Rating: 
Summary: Powerful, sad, tragic. Matthew we miss you!!!
Review: The 1998 gay hate crime murder of, Matthew Shepard, really hurt many people around the world, including myself. The very fact that this sweet young man, so slight in height and weight, with an angelic face could be kidnapped by two idiot kids, tied to a spit rail wooden fence and pistol whipped and tortured until his skull was literally bashed with fractures, and then left there to die, tied to that fence for 18 hours in the near freezing temperatures until a bicyclist came upon him. Matthew was at this time, in a coma, and for 4 days the world watched, waited, and hoped he would recover. Matthew did not. He died October 12th, 1998 in the hospital.This film, through a series of massive interviews with the residents of this town, is done in a documentary style, with the actors repeating the words collected in those interviews.It is very well made, very powerful and also very very sad. They filmed this in the actual town. You get to see the inside of the bar Matt was in before his abduction, as well as the college he attended, the rail fence he was tied to (THANK GOD NO MURDER IS RE-CREATED HERE), as well as the actual courtroom the trial took place at.Hopefully, people who are homophobic can see by watching this film, people are people--no matter if they are of a different race or sexual orientation.We all need to stand UNITED, encourage state laws to include zero tolerance of gay hate crimes.Matthew Shepard did not deserve to die. If anything good can come from such an evil thing that happened, let's hope this movie can open some eyes and we can stop the hate and innocent people being murdered.
Rating:
Summary: Educational And Moving Film About the Hate Crime Aftermath
Review: The Emmy and Golden Globe nominated "The Laramie Project" is a powerful film that originally aired in October, 2001. Its deep words and theme have the intensity to keep audiences watching every scene closely. This true story educates people on why hate is not a human virtue and what society can do to stop it. The story of what happened to Matthew Shephard on October 7, 1998 is slowly told by people in the town of Laramie, where the murder happened. Five people from New York City interview 200 town citizens searching for the truth. However, the film isn't about his murder; this is about Laramie, Wyoming. The writers brilliantly distinguish the plot. Every character interviewed has their own view of homosexuality and homophobia. Their words, especially the homophobic ones, are shocking. Meanwhile, their stories take audiences to the events as they were occurring between October 7-12, 1998, Shephard's funeral, and the court dates for his killers. Every raw emotion has the realisms that asides this film from many others. The unique camera effects wonderfully desplict the ugliness and fear of the horrifying events. The real news clips are great necessities that prove how real it is. Every member of the large acting cast performed their role beautifully: Oscar nominees Peter Fonda and Laura Linney, Camryn Manheim, Christina Ricci, Clea DuVall, Joshua Jackson, Ben Foster, Steve Buscemi, Janeane Garofalo, and more. Every actor added their own sense of theme into the film, enlightening or discouraging. Such film quality makes "The Laramie Project" worth watching many times. This is great to show to families to teach them why hate crutially needs to stop today.
Rating:
Summary: Educational And Moving Film About the Hate Crime Aftermath
Review: The Emmy and Golden Globe nominated "The Laramie Project" is a powerful film that originally aired in October, 2001. Its deep words and theme have the intensity to keep audiences watching every scene closely. This true story educates people on why hate is not a human virtue and what society can do to stop it. The story of what happened to Matthew Shephard on October 7, 1998 is slowly told by people in the town of Laramie, where the murder happened. Five people from New York City interview 200 town citizens searching for the truth. However, the film isn't about his murder; this is about Laramie, Wyoming. The writers brilliantly distinguish the plot. Every character interviewed has their own view of homosexuality and homophobia. Their words, especially the homophobic ones, are shocking. Meanwhile, their stories take audiences to the events as they were occurring between October 7-12, 1998, Shephard's funeral, and the court dates for his killers. Every raw emotion has the realisms that asides this film from many others. The unique camera effects wonderfully desplict the ugliness and fear of the horrifying events. The real news clips are great necessities that prove how real it is. Every member of the large acting cast performed their role beautifully: Oscar nominees Peter Fonda and Laura Linney, Camryn Manheim, Christina Ricci, Clea DuVall, Joshua Jackson, Ben Foster, Steve Buscemi, Janeane Garofalo, and more. Every actor added their own sense of theme into the film, enlightening or discouraging. Such film quality makes "The Laramie Project" worth watching many times. This is great to show to families to teach them why hate crutially needs to stop today.
Rating: 
Summary: Laramie Project: Designed for the stage. Film did good job.
