The Accused (1988)

Who payed the critics

The greatest movie ever!

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The Accused has three things that make it great: Kelly McGillis, Jodie Foster, and a case where lots of the blame is placed upon the victim. You must look at your own principles and see just how far in the wrong all the parties were, and the two leads make sure you think long and hard.Jodie Foster may be a child star, but this movie was her breakout role as an adult. Sure she did Taxi Driver before she was even a teenager, but in this we get the next stage of Jodie Foster. And out of all the roles in her illustrious career, I honestly think that her performance as Sarah Tobias stands as her best. Even better than Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs. Sure Silence is a better film than The Accused, but looking at both of Foster's performances it is clear that Sarah comes out superior. While Foster was the standout and the movie as a whole did receive praise, I just wish that there was more praise towards Kelly McGillis. She actually was a victim of rape when she was was young and initially wanted the part of Sarah. But she does just fine as the determined prosecutor Kathryn Murphy. Jodie Foster isn't that much better than McGillis. She is, but just by a little bit. McGillis plays the role with such conviction and power. So the general story of The Accused is a trashy young woman gets gang-raped in the back of a bar after they all get drunk, so she gets a lawyer to bring justice. The max that the rapers will get is 5 years in jail, but they will likely get out in less than a year. This is because since all the parties got drunk and Sarah was practically putting on a sleazy sex show, so she arguably instigated and provoked her own rape. I'm not siding with the perps or sympathizing with them, but she needed to be the one to control how much alcohol and pot she consumed. She is pretty low-class so she must know that creeps hang out in bars, she must have experience. But this movie is trying to say that no matter what, rape is NOT okay. The other part of the case deals with the hecklers who cheered while the rape was in session. Those guys get put behind bars, and the actual rapers get the full sentence. The lawyer that defends the hecklers is incredibly stupid as I just kept saying "Duuuuhhhhh!!" every time he finished a sentence. It is also during this last act when a flashback of the rape is shown through the honest eyes of an onlooker too scared to intervene. Even if law does not interest you, watch it just for Kelly McGillis and Jodie Foster.

The Accused is a powerful movie to educate the ignorant world about the law. The movie focuses on the fact that it is not only a crime to commit a rape, but it also a crime to induce, persuade, and convince a person to continue or and commit a rape. The second thing that this true story focused on was, no matter how you dress, how you act, how many lovers you've had, how you talk, or where you live, you deserve a fair trial, fair treatment, and justice like anyone else. The most brilliant thing about this film is they showed the actual rape scene. Once you see it, you have a whole new perspective on things.Foster received a well-deserved Oscar as her fearless performance of Sarah. There is a graphic rape scene towards the closing of the film that is to be expected since the main theme of this film is about the outcomes of a terrible and vicious rape. McGillis's character seeks justice from the men who raped her in a downtown bar and even goes after the men who watched and cheered on the rape and did nothing to stop it. Tom Topor wrote the outstanding screenplay. His heroine is not a clean cut responsible person but a flawed woman trying to make a living and a life. This is more realistic than other films that would have a perfect Sarah.Once you've seen this movie, you'll never forget it. It's no wonder Foster won an Oscar for this movie.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

After a young woman (Jodie Foster) suffers a brutal rape in a bar one night, a prosecutor (Kelly McGillis) assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack.First of all, is this Foster's worst haircut ever? Yes. The answer is yes. But that is really beside the point.We know the classic story: someone is assaulted and then their personal life, their alcohol habits, their outfit come into question. That story is well-known. But this film takes it a step further: what about those who witness a crime and refuse to stop it, possibly even encouraging it? An interesting legal question, to be sure. But how will it play out in court? And does the way it plays out in the film mirror how it would go in real life? I suppose these are some philosophical, legal questions.

As for plot and theme, several more interesting court-related dramas have been made before and after -- although it is based on real events. Moreover, there are no distinguishing actors or actresses apart from Foster; even Kelly McGillis is just average. The issue is painful and the movie gives food for thought (it is said the rape was first openly discussed in the movie in question), but the outcome was predictable and there were no sudden twists in the events. This is not the movie you will watch over and over again and find new angles and nuances. Recommended to fans of Foster and/or strong female characters.