So, let me first say that as a work of fiction, this movie rates a 9/10 for me. As an accurate portrayal of the real people and events, not so much. I don't know why Hollywood feels they must change the facts, when they present a treatment of real life people. It is disrespectful of the real life people, who must feel abused by how they are portrayed, and I think the audience. Surely we can be shown the truth, and make up our own mind, without being manipulated into how we perceive the people, and the things they did.
I have watched this movie on multiple occasions, and again, as a work of fiction, portrays the awful personal and external issues that real life minorities have to face, just by being themselves. For a heterosexual male myself, it does help to open the mind, and not just tolerate, but accept others. Hopefully we all want to move further in this direction.
But what about what really happened, and who the individuals really were? I think it would have made an even more compelling story, and if handled well, still would have allowed us to feel empathy for Brandon.
I have done some research, and as limited and perhaps biased as it could have been presented;
Brandon appears to have been a serial womaniser, as he tried to work out how to live his life. At 18yrs old he hooked up with a 13yr old girl and a 14yr old girl, never being totally honest with them, their family, or other young girls he attracted. He then continued to initiate romances with many young women, without being able to be totally honest with them, which while being damaging and unfair to others, can be understood.
Lana Tisdel, her unmentioned sister Leslie, and their mother as shown in the movie, seem to have a cloud hanging over their head in perhaps telling the murderers where Brandon was, and not calling Brandon to let them know that trouble was coming on that night. They are flawed individuals, but to be fair, this is displayed during the movie to some extent.
My biggest issue is that Lisa Lambert, a former girl friend of Brandon, is used as a composite character in the movie. Brandon had ended a relationship with Lisa, but Lisa allowed Brandon to stay at her house, in his time of need. She lost her life, shot in the head, as a result of this kindness. And, then there is Phillip DeVine. A young black man, who appears to have overcome an horrific early health issue and physical handicap, and was on the way to a good life, before he met and feel for Leslie, got dumped, and also tragically found himself at the house that night, and was murdered. Phillip is not mentioned in the movie at all, even as a composite character.
So again, as it is, a very good movie that helps us to open our minds. But why not do justice to the real people involved.
I have watched this movie on multiple occasions, and again, as a work of fiction, portrays the awful personal and external issues that real life minorities have to face, just by being themselves. For a heterosexual male myself, it does help to open the mind, and not just tolerate, but accept others. Hopefully we all want to move further in this direction.
But what about what really happened, and who the individuals really were? I think it would have made an even more compelling story, and if handled well, still would have allowed us to feel empathy for Brandon.
I have done some research, and as limited and perhaps biased as it could have been presented;
Brandon appears to have been a serial womaniser, as he tried to work out how to live his life. At 18yrs old he hooked up with a 13yr old girl and a 14yr old girl, never being totally honest with them, their family, or other young girls he attracted. He then continued to initiate romances with many young women, without being able to be totally honest with them, which while being damaging and unfair to others, can be understood.
Lana Tisdel, her unmentioned sister Leslie, and their mother as shown in the movie, seem to have a cloud hanging over their head in perhaps telling the murderers where Brandon was, and not calling Brandon to let them know that trouble was coming on that night. They are flawed individuals, but to be fair, this is displayed during the movie to some extent.
My biggest issue is that Lisa Lambert, a former girl friend of Brandon, is used as a composite character in the movie. Brandon had ended a relationship with Lisa, but Lisa allowed Brandon to stay at her house, in his time of need. She lost her life, shot in the head, as a result of this kindness. And, then there is Phillip DeVine. A young black man, who appears to have overcome an horrific early health issue and physical handicap, and was on the way to a good life, before he met and feel for Leslie, got dumped, and also tragically found himself at the house that night, and was murdered. Phillip is not mentioned in the movie at all, even as a composite character.
So again, as it is, a very good movie that helps us to open our minds. But why not do justice to the real people involved.