Review: The film of the highly accredited play was, in my opinion as effective as a film could be. I personally think that this show is only effective on a theatrical stage. There are very few bad things I would say about this movie. I am a huge fan of the play as a piece of amazing theatre and there are A LOT of cuts from the play as far as the dialogue goes, but nothing that upset me too much. My major argument with the movie is some severe miscasting on the part of Jedidiah Shultz(played in the film by someone much older than the written character and a little too neurotic for me) and, of course, the mistake of casting Joshua Jackson as any other character outside his Pacey-esque, mediocre abilities.
The Laramie Project is an incredibly sculpted piece of dramatic literature that is truly at it's most effective when on stage. I highly recommend any person who has seen the movie, to find a staged version of it and go see it NOW! Then you will see the true magnitude of this piece of art. Each monologue is artistically and beautifully intertwined with the next to open your eyes to world of this enriching and captivating story of a town and it's defenses and reactions to the severe beating of a gay college student. I think the film was very well done, considering the cut a lot of the already incredibly sculpted dialogue. I did enjoy that Moises Kaufman, the writer, directed it so that he did what needed to be done: Tell the story. What I LOVE about the play, and not so much the movie, is that it shows the story from equal view points and doesn't give you a biased view. It's easy for us as a society to blam the town of Laramie and call it a day. But with The Laramie Project you can sympathize and sometimes agree with a lot the people of Laramie...instead of immediately attacking them as redneck bigots like the media warped our minds to think. You see all of the angles of the story, and they are each given an equal chance to speak there minds and opinions. Some, you are still going to hate, but there is a truth and realness to it.
I really recomend those who have not yet read the play read it...but most importantly, if you see The Laramie Project being put on anywhere near you, go west young man and see it. I promise you...your life will be changed.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Project
Review: The first thing that made me want to watch this movie was the layout of the DVD cover and its large ensemble cast.The Laramie Project is a story of a town trying to cope with the aftermath of a young homosexual man who was beaten to death by two local youths. As I said the DVD cover, with it's great photos of the large ensemble cast was the very first thing that made me check this movie out. I am attracted to films that have a large cast in it and this one was no exception. Everyone in this film had something going on for them; they signed on to this project not because they just wanted to work with other people but, they signed on to this because they belived in it so much. Each person had their time to shine. I felt that this film is one big monologue of the same idea. Each actor/actresses were given a monologue and had to present them and each and everyone of them presented their parts perfectly. I cannot even imagine how big this cast was. It's truly something to be seen. The editing and music of the film is great and so is the story. I belive that there is at least one charatcer in the movie that a viewer can relate to. I felt like I was looking through a telescope and watching these people just present their souls to you. It's very intimate and real, and you feel like you are part of the whole story. Overall, if you like movies that are dramatic, real and one that has an enormous amount of actors/actresses who want to make a good film, then The Laramie Project is the one for you. GO CHECK IT OUT.
Rating:
Summary: Sober exploration of bigotry and hatred
Review: THE LARAMIE PROJECT (USA 2002): Following the murder of Matthew Shepard by a couple of homophobic thugs in the nondescript town of Laramie, Wyoming, a theater troupe descends on the area and questions residents, politicians, doctors and police officers in an effort to probe the circumstances which led to this appalling crime. When 21 year old Matthew Shepard was murdered by Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney in October 1998, it seemed like the culmination of a ceaseless conservative crusade against the so-called 'gay lifestyle' (whatever that means). For some, Matthew's death had been facilitated by the ongoing propagation of hatred which flourishes unchecked in every aspect of our daily lives, and which found its ultimate grim expression in the beating, torture and near-crucifixion of a virtually defenseless gay man. The killing prompted a national outpouring of grief and anger, fuelled by a media campaign that seemed more concerned with gaining mileage from a juicy story than challenging the attitudes which had given rise to this event in the first place. THE LARAMIE PROJECT - which began life as a stageplay created by the Tectonic Theater Project in New York, using the actual words of Laramie residents instead of 'dialogue' - attempts to redress the balance by probing the causes and consequences of bigotry, and the deep-rooted feelings of those most affected by the murder. It's a heartfelt debut from Tectonic founder and artistic director Moises Kaufman. Interviewees include friends and colleagues of Matthew, the investigating police officers, the doctors who cared for him during the coma which preceded his death, and those whose religious convictions appear to have clouded their judgment and humanity (in one appalling sequence, a mealy-mouthed reverend [Michael Emerson] expresses sympathy for the victim, whilst simultaneously hoping that