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The Accused [1988]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Jodie Foster won her first Oscar for her role in The Accused (1988), based on an actual incident. While out for a night of fun at a poolroom, before her character knows what's happening she finds that the men she's been flirting with have pinned her down for a gang rape. The story centres on the efforts of a district attorney (Kelly McGillis) to press her case, in spite of a wall of silence by the participants--and then to take the unusual step of going after the witnesses as accomplices. Foster is outstanding as a tough, blue-collar woman who persists in what seems like an unwinnable case, despite the prospect of character assassination for standing up for herself. --Marshall Fine


Really made an impact!
Review date: 2008-01-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

A fantastic film, very well acted and the rape scene is one I shall never forget, it just made me cringe and that probably meant how realistic it actually looked! It is said that Jodie Foster actually passed out when filming that scene and I'm sure it was very difficult for the male actors to play their parts, but nevertheless an important film showing just how horrific these acts are.
Jodie Foster was amazing in it and well deserved her oscar!

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Reviews


Controversial Film
Review date: 2007-07-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

I remember this being somewhat of a controversial film when it came out, probably because the rape scene was too graphic for many people. The subject of rape, in itself, is not new to films so it must have been the way it was presented. (I am writing this from memory.) I do remember the scene as extremely uncomfortable to watch.

In a nutshell, Jodie Foster plays a woman, "Sarah Tobias" who goes looking for trouble in a bar and gets much more than she bargained for, being gang-raped on top of a pinball machine. She then goes to court to prosecute the men involved.

This was an out-and-out "women's lib movie" and since they are given favorable press by the politically-correct media, the film got extra publicity. Even for feminists, though, this story has too many holes in it to be as credible as we would like it to be. The had a female prosecutor, of course, and Kelly McGillis just didn't cut it in that role, just not convincing. Also, with Hollywood, when you hear "based" on a true story, you know facts will be few and far between and the dramatic parts will be very exaggerated. None of this implies, by the way, that the victim deserved what she got. In fact, I hope some women learned from this movie and never put themselves in a spot where something horrific like this could happen. Alcohol and sex desires are a lethal combination and a bar with a number of drunks is not where you want to start arousing people.

Brilliant drama with first class acting.
Review date: 2006-05-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film by Jonathan Kaplan is remarkable and truly captivating. I've seen this film a number of times and I still can't get enough of it. This is deeply moving and extremely captivating.

It tells the story of Sarah Tobias (a magnificent Jodie Foster) who is gang raped in a bar full of people drinking and playing video games. This whole scene was witnessed by a college student who notifies the police from a call box. Soon a District Attorney, Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis), takes up her case with relish and manages to convict the ones that did it. After that, she decides to bring the ones who encouraged the whole rape to justice and with the eventual help of the star witness, Kenneth Joyce (Bernie Coulson), she puts them away for a long time.

What makes this film work on so many levels, is its power to get the viewer involved and to believe in the victim of the case. Also it has a warmth and charm about it. Baring in mind the film deals with the subject of rape, it shows it in a raw, intense and moving way when shown in the courtroom scene.

The main performance of Sarah Tobias is staggeringly played by Jodie Foster who gives the character something to believe in and fight about. The viewer can truly believe in her pain and anguish she's going through. Kelly McGillis and Bernie Coulson give excellent support and the subject is handled brilliantly by the director, Jonathan Kaplan and is quite staggering.

I thought that the score by Brad Fiedel was very moody and atmospheric with refreshing hints of lightness sprinkled in the mix. There are some extremely moving scenes where Sarah is on the phone to her mother when she comes home from the hospital and when Sarah is in her hospital bed when Kathryn visits her that are enhanced by the soft sound of the piano and keyboards of the score. This is one of the best films that I've seen.

A performance of a lifetime
Review date: 2004-08-02 Rating: 8 out of 10

Upon seeing this film the one thing that sticks in your mind is the raw brave performance from Foster. This film was at a make or break time in Fosters career and she didn't fail to show her ability to display her true talent. Kaplan's film isn't the best scripted and at times it appears as more of a documentary about the American legal system than a film however it is Fosters performance which makes this film memorable. Foster deservedly won an academy award for this film, and completely outshined the talented Kelly McGillis. During the intense gang rape scenes we see how truly commited Foster was to her cause to educate the public of the atrocities that take place, and after this film I am not alone in saying that value greatly her gumptian in accepting this role. This film like Monster is more of a gifted actor giving an in depth character study than a film, nevertheless it is a must see for anyone who deletes in watching and appreciating true acting talent

harrowing but compelling.
Review date: 2004-06-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

Jodie Foster won an Oscar for her portrayal of Sarah, a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks, who is gang raped in a bar after a drunken night out. Foster delivers a mesmerising performance as the traumatised victim fighting for justice against a system that has labelled her as 'worthless' due to her previous lifestyle. Kelly McGillis plays the district attorney who initially lets Sarah down and agrees to a plea bargain that Sarah doesn't want. When the realisation hits of what she has done, she fights to ensure the perpetraters of this brutal rape are brought to justice.
This is never an easy film to watch. The crime is too violent and the emotions too raw for that. The audience is left with a feeling of unease at the brutality of the crime and at the judicial system that is supposed to protect the innocent.It is however, a compelling film due to the outstanding performances of the lead actors and it cannot fail to touch and move the most hard hearted of viewer.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ann Hearn
Leo Rossi (II)
Kelly McGillis
Bernie Coulson
Jodie Foster

Creators:
Kelly McGillis (Primary Contributor)
Jodie Foster (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437822833
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-07-01
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1988-10-14
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Hungarian (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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