Themes: Kids in Trouble, Families in Crisis, Murder Investigations
Main Cast: Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson, Edward Furlong, Julia Weldon, Alfred Molina
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Director Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Ted Tally adapted the novel by Rosellen Brown into this intriguing drama that, while heavily criticized for a third-act revelation that is something of a cop-out, nevertheless features -- typically of Schroeder's work -- compelling performances, domestic discord, and a search for the truth. Meryl Streep stars as Carolyn Ryan, a rural Massachusetts pediatrician married to Ben (Liam Neeson), a handsome, rugged sculptor. Although theirs is not a picture-perfect marriage, the Ryans consider themselves happy, until police arrive at their home one morning to inform them that their son Jacob (Edward Furlong) was the last person seen the night before with a teenage girl who has been murdered. Jacob is missing, and the Ryans frantically search for him, but when the boy returns, it is obvious that he's not being completely truthful about the night's events. While Carolyn wants the truth, Ben is willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to defend Jacob, hiring an expensive lawyer (Alfred Molina), destroying evidence, and encouraging Jacob to be deceitful. Carolyn and Ben's opposing views of their son's legal trouble cause serious turmoil in the Ryans' marriage, which may be irreparably harmed in spite of the 11th hour appearance of the truth. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
John Heard - Wendell Bye; Daniel Von Bargen - Fran Conklin; Wesley Addy - Judge Grady; Pamela Blair - Dr. Ryan's Assistant; Kaiulani Lee - Marian Raynor, Prosecutor; Ann Magnuson - Terry Taverner; Larry Pine - Dr. Tom McAnally; Sharon Ullrick - Female Bailiff; John Wylie - Dr. Trygve Hanson; John Webber - Hardware Clerk; Alison Folland - Martha Taverner; Tim Cavanaugh - Young Policeman; Susan May Pratt - Journalist #2; Bernadette Quigley - T.J.'s Mom; Ellen Lancaster - Panos' Assistant; John Deyle - Doctor; Oliver Graney - T.J.; Jay Potter - TV Reporter; Robert Westenberg - Journalist
Credit
Steven A. Saklad - Art Director, Jonathan Glickman - Associate Producer, Howard Feuer - Casting, Chris Brigham - Co-producer, Ann Roth - Costume Designer, Henry Bronchtein - First Assistant Director, Barbet Schroeder - Director, Lee Percy - Editor, Roger Birnbaum - Executive Producer, Joe Roth - Executive Producer, Howard Shore - Composer (Music Score), Howard Shore - Songwriter, Jean A. Black - Makeup, Stuart Wurtzel - Production Designer, Luciano Tovoli - Cinematographer, Barbet Schroeder - Producer, Susan Hoffman - Producer, Gretchen Rau - Set Designer, Ted Tally - Screenwriter
Carolyn and Ben Ryan are faced with a living nightmare when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend. The parents' differing views of how to handle the situation create much of the tension.