Matthew spent his last conscious moments reflecting on his 'lifestyle'). Presented in mock-documentary format, in which the 'characters' are portrayed by an all-star cast of familiar faces (including Steve Buscemi, Amy Madigan, Laura Linney, Christina Ricci and Frances Sternhagen, amongst many others), Kaufman's film offers a platform to those on both sides of the debate, though the filmmakers' own liberal outlook is plainly obvious throughout. But, in taking a stand against fundamentalist attitudes, THE LARAMIE PROJECT seeks to demonstrate the flaws in extremist viewpoints. In other words, those with bigoted opinions are given enough rope to hang themselves, and some of them leap head-first into the noose. Thankfully, Fred Phelps and his satanic crew - who rubbed salt into a festering wound by protesting against 'fags' during Matthew's funeral - are reduced to little more than an unwelcome guest appearance, during which they're confronted by a host of silent, accusing townsfolk dressed as angels... Reluctant to shrink from uncomfortable truths, the film is not afraid to tackle the thorny issue of Matthew's HIV status and the small - but significant - part it played during the fall-out from this terrible event (notably, the devastating consequences for one of the police officers who was first to arrive at the scene of the crime), but that hasn't prevented some critics from questioning the film's 'narrow' liberal viewpoint. For instance, is homophobia and AIDS more deserving of such a high-profile movie than any number of similar social ills? No, but no one ever complained about high-profile movies which (quite rightly) denounce racism! And while prominent actors may not be lining up to star in powerful dramas about cancer (for example), those afflicted by cancer are hardly likely to encounter discrimination at state and governmental level because of their 'lifestyle choices', with little more than begrudging tolerance for their medical welfare. Secondly, the film is accused in some quarters of being a patronising diatribe, in which a bunch of 'backwoods hicks' are taught the error of their ways by 'omniscient and enlightened Californians' (as one skeptical Internet reviewer has complained). Only the townspeople themselves can confirm or deny this particular accusation, though the Tectonic Theater Project mounted a special performance of the stageplay in Laramie itself which didn't seem to generate any controversy. Other questions are not so easy to dismiss: Was the country really so outraged by Matthew's death, or was the controversy generated by little more than a media frenzy? After all, despite the platitudes expressed at the time, little has changed in the intervening years with regards to hate crimes legislation. In some ways, this is hardly surprising, since most politicians find it expedient to pacify an alignment of fanatical religious bigots. If nothing else, THE LARAMIE PROJECT reminds us to guard against prejudice and hatred wherever it manifests itself, to derive inspiration from the likes of Matthew Shepard, and - most importantly - to honor the fallen. As a film, 'Laramie' (which opened the Sundance Film Festival in 2002) is an impressive achievement; Kaufman has brought his considerable skills as a theater director to bear on a much broader cinematic canvas. It's mostly talking heads, of course, but there's an urgency in the telling which might have been lost in a straightforward documentary presentation. Ultra-professional in all departments, and acted with conviction by a sterling cast, the movie is thought-provoking and poignant, and inspires confidence that all is not lost in the battle against ignorance. HBO's DVD includes a couple of small featurettes about the film and the stageplay which preceded it, a text-only 'Making of', and filmographies for the principal cast and crew. A modest package, but worthwhile nonetheless. 94m 53s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
[Fullscreen 1.33:1 version also included]
DVD soundtracks: Dolby 5.1/Dolby Surround 2.0
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1
Rating:
Summary: A Noble Effort
Review: The Laramie Project was an innovative way to tell the Mathew Sheppard story. The script of the film was based on transcripts of over 200 interviews of people in Laramie, Wyoming regarding the Matthew Sheppard case. While I applaud the idea, the film didn't work for me. Maybe on stage the interview-transcript format is more engaging, but as a film, the whole thing feels very unauthentic and a bit boring. The sad yet interesting story of the town of Laramie and Matthew Sheppard would have probably been better served by more traditional documentary film.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: the whimsical music in the background really detracted from this movie, especially considering the subject matter. that combined with the editing gave it the feeling of a long commercial. it's too bad, because the material was facinating. if the movie was made up of authentic footage, it would have been an incredible documentary.
Rating:
Summary: Made me cry
Review: There were just scenes in the movie that made me start crying. and it was just an amazing and beautiful experience. Forget some of the bad acting, overall the movie was just fabulous. The ending was beautiful too, and such a touching way to end it without it being overkill. You just have to watch this movie, it'll make you cry.
Rating: 
Summary: A well done project
Review: This film was enlightening and VERY powerful. It helps us see how complex any single event can become and how differant the ways we respond as humans are. I was touched and deeply moved by the emotion in this film and found myself drawn in totally. Buy it and get moved.
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