Review of The Laramie Project (2002) by Zane T — 03 Mar 2009

This might have worked on the stage, where resources are limited, but as a movie it seems to fail. Now, don't get me wrong, Matthew Shepard, was brutally tortured and died a death no one should. But this movie isn't about Shepard, it's about how his death affected the town.

Part of the problem with this movie is its casting. Bill Irwin, a comedian, delivers a dramatic monologue that screams "Award Show Clip." There's a whole subplot with Jeremy Davies and Camryn Manheim that seems like it belongs in a different movie.

Clea Duvall chews scenery, which is what she is good at. Amy Madigan stares a lot, like she did when Elia Kazan got the special Oscar. Only Laura Linney really gives a good performance as a woman who just doesn't understand what the big deal is.

Murder is murder, regardless. The scene in which people on the side of a street join in a parade would have been better made if the filmmakers just let it play rather than having voice over narration, the same for the scene in which Christina Ricci and her friends dress up as angels to stick it to Fred Phelps and his minions.

I really almost expected Keenan Ivory Wayans to pop up after each monologue and yell, "Message!".