A Cry in the Dark
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Movie Reviews of A Cry in the Dark
Movie Review: The "Death" Of An Innocent Family
Summary: 5 Stars
Goes to show how far a little prejudice will go. After warnings that Dingos were becoming a dangerous problem at Ayer's Rock, baby Azaria's tragic death was bound to happen to someone's child sooner or later. Unfortunately, many didn't realize just how powerful an animal the Dingo is. Like many here in the U.S. don't realize the dangers of our even smaller Coyote. And unfortunately for the Chamberlain family, smaller minority churches like their membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, made them subjects of suspicion and rumors. Their marriage was eventually destroyed over this crisis.
This film portrayed so well, how a little gossip and stereotyping can explode into hatred. Little known to most even today, is that there was a large cover-up from law enforcement, down to members of the local community, who were aware that a well known local Dingo was responsible for Azaria's death. Yet, many still refuse to accept Lindy Chamberlain's total innocence of her baby's death. The average viewer of this film would be totally sickened by the full revelation of this tragic event.
Meryl Streep's performance, is possibly the best movie portrayal of someone not actually born a native to the country of her character's origin. Her Australian accent is delivered to perfection. Very much worthy of the 8th Academy Award nomination she received. A strong argument for religious tolerance, and keeping cool heads till all the facts are in. And a great edition to any DVD collection, though some strong language for what essentially is a faith-based film may discourage some from viewing.
The film's now well known line, "the Dingo took my baby" would not have the least hint of humor if heard in its true context. Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean.
Movie Review: Great performances in a well-made movie.
Summary: 5 Stars
Having recently returned from a month in Australia--with a visit to Uluru (formerly Ayer's Rock), I decided to buy the DVD version of this film, having not seen it since it's initial release. It's such a pleasure to watch a movie well-made. Meryl Streep and Sam Neill are both excellent. It's easy to overlook Neill's pitch-perfect turn, since Streep so dominates the film. This, in fact, may be one of Streep's best performances in a career of great performances. Again, she masters an accent, and she is particularly good at capturing the nuances of complicated women, who are not always our typical movie heroines. Lindy Chamberlain is such a character. Her unwillingness to cater to media expectations is, in part, what lands her in the slammer. The tragedy of this true story is not just that a family is destroyed, but--with the passage of time--we realize that we are still perpetrating such media circuses and trial by rumor at an accelerated rate(O.J., the Clinton scandals, the 'Elian' saga, and now Gary Condit). Seeing (and enjoying) the movie again has led me back to the source material, and I'm now reading "Evil Angels" to gleen more detail than the movie could possibly contain. I heartily recommend the movie--although I wish the DVD version contained the "extras" that we've learned to love about the new medium.Movie Review: Streeps Last Good Film
Summary: 5 Stars
A CRY IN THE DARK, in my opinion, is Meryl Streep's last good film before she started making films like SHE DEVIL and became an action star in RIVER WILD -- fun, good, Hollywood movies, yes! But this talented lady deserves so much more.Watching A CRY IN THE DARK on DVD made me think how much ahead of its time this film was. It predated O.J. Simpson and all of the "mothers killing children" stories that have been newsworthy of late. (Of course, the story is old news to Australians.) However, the film focuses attention on the power of the media and the harm of "speculation". I think Meryl's character shows us, too, that a stern, blank face is open for interpretation and imagination. Because she did not react in public as we all expect a grieving mother to, then suspicions arise.
Streep is excellent. Sam Neal is as well. The film is like a puzzle. It is precise in its depiction of the events surrounding the child and dingo. I'm not sure the point of the film is to cast blame or say these people lied: rather, the film examines the circus around the events. And at the heart of the circus is the religious faith of this couple ... why did God take the child? Why are they being accused?
Very interesting. Very thought provoking. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Gripping emotional true story
Summary: 5 Stars
I had never heard of the actual story of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain's ordeal, so this was all a surprise to me. The story is incredible and if it had not actually happened, no one would believe it. Meryl Streep is superb as the young wife of a Seventh Day Adventist minister in Australia, who, on a camping trip, sees a wild dingo carry off her baby. As if that weren't enough, she is accused of killing the child.
Steep plays the woman brilliantly. At first she is the sweet and demure young minister's wife, full of love for her family. As the horror of her predicament unfolds we see her change into a woman of steel. Due to an excellent script and Streeps fine acting, the character is totally believable through all of the twists and turns of her fate.
Sam Neill is her equal in this performance as the deeply religious man whose faith is questioned by the event.
What is most shocking is the rabid attention the public paid to the case and their blood thirst for Lindy's head. Insult is piled on injury on this poor family, and it seems that much of the reason for it is the fact that they were members of the Seventh Day Adventist faith.
It's a cautionary tale for everyone. Not a pleasant film to watch but an important one.
Movie Review: Compelling
Summary: 5 Stars
"Cry In the Dark" is based on a true story about a disappearing baby. The mother maintains her claim that a dingo carried her baby daughter through the woods and killed her. As the country listens, rumors circulate that she killed her baby. The family either stays tighter knit or almost separates. Much drama occurs during the turmoil of losing a family member and being called the antichrist. Regardless of what's said in interviews, no one listens.Meryl Streep deserved her eighth Oscar nomination for Best Actress as the accused mother. Streep gives much of her own nightmare thoughts into the screen. Just her expressed emotions are enough to give the audience chills while causing them to almost cry. Sam Neill gives the best performance of his career as the accusee's husband. All 350 acting extras also give great performance.
The writers greatly informed the audience of the real events. It digs deep into every characters' raw emotions. The director and the producers wonderfully led the cast and crew to their highest potential. This is one of the top ten best movies released in 1988. Its compelling theme will leave the audience with a sense of joy by the movie's end.