Movie Information
Overall Rank: 2563
Average Rating: 2.9/4
# of Ratings: 26
Theatrical Release Date: 01/19/2007
Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: 08/19/2008
Language: English
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Tommy O'Haver
Actors: Elliot Page, Catherine Keener, Hayley McFarland, Ari Graynor, James Franco, Bradley Whitford
Plot: Based on actual court transcripts, Gertrude Baniszewski, a single mother with seven children, agrees to take care of Sylvia and Jennie Fae Likens while their parents work with a traveling carnival. Over the coming weeks and months, the unbalanced nature of Gertrude leads to one of the most horrendous crimes ever committed against a person, and all involved will be affected for life. -- Chris Kavan
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
Unknown - wrote on 09/21/2011
Ellen Page's honest innocence makes this movie so heartbreaking to think that it actually happened.
Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
True Crime, Meaningful Film
Chris Kavan - wrote on 05/11/2008
Whereas Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door takes the same material and makes it brutal, even sickening, An American Crime sticks more towards the fact and is more subtle, though no less horrifying in the end.
It's tough watching Ellen Page, looking more fragile than ever, succumbing to harsher and harsher punishment, ultimately leading to outright torture, mostly at the hands of fellow neighborhood children. Catherine Keener can take her place amongst stone-cold villains as an unbalanced single mom - what starts out as being protective of her children descends into madness. It is all the much harder to watch knowing it is based on a real person.
The biggest fault I find with An American Crime is the switching from the court hearing and flashing back to the events. I realize the …
Related Movie Lists
Recent Movie Talk Posts
No posts have been made on this movie yet. Be the first to start talking about An American Crime!
