Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge

After a big homecoming Glen Ridge High School football game, several muscular young men are shown undressing and showering. After the shirtless credits, we meet attractive hometown detective Ally Sheedy (as Kelly Brooks) at the post-game celebration. Also present is "mildly retarded" student Heather Matarazzo (as Leslie Faber). A mainstreamed special education student, Ms. Matarazzo is infatuated with the handsome football players and imagines she is dancing with them. Rumors in Glen Ridge are that Matarazzo was assaulted with a broom and baseball bat in a basement, by members of the school's beloved football team. Assisted by prosecutor Eric Stoltz (as Robert "Bob" Laurino), Ms. Brooks investigates...

There is something wrong with this story. It may be that it was dramatized as an ABC-TV movie and had to hesitate. It was based on a true story, but this review is only going to cover what is depicted on screen. We are led to believe a significant group of students would watch a young woman raped with a broom, baseball bat and stick. The young men demonstrate no sexual participation or gratification. The young woman seems upset but okay after the acts and promises not to tell. Something this brutal, this sadistic, and nobody called 9-11? Nobody took her to the hospital? Guess that's possible, but the barbarism may be overstated. If not, the level of evil present suggest the football players should be put away for life...

To be fair, there are a couple of times when we hear about other sexual activities. For example, Matarazzo states Scott Vickaryous (as Paul Archer) wanted her to "play" with him. Later, we learn oral sex may have been a part of the experience. These, and other possible sexual encounters, are not seen. Also troubling is how the defendants and their enablers are almost universally unlikable. Even the non-jock "good guy" Kett Turton (as John Tierney) advocates rape with his van sign, "Jocks will see what it feels like to get raped in jail." He expresses the view that rape is okay, under specific circumstances. Yet, the story does examine the glorification of athletes and the tendency to cover-up their lapses into lawlessness...

Finally, the performance by Matarazzo of a mentally disabled young woman is stellar. Her "Leslie Faber" is one of the most touching and realistic portrayals of an intellectually challenged individual, to date. Oddly, there are no "Best Actress" Emmy Award consideration. Anyone who knows people like "Leslie" will see the realistic character traits employed by Matarazzo. Much applause to the actress, her director Guy Ferland and writer Paul Brown for bringing this character to life. This characterization should help people understand how to live with people who are cognitively challenged. It's important to understand "Leslie" and "Louis" (Kevin Howarth) have sexual desires, and we need to react appropriately to their feelings.

******* Outrage at Glen Ridge (5/10/99) Guy Ferland ~ Heather Matarazzo, Ally Sheedy, Eric Stoltz, Sara Botsford

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.

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.

I don't care that it's "only" a television movie, this movie is really good. Based on a true story, turned into a book and now this film, it stars Heather Matarazzo as an abused retarded high school girl. She just wants people to like her, so she 'goes along' with her rape, in a very disturbing scene, kind of shocking for television, not titalating at all. The supporting cast is wonderful. Ally Sheedy and Eric Stoltz are the adults in the piece, in charge of bringing the teens who did this awful crime to justice, and they are really good. So are the teen jocks who rape her. A good lesson in safety and 'fitting in', well told, good music and direction, overall this is a very good production and all should be proud to have done it.

This film deals with the true case that occurred in Glen Ridge, New Jersey with the graduating class of 1989. Obviously, what the students did to this girl is disturbing and inexcusable. What is also offensive is the attitude of the community, school and parents; the denial and discrimination.

Eric Stoltz is excellent as prosecutor Dan Laurino,who empathizes with the victim (well-done by Heather Matarazzo). The character Ally Sheedy portrays is a detective who used to work in NYC, and is now on the task force, prosecuting the members of the football team who took part in the gang-rape of a mentally disabled student.

There is much denial and deferral of responsibility, the group mentality of "don't make waves" and the accusations that, as an unstable person, the character Matarazzo portrays had deserved, and even asked for, what happened to her. It is the utmost disgrace that American communities like this still react this way.

The next time you see a tragedy in the local news, and a neighbor comments they couldn't believe it happened in his/her neighborhood, chalk it up to the mechanism of denial; the fact that people cannot comprehend such things does not mean they are not happening every day, and that we need stricter laws protecting the disabled. 10/10