In 1998, a gay college student was brutally murdered in a hate crime. His was a heartbreaking, tragic story, one that was tastelessly turned into two television movies in 2002: The Laramie Project and The Matthew Shepard Story. Wasn't his family put through enough, without being haunted with Hollywood renditions of the worst part of their lives?
In any case, I've seen both versions. The Laramie Project was shown to me in school, and I rented The Matthew Shepard Story solely for review purposes on Hot Toasty Rag. It stars Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing as the Shepards, and Shane Meier as Matthew. Most of the film is told in flashbacks from before his murder, but the first scene is a blurry, jump-shot rendition of the incident. As Sam and Stockard sit through the murder trial, they relive memories of their son and come to terms with his life and death. All in a ninety-minute TV-movie. How convenient.
If you're particularly passionate about this subject, you can rent one of the two Matthew Shepard movies, but it's far from an enjoyable film.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie is not your friend. During frequent flashback scenes, the camera blurs, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
In any case, I've seen both versions. The Laramie Project was shown to me in school, and I rented The Matthew Shepard Story solely for review purposes on Hot Toasty Rag. It stars Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing as the Shepards, and Shane Meier as Matthew. Most of the film is told in flashbacks from before his murder, but the first scene is a blurry, jump-shot rendition of the incident. As Sam and Stockard sit through the murder trial, they relive memories of their son and come to terms with his life and death. All in a ninety-minute TV-movie. How convenient.
If you're particularly passionate about this subject, you can rent one of the two Matthew Shepard movies, but it's far from an enjoyable film.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie is not your friend. During frequent flashback scenes, the camera blurs, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"