with dirt, so she could claim she'd been abducted and raped by the police? Now THAT would be a challenge in a way this one simply is not.
A really good film.
WendyOh!14 July 2001
I don't care that it's "only" a television movie, this movie is really good. Based on a true story, turned into a book and now this film, it stars Heather Matarazzo as an abused retarded high school girl. She just wants people to like her, so she 'goes along' with her rape, in a very disturbing scene, kind of shocking for television, not titalating at all. The supporting cast is wonderful. Ally Sheedy and Eric Stoltz are the adults in the piece, in charge of bringing the teens who did this awful crime to justice, and they are really good. So are the teen jocks who rape her. A good lesson in safety and 'fitting in', well told, good music and direction, overall this is a very good production and all should be proud to have done it.
There are better movies with the same Plot out there
morientes-6840110 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Was a little dissapointed by this movie. I think Tough it was better than average. Because I have seen a lot of movie with almost same plot and many of them was way better then this one. Acting was good. No problem there. I give it a strong 5 out of 10.
In 1989, an intellectually disabled 17-year-old girl was raped with a broomstick and a baseball bat by members of the Glen Ridge High School football team in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. This event attracted nationwide attention, mainly due to the perception that the assailants had been given special treatment by the school and local authorities due to their status as local football stars. The events were later documented in a book and TV movie.
In 1989, an intellectually disabled 17-year-old girl was raped with a broomstick and a baseball bat by members of the Glen Ridge High School football team in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. This event attracted nationwide attention, mainly due to the perception that the assailants had been given special treatment by the school and local authorities due to their status as local football stars. The events were later documented in a book and TV movie.
God bless you, Heather
asherjdoak16 October 2002
Heather Matarazzo was fantastic in this movie, as well as "Welcome To The Dollhouse", both of which center around a young girl who's so desperate to have friends and fit in, even at the expense of her dignity. What really made me sick was not only what those football jerks did to that poor girl but the fact that the whole town believed their side of what happened, with the exception of Ally Sheedy, Eric Stoltz and the girl's parents. In the end, however, the truth finally came out and she got the justice she deserved. I think Heather did such a wonderful job in this movie. She has a lot of guts to agree to play a mentally challenged girl, and I really admire her for that.
DVD not in U.S. ... WHY?
cruzaroni11 February 2007
This engrossing film, based on true events, is NOT available on DVD in the U.S. -- region 2 DVD is available in the UK. What is up with that? I really think this is an important story and worth being seen. Heather Matarazzo is becoming an increasingly popular actor and her serious work needs to be presented so fans will not think that she's only suitable for quirky sidekick roles (which she fulfills very well). I read the book and when the film came out I was flabbergasted by the power of this story. The culture of pandering to star athletes has come under increasing fire in our region as collegiate recruiting scandals and jock rapes, pro sport criminal behavior, and high school bullying are exposed. Too bad film makers didn't see fit to keep this story in the public eye.
Surprisingly good
Jake-469 August 2005
I have seen similar movies several times before, so I didn't really have high hopes before I started watching it. But can admit it was a really good movie, and much better than expected. Heather Matarazzo does a wonderful job as the "victim", and it is easy for us to put ourselves in her situation. She just wants other people to like her...Ally Sheedy does a good job and I was also impressed by the girls mother, played by Sara Botsford. I am not surprised to see this was based on a true story, it was very believable; most people in Glen Ridge believed "their" guys, and of course they can't do anything like this. I am afraid similar things happen every day all over the world :(
Great film about a rape by jocks in a close-nit town
KRJ5488 August 2003
This is one of best movies about rape that I have ever seen. I usually do not watch movies about rape since Lifetime shows the same, typically-scripted ones with predictable endings. But this one was quite exceptional. Heather was outstanding in her performance, and the writers were firm at portraying the snobby, reckless, middle-class boys as the gods of the sports-oriented school; then there's that outcasted punk-looking guy that supported Ally's character in understanding the town's fascination with the jocks; and the African-American boy whose honesty was twisted into betrayal, leaving him socially and racially outcasted in the town.
