Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge

I think Heather Matarazzo is one of the most aspiring young actresses and I think she did an excellent job portraying a 'mentally retarded' girl in Our Guys. I think they should air this movie again or sell it on tape. Everyone should watch it. It is at times depressing and at times uplifting. Despite only being a 15 year old girl, I really felt for the main character and I truly wish that nobody has to go through what she did in the future.

I never really thought of seeing this movie, because I thought it would spoil my perfect, picturesque vision of Glen Ridhe, the town I live in. I love my town and I have a lot of amazing friends, and I hang out at the local hot spots. But this really opened my eyes. Sports is a huge influence on popularity at Glen Ridge. I am not very athletic but I am one of the two or three lucky ones who are popular for a reason other than athleticism. The male athletes are, needless to say, Gods, and having one of them as your boyfriend is a ticket to popularity. Living in Glen Ridge and knowing the atmosphere makes it almost obvious that something like this would happen. Even the parents, teachers and police officers look up to these jocks. It is now starting to spread to girls. Please see this movie- it shows a typical suburban small town at a different, and eye opening angle.

Do not be daunted by the sensational nature of the crime, depicted in this film. The director did not go for shock value. This film is sensitive and poignant despite the grotesque nature of the crime.

This is not your typical made for TV movie. For Heather Matarazzo's performance alone, put this film on your "must see" list. Since the producers used the real names of several perpetrators, I feel confident that the script must be very accurate. (Some of the guilty were shielded from public exposure due to their status as minors.) Most "based on a true story" movies take great liberties with facts, characters and events to make a more dramatic or cohesive film and I tend to dismiss them as entertainment, not documentary.

If you watch this film, I think you will be haunted by the protagonist long after the final credits.

Heather Matarazzo was fantastic in this movie, as well as "Welcome To The Dollhouse", both of which center around a young girl who's so desperate to have friends and fit in, even at the expense of her dignity. What really made me sick was not only what those football jerks did to that poor girl but the fact that the whole town believed their side of what happened, with the exception of Ally Sheedy, Eric Stoltz and the girl's parents. In the end, however, the truth finally came out and she got the justice she deserved. I think Heather did such a wonderful job in this movie. She has a lot of guts to agree to play a mentally challenged girl, and I really admire her for that.

I have to admit, I haven't seen the movie yet. I used to live in Glen Ridge. Graduated from the High School there. HATED the jock mentality. It was pervasive... it got under your skin and left you feeling 'dirty'. I had also been in another high school before, but didn't run across the elevation that the jocks received from everywhere in that town.

When I 1st heard about the incident, (I had graduated a few years before... I didn't know any of the people directly involved,) I hate to admit it, but the thing that came to my mind was: "Of course." And: "Where else, but there?" It sickened me, but (even scarier,) didn't surprise me.

The defense's argument that the rape was excusable because of where they came from, itself was inexcusable. But, again, typical of the town and it's attitude.

They deserved every punishment thrown at them by the courts and then some. And the lawyers should have gotten punished too. I wish there was some way to shift the towns view, but after reading the post earlier from a young woman who still lives in the town, I can't help but think that things haven't changed.

Do I go back for the reunions? I'm thinking.... not.