Film Snail

The Accused
The Accused

7.0

The Accused

R·1988·111m

Summary

After a young woman suffers a brutal rape in a bar one night, a prosecutor assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack.

Cast

Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis

Kathryn Murphy

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster

Sarah Tobias

Bernie Coulson

Bernie Coulson

Kenneth Joyce

Leo Rossi

Leo Rossi

Cliff "Scorpion" Albrect

Ann Hearn

Ann Hearn

Sally Fraser

Carmen Argenziano

Carmen Argenziano

D.A. Paul Rudolph

Steve Antin

Steve Antin

Bob Joiner

Tom O'Brien

Tom O'Brien

Larry

Peter Van Norden

Peter Van Norden

Attorney Paulsen

Terry David Mulligan

Terry David Mulligan

Lieutenant Duncan

Woody Brown

Woody Brown

Danny

Scott Paulin

Scott Paulin

Attorney Wainwright

Kim Kondrashoff

Kim Kondrashoff

Kurt

Stephen E. Miller

Stephen E. Miller

Polito

Tom Heaton

Tom Heaton

Bartender Jesse

Andrew Kavadas

Andrew Kavadas

Defendant Matt Haines

Tom McBeath

Tom McBeath

Defendant Stu Holloway

Rose Weaver

Rose Weaver

Nurse

Linda Darlow

Linda Darlow

Rape Center Woman

Veena Sood

Veena Sood

Woman Orderly

Allan Lysell

Allan Lysell

Assistant D.A. Massi

Antony Holland

Antony Holland

Plea Bargain Lawyer

Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty

Plea Bargain Lawyer

Jerry Wasserman

Jerry Wasserman

Plea Bargain Lawyer

Barney O'Sullivan

Trial Judge

Christianne Hirt

Christianne Hirt

Angela

Frances Flanagan

Frances Flanagan

Mrs. Albrect

Marsha Andrews

TV Commentator

Mike Winlaw

Mike Winlaw

TV Commentator

Pamela Martin

Pamela Martin

TV Commentator

Walter Marsh

Walter Marsh

Bail Hearing Judge (as Wally Marsh)

Deryl Hayes

Deryl Hayes

Court Officer

E. Andrea Klann

Court Reporter

Bryan Johnson

Bailiff

Dana Still

Jury Foreman

Denalda Williams

Denalda Williams

Sarah's Mother on Phone (voice)

Babs Chula

Babs Chula

Woman Lawyer

Peter Bibby

Dinner Party Date

Rebecca Toolan

Rebecca Toolan

911 Operator

Stephen Dimopoulos

Stephen Dimopoulos

Complaining Customer

Laurie O'Byrne

Complaining Customer

Freda Perry

Freda Perry

Receptionist

John H. Cox

Policeman

Jim Bedard

Second Bartender

Kirsten Keane

Sally's Daughter

David Sheridan

Sally's Son

Garry Chalk

Garry Chalk

Courthouse Reporter (as Gary Chalk)

Garwin Sanford

Garwin Sanford

Courthouse Reporter

Gloria Lee

Courthouse Reporter

Stephen Brent Lambert

Courthouse Reporter

Matt LaFleur

Courthouse Reporter

Michele Goodger

Michele Goodger

Courthouse Reporter

Scott Walden

Record Store Clerk

Jim Browning

Second Bailiff (uncredited)

David Paul Hewitt White

Hockey Fan (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Jonathan Kaplan

Screenplay

Tom Topor

Reviews

Geronimo1967

Geronimo1967

June 30, 2022

7

We start this film with the image of a young woman, half dressed, running in the rain screaming for help. It turns out she is "Sarah" (Jodie Foster) and after a passer-by takes her to hospital we learn that she has been gang raped in the games room of a bar. Deputy DA "Murphy" (Kelly McGillis) is assigned to the case, and although she believes her client, she is reluctant to prosecute as she doesn't think she can win. Her DA boss "Rudolph" (Carmen Argenziano) insists that they must change the accused three men with something, so they settle on a lesser charge after some plea bargaining. Needless to say, "Sarah" is livid, and tempers really flare when one of the other men from the bar that night, goads her into ramming her car into his. This is the point when the ambitious lawyer has a bit of a volte-face and despite the objections this time of her boss, she initiates a prosecution of the others in the bar for egging on the rapists - criminal solicitation. Can she prove these men are guilty? If so, that will also ensure those who got off lightly will also end up serving full sentences and have the nature of their sexual assaults placed on their criminal records. Foster is impressive here. She offers us a compelling portrayal of a young woman who suffers an heinous assault and struggles for justice. McGillis also delivers well, as does Bernie Coulson - the young "Ken" upon whom much of the chances of conviction rest. The graphically violent scenes towards the end of the trial stages are harrowing, disturbing and effective, and they also provide for an unnervingly nauseating performance from the vocal architect of her assault "Scorpion" (Leo Rossi). The drama is tough to watch, and offers food for thought as to just how victims can ever receive fair treatment in a legal environment that all too frequently takes a "was she asking for it?" approach, and is so oft just automatically stacked against them.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

rape
alcohol
boston, massachusetts
clothing
lawyer
shocking
hostile
frantic
grim
courtroom drama
provocative
suspenseful
frightened
frustrated
horrified
inflammatory