I really enjoy the small-town suburbia chemistry because there are places like that around the country, so this movie makes you more aware of that, and that no matter how bad people turn against you, it's always best to stick to the truth and to fight for justice.
Rating: 9/10
I really enjoy the small-town suburbia chemistry because there are places like that around the country, so this movie makes you more aware of that, and that no matter how bad people turn against you, it's always best to stick to the truth and to fight for justice.
Rating: 9/10
GRINGO(white boys AGAIN)thinking with money etc they can get OVER but i am happy they got caught.i live not too far from there)
domincanredangel4 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
hola.hi everyone i was just watching this again NOT on DVD yet but was filmed in the mid 1990's i think and i loved it,sad movie ally sheedy eric stoltz,girl who also played slow"leslie"the mentally handicap girl was a good actress in this.the fact you are playing "ball and parents got some loot"do not make you immune from receiving justice. so i was glad to see they FINALLY WERE all found guilty and i loved seeing their faces in the end.
actually i just watch this movie i live maybe 15 or so min away and this area where the rape occurred so brutally is a great looking manicured town nestle on beautiful quiet residential tree lined street.great school well except these four to five pigs who hurt her.sad.and she still live there in her mid thirties now the daughter.and all are out of prison what true a--holes... Jerks,they think with money white money bags parents they were going to beat this but they did not and i love that part MOST.
i hope they all burn in hell one day for what SIN they did to her.she was mentally challenged,and to use a broomstick and bat on her to sodomize etc. is wrong and i am glad though at least they were all convicted and did years in prison.
actually i just watch this movie i live maybe 15 or so min away and this area where the rape occurred so brutally is a great looking manicured town nestle on beautiful quiet residential tree lined street.great school well except these four to five pigs who hurt her.sad.and she still live there in her mid thirties now the daughter.and all are out of prison what true a--holes... Jerks,they think with money white money bags parents they were going to beat this but they did not and i love that part MOST.
i hope they all burn in hell one day for what SIN they did to her.she was mentally challenged,and to use a broomstick and bat on her to sodomize etc. is wrong and i am glad though at least they were all convicted and did years in prison.
Life in that town
bluetones52525 March 2008
I have to admit, I haven't seen the movie yet. I used to live in Glen Ridge. Graduated from the High School there. HATED the jock mentality. It was pervasive... it got under your skin and left you feeling 'dirty'. I had also been in another high school before, but didn't run across the elevation that the jocks received from everywhere in that town.
When I 1st heard about the incident, (I had graduated a few years before... I didn't know any of the people directly involved,) I hate to admit it, but the thing that came to my mind was: "Of course." And: "Where else, but there?" It sickened me, but (even scarier,) didn't surprise me.
The defense's argument that the rape was excusable because of where they came from, itself was inexcusable. But, again, typical of the town and it's attitude.
They deserved every punishment thrown at them by the courts and then some. And the lawyers should have gotten punished too. I wish there was some way to shift the towns view, but after reading the post earlier from a young woman who still lives in the town, I can't help but think that things haven't changed.
Do I go back for the reunions? I'm thinking.... not.
When I 1st heard about the incident, (I had graduated a few years before... I didn't know any of the people directly involved,) I hate to admit it, but the thing that came to my mind was: "Of course." And: "Where else, but there?" It sickened me, but (even scarier,) didn't surprise me.
The defense's argument that the rape was excusable because of where they came from, itself was inexcusable. But, again, typical of the town and it's attitude.
They deserved every punishment thrown at them by the courts and then some. And the lawyers should have gotten punished too. I wish there was some way to shift the towns view, but after reading the post earlier from a young woman who still lives in the town, I can't help but think that things haven't changed.
Do I go back for the reunions? I'm thinking.... not.
