The Accused (1988)
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95% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
76% of users liked it
(19,947 ratings)
Based on a real-life 1983 incident, The Accused tells the story of Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster), a working-class party girl who likes to live it up with her friends and flirt hard with the guys. After a fight with her boyfriend, she heads to a local bar to cool down -- and after a few drinks, plus… More Based on a real-life 1983 incident, The Accused tells the story of Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster), a working-class party girl who likes to live it up with her friends and flirt hard with the guys. After a fight with her boyfriend, she heads to a local bar to cool down -- and after a few drinks, plus some dancing and flirting, she finds herself thrown on top of a pinball machine and gang-raped by a bunch of locals, while others watch and cheer the proceedings. District attorney Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) takes Sarah's case but quickly negotiates a plea bargain in which the attackers' charges are reduced to reckless endangerment. Her reason: defense attorneys could use Sarah's not-so-pretty past to paint her as "asking for it," getting their clients off completely. But a stunned Sarah accuses Murphy of selling her out, and when the lawyer sees how the incident continues to destroy Sarah's life, she decides she must seek true justice. This time, she goes after the crowd of onlookers for "criminal solicitation" -- those who were egging the rapists on. Foster won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jonathan Kaplan
- Written By
- Tom Topor
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
- In Theaters
- Oct 14, 1988 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Clint Morris, Film Threat
Possibly the best performance Foster has even given, and the best of its type
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In her first Oscar role, Jodie Foster's gang-raped waitress transforms from a good-time hard-drinking girl to a woman fighting for the self-esteem she never had.
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Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A atuação intensa e corajosa de Jodie Foster quase redime um filme que, graças à direção burocrática de Kaplan, parece ter sido realizado para a televisão.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Provides a searing account of a gang rape through the story of two women who speak out against this violent crime
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Fred Topel, About.com
Powerful rape drama.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kelly McGillis
as Kathryn Murphy
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Jodie Foster
as Sarah Tobias
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Bernie Coulson
as Kenneth Joyce
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Leo Rossi
as Cliff Albrecht
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Ann Hearn
as Sally Frazer
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Carmen Argenziano
as Paul Rudolph
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Steve Antin
as Bob Joiner
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Tom O'Brien
as Larry
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Peter Van Norden
as Attorney Ted Paulson
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Woody Brown
as Danny Ruskin
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Allan Lysell
as Al Massi
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Gary Chalk
as Courthouse Reporter
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Babs Chula
as Woman Lawyer
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Linda Darlow
as Carol Hunnicutt (Rape Center Woman)
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Stephen Dimopoulos
as Complaining Customer
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Frances Flanagan
as Mrs. Albrect
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Michelle Goodger
as Courthouse Reporter
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Deryl Hayes
as Court Officer
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Thomas Heaton
as Bartender Jesse
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Christianne Hirt
as Angela
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Anthony Holland
as Plea Bargain Lawyer
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Kim Kondrashoff
as Kurt
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Gloria Lee
as Courthouse Reporter
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Tom McBeath
as Defendant Stu Holloway
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Kevin McNulty
as Plea Bargain Lawyer
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Terry David Mulligan
as Det. Duncan
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Barney O'Sullivan
as Trial Judge
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Scott Paulin
as Attorney Wainwright
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Garwin Sanford
as Courthouse Reporter
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Dana Still
as Jury Foreman
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Jerry Wasserman
as Plea Bargain Lawyer
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Rose Weaver
as Nurse
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Denalda Williams
as Sarah's Mother on Phone
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Mike Winlaw
as TV Commentator
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Stephen E. Miller
as Polito
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Andrew Kavadas
as Defendant Matt Haines
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Freda Perry
as Receptionist
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Veena Sood
as Woman Orderly
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Rebecca Toolan
as 911 Operator
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Pamela Sue Martin
as TV Commentator
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Wally Marsh
as Bail Hearing Judge
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Dave Sheridan
as Sally's Son
