An Open Secret (2014)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Perfectly adorable

Crappy film

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

SPOILERS* This need to be watched, viewed, discussed. It puts a human angle on an inhuman subject and I am grateful it exists. It's not an objective documentary as none possibly can be, but it does allow for either side to be addressed. It covers many angles, those of the accused, the victims, the families. It shows what life can happen after for those who have suffered abuse, though all incredibly brave and tenacious. This past year (2017/2018) has taken a real gleam and shine away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood -with claims of adult abuse by high up Hollywood executives and actors. This documentary really touches on that same topical subject, though not of adults, but of children. It deals with grooming, managers, entertainers, both TV and film and the innocent victims of children and families who wanted to believe in good people in the land of opportunity.Up until recently and even as an adult, I couldn't even begin to fathom that Hollywood would attract those to exploit ambition and talent. They were all in it to work collaboratively, to push the boundaries, to collectively and artistically change the world, right? I write scripts, I idolise directors, I applaud film writers. But I think the mirage has finally dissipated for me now.I guess it should for everyone because it's that mirage that reels in both the idealistic and the hunters. That is the point. It is the land of opportunity, but sometimes that comes at a cost- a cost that should not be present, cannot be regulated and continues to act above the law. It is terrifying to think how high it goes. If any of you have seen The Keepers- it was all rather familiar to that. Though this time, the power was the dream of making it and the fear of not, the Archdiocese was nowhere to be found.I found this harder to watch than I anticipated. Perhaps not only due to the content and theme but the injustice of it all, the lives ruined and the lack of retribution. I really do thank the filmmakers for taking the time and effort to make such a sensitive and balanced piece, for the victims who have spoken out and all those who were interviewed in it (well, bar one- you know who). It's important to keep this dialogue current, as it seems, it is not going anywhere- thank God we live in times now where we can at least have an independent documentary about it.

I give 10/10 to this documentary, although I don't think it was as revealing as it could be. However, I really believe it was an important contribution to the area of documentaries, an honest work and a risky project too. The framework of this documentary is this: We are introduced to some young men that used to be actors in television or films from a very young age, at the same time we experience how did they got into the hollywood industry. Also, we hear their parents speaking, and describing the way that some well-known, rich men in the industry came very close to these children and in their families, present themselves as "trustworthy" friends. The film is based on interviews and some backtrack scenes which help us understand what happened in certain moments, when their managers, producers, became their predators. The film exposes some of these powerful men, who in their case are already accused of sexual abuse in the past. This documentary is a moment of truth, revealing the true identity of Hollywood and those who control it. Of course it is mentioned that this is only the tip of the iceberg. What does this mean? That it happens so often, so regurarly that is part of the job, it is part of the Hollywood price. It means its scale is countless. We can only refer to exploitation, abuse, rough treatment and fear only with one phrase: it's an OPEN SECRET. What has been a true surprise and an ideal ending scene, is the phone dialogue between the child actor's manager and the young man in the other line of the phone. In the end of the day, justice does not sentence the real criminals. They sentence justice to non-existence.

This film explores a dynamite subject with extra care and precision. Other comments here are reasonable. The film only goes so far, and it is pretty careful. Its attitude is nearly perfect. I knocked off one point for the film's not trying to show how heterosexual culture is always grooming the kids for participation later, and the gay culture therefore has made some mistakes trying to invent a way forward in secret. The film is only talking about issues concerning the effects of male pedophiles in Hollywood, and can't cover everything. What they cover is done pretty well, and that's saying a lot for a topic which often can bring more anger or confusion or circumlocution than understanding. That's surely true of heterosexual pedophilia and exploitation of young adult women in Hollywood too. Probably some of the unhealthy interest in exploiting children and young adult women was incubated in persons whose sexual development occurred in an atmosphere of fear and secrecy, or too much privilege and not enough guidance. Watching this film might help many persons avoid mistakes in behavior and mistakes in interpretation. It could help parents and the public form and implement better oversight without being too intrusive.

The documentary about child abuse in Hollywood. It was laid out mostly like a conversation featuring former child actors, their parents and a few professionals on the subject telling their stories about how kids are targeted by pedophiles in the business, some of which were never convicted and still work in the industry todayIt's one of those subjects that should not be swept under the rug but exposed like a nerve for the world to see so things can be done about it. The movie is a little bit one sided however, as it focuses on only little boys who'd gone through sexual abuse as actors, and it neglects children as a whole. The movie talks about how pedophiles don't gender discriminate between boy and girls than apologizes for only using male subjects. But I noticed that the movie actually focus on one target, mainly a case that happen in the late 90s and everyone connected to that case including Bryan singer director of X-Men was pointed out ( I had previous knowledge of the case as a boy tried to sue singer some time ago for sexual misconduct)So the documentary does get a conversation going which is great but as a documentary I did not find it well rounded enough I must admit.