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| Jodie Foster, Kelly McGillis, Bernie Coulson |
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Anamorphic
widescreen |
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Dolby Digital
5.1 |
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DTS |
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Trailer(s) |
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Featurette(s) |
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Documentary |
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Audio commentary
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Deleted scenes
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Concept art
/ storyboards |
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Multi-angle
feature |
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Kathryn
(Kelly McGillis): Were you dressed provocatively? Showing a lot
of cleavage, see-through blouse?
Sarah (Jodie Foster): What the fuck difference does it matter
how I was dressed? They tore it off of me.
Kathryn: But did how you dress make those guys think they could
have sex with you? Did you put on a show?
Sarah: What the hell are you talking about? You saw me at the
hospital. What do you think, that I asked for that?
A
top prosecutor decides to bring to trial three onlookers who jeered
on a gang rape.
 Time
has not been kind to The Accused. A much-discussed, critically
lauded 'issue movie' upon its release in 1988, it cemented Jodie Foster's
status as the finest actress of her generation, winning her a first
Best Actress Oscar. It qualified as a solid commercial success and was
probably the year's most discussed movie at dinner parties. But this
kind of social drama very quickly found a more comfortable home on TV,
where larger budgets, better actors and looser constrictions were allowing
for this exact kind of heavy-handed courtroom drama about contemporary
social issues.
The only true saving grace amongst an indifferent cast and formulaic
screenplay is Jodie Foster's performance, which manages to provide a
largely underwritten part with an unexpected measure of commitment and
conviction. Playing an inarticulate, uneducated young woman with questionable
judgment without patronizing the character or reverting to sentimental
clichés, she somehow manages to bring life to her scenes in the
film, and a sense of reality to the narrative. Co-star Kelly McGillis,
who has since rightfully disappeared into oblivion, is as wooden as
they come, playing her scenes with a blank, goldfish-like stare begging
for ridicule. The supporting players meanwhile are as one-dimensional
as cardboard cutours, from leering thugs to guilt-ridden college boys.
If it hadn't been for Foster, the Accused would have been a straight-to-video
loser. But her presence continues to draw audiences and even makes the
movie watchable. |
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Identical
releases are available for Region 1 and Region 2.
The
anamorphic widescreen image is framed at an aspect ratio of approx.
1.85:1. The transfer is far better than expected, with very little grain
and convincingly natural colors. Black levels and contrast are also
terrific, and fleshtones accurate and natural throughout. A sterling
presentation from Paramount.
The Dolby
Digital 5.1 sound mix newly produced for this DVD release is surprisingly
strong, especially in its presentation of Brad Fiedel's synth-heavy
score, which on occasion pounds with heavy bass response. Directional
effects are hardly present at all, but neither are they to be expected
in a dialogue-heavy picture with occasional intense moments.
The
only extra is the theatrical trailer, presented in anamorphic
widescreen. A
simple but stylishly designed main menu screen offers access to the disc's
features. Upon insertion of the disc, the feature starts up automatically.
Dan
Hassler-Forest
Reviewed: July
7, 2002
Click
here for IMDB info on The
Accused.
Click here
to return to the front page.
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