This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Maybe because I was in the movie and had to sit waiting most of the time for a call to the set, but I didn't even care for it while filming. I saw it with a friend post-production and was not impressed, again.There are some good actors in the film, my favorite was James Cromwell. He was such a kind man, willing to talk about everything except himself. There were wanna be's, couldn't be's, and shouldn't be's all over the set. But even one of the older actresses, Shirley Knight, did nothing but run her credits while talking to her. Zzzzzzzzzz.... And this is the major reason I got out of the biz. Wood's side kick, can't remember his name, was nice too, met him at an activity feeding the homeless at Thanksgiving. Even Mercedes was pretty nice. But the overall story was just of little interest to me. And I guess being in the film and the business you see how manufactured it all really is. There's one scene, for example, where the cast laughs at a pyramid related joke by Wood's side kick. I almost laughed out loud it was so forced and fake. Maybe it's why most actors don't watch their movies. They are too close to it and see details that most would miss stand out like a sore thumb.All that said, who cares about the issue? Child-molestation case gone wrong. Child molestation is perfect fodder for sensationalist Hollywood, and the court system messing up? Wow, that's something new. Bottom line? Fair at best. I guess having been an attorney myself for close to 20 years, there's nothing new there either.

Based on the shocking true story of the McMartin preschool trial, 'Indictment: The McMartin Trial' is a Brilliant Film that takes us through the history of this controversial, unforgettable trial. Taut-Writing, Flawless Direction & Remarkable Performances, make this film, unmissable.'Indictment: The McMartin Trial' Synopsis: A defense lawyer defends an average American family from shocking allegations of child abuse and satanic rituals. After seven years and $16 million, the trial ends with the dismissal of all charges.Abby Mann & Myra Mann's Screenplay takes us through this journey of torment & truth, astonishingly. I loved the film, it was so interesting & blunt. From start to end, the film offers a solid punch! Mick Jackson's Direction is Flawless. He has truly surpassed himself in this masterful film! Cinematography is proper. Editing is excellent.Performance-Wise: James Woods as the defense lawyer, is Dependable, as always. Mercedes Ruehl is fantastic. This performance is amongst her finest works to date. Henry Thomas is terrific. Shirley Knight delivers a heartbreaking performance. Sada Thompson is highly efficient. Lolita Davidovich is perfect. Alison Elliott is good. Roberta Bassin & Mark Blum leave a mark.On the whole, 'Indictment: The McMartin Trial' is an unmissable gem!

This is a magnificent drama, and one of the best I have seen for many years. It is based on a true story. A family running a pre-school are accused of child molestation. The vicious public and press hysteria show how accusations can lead to the ruination of so many lives, whether or not the accusations are true. In the movie we see how the prosecution gets caught up in the mass hysteria and through politics and emotions they try everything to secure convictions against the accused. From the point of view of defense lawyers the picture shows how difficult it is to get juries to acquit people when facing such charges and despite the evidence for not guilty verdicts. The trial of the accused takes center stage in the movie and the actual transcripts of the trial are used in the picture. If that is the case then there is no doubt there was insufficient evidence to find any of the accused people guilty, but watch the film to see if that actually happened. The script, direction, acting, editing and everything else in the film is superb. It had me on the edge of my seat throughout its' more than 2 hours. I thought the outstanding acting performance came from Mercedes Ruehl playing the lead prosecutor. Well done to HBO for making this superb masterpiece. 10/10.

Indictment is a movie showing how untested pop psychology and bad (circular) reasoning can still produce witch hunts in this day and age, and an appeal to both the viewer and the public in general to always keep a critical eye towards the facts like a laser beam.Nor was this case a one-off. In fact, when I saw the announcement for this movie, I thought it was about the "Little Rascals Day Care Center" in Edison, NC. Only a year before the McMartins were released from jail, an almost cloned incident happened in Edison, when the owner, Robert Kelly jr. and his wife were charged with massive child abuse - as well as satanism, cannibalism, abductions... they were also accused of taking the children along in space ships, killing animals, sacrificing babies in the middle of the day care center during open hours, etc (although no children were ever reported missing). There too, the case started out with a single vindictive mother with an agenda of her own, and was built upon "recovered memories", etc.However, unlike the McMartins, who spent up to half a decade in jail awaiting trial, the Kelly's were actually convicted and sentenced to twelve consecutive life sentences. Their convictions were later quashed on appeal.What is also shown out in this movie is the way "true believers" think. Kee, played by the gorgeous Lolita Davidovitch, doesn't look for corrobable evidence, but simply affirmation of her already drawn up conclusions. Here is where the circular thinking comes in. When a child is asked if it has been abused, and the answer is yes, then it must be telling the truth. However, if the answer is no, then something must be keeping them from telling the truth, in this case, "they're in denial". And so they will be cojoled, even threatened, until the answer is yes. They how's, when's and even who's are less important, and as a result many of testimony becomes fantastical, even impossible. Or, to quote from an article on False Memory Syndrome:"When the victim responds, " but I get along fine with my parents, they aren't perverts". - the trusted advisor responds, "Wow, they must have been really horrible for you to have repressed it that deep. If you won't recall, you won't get better." "Also, Gerardo and OJ trial regular Ira Reiner (who gravely described OJ's gloves as "loosely fitting, working man's gloves") don't come off very well at all, not surprisingly.Nor have these modern witch hunts limited themselves to North America - there have been similar mass arrests after allegations of satanic abuse in the north of Scotland, recently in the UK the daily mail undertook a campaign of publicly naming child molesters, many of whom were confused with other people, one man had a neckbrace like one of the men in the newspaper and needed police protection after both his and his neighbors house had been stoned, and a PEDiatrician needed protection after children had painted "PEDo" on her house. Nor is mass hysteria and mass psychology limited to child abuse - recently in Holland a scuzzy politician tried to whip up public support by claiming as "outrageous" the number of middle aged citizens of Maroccan and Turkish descent claiming disability - totally and conveniently ignoring the fact that among the physically demanding and dangerous industries, like steel, chemicals, and the cleaning industry, these groups were hugely over represented in the decades after WWII and still are today.This movie is an indictment of mass hysteria, and is an appeal for every citizen to think for him or herself, and be very critical, even cynical of whatever news is presented to them on a platter every night at six.See it.