A Perspective From a "GlenRidger"
downhilllyf91128 October 2006
I never really thought of seeing this movie, because I thought it would spoil my perfect, picturesque vision of Glen Ridhe, the town I live in. I love my town and I have a lot of amazing friends, and I hang out at the local hot spots. But this really opened my eyes. Sports is a huge influence on popularity at Glen Ridge. I am not very athletic but I am one of the two or three lucky ones who are popular for a reason other than athleticism. The male athletes are, needless to say, Gods, and having one of them as your boyfriend is a ticket to popularity. Living in Glen Ridge and knowing the atmosphere makes it almost obvious that something like this would happen. Even the parents, teachers and police officers look up to these jocks. It is now starting to spread to girls. Please see this movie- it shows a typical suburban small town at a different, and eye opening angle.
An underrated story. v1.01
annevejb7 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
A response after my first viewing.
Get to know Dollhouse, it seemed sense to get to know more early Heather Matarazzo and this and 54 were the ones I found that I did not already have.
Dollhouse of 1995 as magnificent, despite Heather not having developed mature acting ways at that stage. My Guys feels mature.
My Guys looks at difficult subjects head on. But I also found it to be very approachable. I have to respect this, as I respect Dollhouse.
*
This is looking at a real life case. With what looks like a bit of prettying up.
Move away from the abuse that is shown, interpret this story in terms of the abuse that the dispossessed have received, particularly since 1980 and 1995, then to me this story takes on additional power. If Dollhouse was saying something that I could relate to indirectly then this is much closer to home.
Heather's character, Leslie Faber, is abused by the prestige students of her school, but it really goes a whole lot further than that. There are glimpses of how she is really being abused by the wider society. Neat that the main individual who works to solve this is Alley Sheedy, the 'lost girl' of The Breakfast Club. That this is solved, that the courts do not end up by victimising the victim, says something that can appear as strange and unreal to me. I find this to be a very relevant story for dispossessed who are effectively some sort of girlie, be it symbolic girlie or trans girlie or originally girlie. There are a lot of us who have been in equivalents to what Heather portrays so well, trouble largely due to symbolic sports players.
*
Guilt. Talk of the guilty as maybe facing 40 years of jail. A sentence of 15 years. Are these real or symbolic? Their behaviour from the start talks to me of an equivalent to symbolic 40/15 or 15 being active and, surprise, surprise, them not having a clue about how to cope. Infamous (2006) gives a strong picture of guilt as interpreted from a 1950's perspective, two stray pets falling into big, big traps, one of them being a very obedient sort of pet. Meantime, the writer Capote appears to have sort of died at the same time, 40/15?, he would have had the same trouble today.
The story shows the guys as having guilt and this is a real life scenario. I am very used to scenarios such as when Leslie is led into apparent guilt. Also of when the guilt is totally a paint job. Also when guilt seems not the appropriate word. This story including such variations makes it more real, to me.
My past makes me wonder how much free will the individuals in the real situation will have had. Not much. Do these penalties assume free will and act in a way that does not help free will to grow, at all? Deprivation and hunger rather than nursery school / kindergarten? The crime was horror crime, to me the penalties can seem to make justice more distant. I consider that the question of guilt is actually an unknown in that case, despite the protesters and the comments shown on screen. They carried out the crime, yes. A better world implies better judicial ways?
The ways of the lawyers for the defence, for the defence lawyer from the earlier case, should make me pessimistic. This is a world that is very far from justice.
I have to rate this story highly. I have to rate Heather highly for appearing in this and Dollhouse, though this makes me grateful for Princess Diaries, just because of the different, maybe, content.
*
54 (1998) has some parallels with Our Guys (1999) and Dollhouse (1995).
It is a milder sort of lost-ness that is involved, not that the story is milder. Shane (Ryan Phillippe) needs to break free to a different world. Heather, looking older and different, as one of his sisters, part of his old world. Neve Campbell as his hero, she appears to have broken free from the old world. Ho, ho.
Get to know Dollhouse, it seemed sense to get to know more early Heather Matarazzo and this and 54 were the ones I found that I did not already have.
