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2h27 minutes is too long.

Personally, I like the movie. The story/story-telling was great. I did read the book as well. I like the whole courtroom drama aspect of it. I like that they got their revenge in that was as opposed to going all vigilante and killing all of the guards. They did that with Nokes, which I thought worked and was well-deserved. The whole staging the trial angle and getting their revenge more subtly was better than just straight-up revenge. The four of them walk away from it without any implications while the guards all pay for what they did. Two of them dying, one in jail, the other exposed because the truth about him came out. Plus, Rizzo's brother got closure on his brother's death after all those years. And then it hits you harder when you find out that after all that, John and Tommy still end up dead.
Every movie has its flaws, of course. And this story particularly has some controversy due to the is it true/is it not argument. But in my opinion, I think it's well crafted. To each their own though.
J.Lennon G.Harrison R.Phoenix B.Renfro
The Beatles = Life

Some people hate everything

The reasons are (1) its being labeled an "anti-gay movie" and (2) the "true story" it is based upon is a fraud.

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I saw this back when it was released and thought it was deep. Sadly I'm not as naive anymore.
The child actors are terrible at delivering their lines, the revenge plot is a mess of bad exposition (maybe you need to be from hells kitchen to get it?) and the court case is so see-through not a judge in the world would have fallen for the deception.
That said the main cast: Bacon, De Nero and Hoffman give excellant performances making the film worth a look.
The rest is deeply flawed.

It's flawed for me, but I don't hate it.
The court affair was just too much for me to swallow.
it also suffered from star power, too much of a good thing.
I liked Bacon and Hoffman the best.

That doesn't happen in the book and it takes away the greatness of the story. Seeing a "revenge" movie would be pointless and cliche. It wasn't about Revenge but protecting their two friends.

Because many people, like myself, expected the latter part of the movie to be some sort of brilliant and grand revenge scheme on getting even with Kevin Bacon's character. Instead, they just kill him off right away. He didn't suffer, they didn't ruin his life. Just killed him. And then the movie basically turned into a courtroom drama. I'd assume that's why people don't like it.
EXACTLY! This would've been a darn great revenge film. It went the wrong way as soon as they shot Bacon. The film was pathetically advertised - it was no revenge film, just a courtdrama (which is a good subgenre, but just not for this, or at least I didn't expect it).
Glad somebody else shares this opinion btw. I really expected a Count of Monte Cristo-type of film (the story was even referenced in the film).
Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

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I have to admit, pacing wise, that threw me off quite a bit as well when Bacon abruptly gets done away with. The courtroom drama was interesting but almost felt like it belonged in a separate movie.

Because many people, like myself, expected the latter part of the movie to be some sort of brilliant and grand revenge scheme on getting even with Kevin Bacon's character. Instead, they just kill him off right away. He didn't suffer, they didn't ruin his life. Just killed him. And then the movie basically turned into a courtroom drama. I'd assume that's why people don't like it.

I read the book, disagree with you on the story part.

because its not all that good. cast is great, but storytelling/pacing aspect is meh
What the $%*& is a Chinese Downhill?!?

Are you completely retarded? It was the deleted post I was quoting! I never said the school was run by the Church HE DID! I was merely drawing a difference between state abuse and church abuse. If you're that vindictive of people who speak against Catholicism you might want to give Pope Francis a call since he's the biggest critic of Church abuse and cover up in the world so you don't have to
try
very hard at Catholic bashing when your head guy is leading the charge. Maybe you're the one who needs a reality check.
And by the way I'M NOT YOUR beep PAL!
24/04/1916

The church was the biggest culprit of abuse; physical and sexual out East in NY and Boston!
by
mikeyg24
The only argument I would make on that point is that Catholic institutions were run predominantly by members of the cloth. The priests were guards and teachers all in one and nuns very often ran the medical care so it was easy for the church to cover it up. But in this instance they had lay people in the employ. Teachers, doctors even what appeared to be somewhat decent prison guards. I mean what Doctor would sign Rizzo's death certificate indicating pneumonia when it's clear he had been beaten to death?
Hey wiseguy, the reform school they were in was run by THE STATE OF NY, not the Catholic Church. The guards weren't Priests nor was the Dr who signed the death certificate. Nice try @ Catholic bashing but you need to get a grip on reality, pal.

The church was the biggest culprit of abuse; physical and sexual out East in NY and Boston!
The only argument I would make on that point is that Catholic institutions were run predominantly by members of the cloth. The priests were guards and teachers all in one and nuns very often ran the medical care so it was easy for the church to cover it up. But in this instance they had lay people in the employ. Teachers, doctors even what appeared to be somewhat decent prison guards. I mean what Doctor would sign Rizzo's death certificate indicating pneumonia when it's clear he had been beaten to death?
Your's sincerely, General Joseph Liebgott

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Probably cause they found out it's one big lie and feel cheated.

It does not have enough explosions, tits, or beep CGI
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I also loved this movie. Just watched it again last night, cried through most of it.