Jodie Foster became an actress to watch with this movie. This movie is definitely influenced by early Law & Order. First a movie about a crime, then a movie about society’s responsibility in the crime.
Jodie Foster is a fiery independent woman who goes to a local bar after a fight with her boyfriend. She has mischief on her mind but when a group of frat boys decide they will not take no for an answer, they rape her on the pinball machine.
She then faces further humiliation of the police and the degradation of trial where she, the victim, is put on trial. After the perpetrators are acquitted, the prosecutor (Kelly McGillis) puts the spectators on trial. This movie says that not only are the people who commit the crime responsible but those who stand by and encourage it to happen.
Tom Topor wrote the outstanding screenplay. He also wrote the play and screen adaptation of Nuts, another great courtroom drama. His heroine is not a clean cut responsible person but a flawed woman trying to make a living and a life. This is more realistic than other films that would have a perfect Sarah.
Jodie Foster gives a well deserved Oscar winning performance. This was her coming out party. She was no longer a child star or a sensation. Kelly McGillis gives her best performance of her career. She also should have been nominated but Foster overshadowed her.
Cast
- Kelly McGillis – A.D.A. Kathryn Murphy
- Jodie Foster – Sarah Tobias
- Bernie Coulson – Kenneth Joyce
- Leo Rossi – Cliff “Scorpion” Albrect
- Ann Hearn – Sally Fraser
- Carmen Argenziano – D.A. Paul Rudolph
- Steve Antin – Bob Joiner
- Tom O’Brien – Larry
- Peter Van Norden – Attorney Paulsen
- Terry David Mulligan – Lieutenant Duncan
- Woody Brown – Danny
- Scott Paulin – Attorney Ben Wainwright