Dollhouse of 1995 as magnificent, despite Heather not having developed mature acting ways at that stage. My Guys feels mature.
My Guys looks at difficult subjects head on. But I also found it to be very approachable. I have to respect this, as I respect Dollhouse.
*
This is looking at a real life case. With what looks like a bit of prettying up.
Move away from the abuse that is shown, interpret this story in terms of the abuse that the dispossessed have received, particularly since 1980 and 1995, then to me this story takes on additional power. If Dollhouse was saying something that I could relate to indirectly then this is much closer to home.
Heather's character, Leslie Faber, is abused by the prestige students of her school, but it really goes a whole lot further than that. There are glimpses of how she is really being abused by the wider society. Neat that the main individual who works to solve this is Alley Sheedy, the 'lost girl' of The Breakfast Club. That this is solved, that the courts do not end up by victimising the victim, says something that can appear as strange and unreal to me. I find this to be a very relevant story for dispossessed who are effectively some sort of girlie, be it symbolic girlie or trans girlie or originally girlie. There are a lot of us who have been in equivalents to what Heather portrays so well, trouble largely due to symbolic sports players.
*
Guilt. Talk of the guilty as maybe facing 40 years of jail. A sentence of 15 years. Are these real or symbolic? Their behaviour from the start talks to me of an equivalent to symbolic 40/15 or 15 being active and, surprise, surprise, them not having a clue about how to cope. Infamous (2006) gives a strong picture of guilt as interpreted from a 1950's perspective, two stray pets falling into big, big traps, one of them being a very obedient sort of pet. Meantime, the writer Capote appears to have sort of died at the same time, 40/15?, he would have had the same trouble today.
The story shows the guys as having guilt and this is a real life scenario. I am very used to scenarios such as when Leslie is led into apparent guilt. Also of when the guilt is totally a paint job. Also when guilt seems not the appropriate word. This story including such variations makes it more real, to me.
My past makes me wonder how much free will the individuals in the real situation will have had. Not much. Do these penalties assume free will and act in a way that does not help free will to grow, at all? Deprivation and hunger rather than nursery school / kindergarten? The crime was horror crime, to me the penalties can seem to make justice more distant. I consider that the question of guilt is actually an unknown in that case, despite the protesters and the comments shown on screen. They carried out the crime, yes. A better world implies better judicial ways?
The ways of the lawyers for the defence, for the defence lawyer from the earlier case, should make me pessimistic. This is a world that is very far from justice.
I have to rate this story highly. I have to rate Heather highly for appearing in this and Dollhouse, though this makes me grateful for Princess Diaries, just because of the different, maybe, content.
*
54 (1998) has some parallels with Our Guys (1999) and Dollhouse (1995).
It is a milder sort of lost-ness that is involved, not that the story is milder. Shane (Ryan Phillippe) needs to break free to a different world. Heather, looking older and different, as one of his sisters, part of his old world. Neve Campbell as his hero, she appears to have broken free from the old world. Ho, ho.
Very Interesting Film-Mysterious
eurocamb_int6 March 2000
The film is really great. It shows both the positive and negative effect when we're telling the truth. What will happen to my friend if i reveal the truth about them. Will i ever have another friend. Will I hurt my other friends who trying to help me? - I think these questions is very difficult to respond to especially if you're the one who being put in the same situation as Leslie in the film. I personally really like the film a lot, it shows me the desire of friendship when you're alone, isolated from everyone emotionally because they think you're not part of the group, and i do see this happen a lot especially in the school community and also mostly in a teens environment. I'm every into film making, and i wish to be a film maker in the future years. Thank You
One of the Best TV Movies EVER!!!
ctymole124 May 1999
I think Heather Matarazzo is one of the most aspiring young actresses and I think she did an excellent job portraying a 'mentally retarded' girl in Our Guys. I think they should air this movie again or sell it on tape. Everyone should watch it. It is at times depressing and at times uplifting. Despite only being a 15 year old girl, I really felt for the main character and I truly wish that nobody has to go through what she did in the future.
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