Even seeing Ellen Page nearly beaten to death doesn't make it worth watching an Ellen Page movie. Rot in hell, Juno.

"If Eli Roth were to direct a Lifetime movie, it might look something like An American Crime." - Matt Noller

Sylvia Marie Likens, iskence, psikopat aile, psikopat kadin, psikopat cocuklar, dedikodu, kiskanclik, yoksulluk (üzücü hikaynin mahkeme kayitlarina dayanan birebir filmi, benzeri the girl next door (2007) uyarlamaydi bu film ise hikayenin kendisine yer veriyor)

A dark and disturbing movie based on true events that is horrifying to watch.While I can't say I enjoyed this movie I think this movie did exactly what it set out do.The acting by all is good.

Director Tommy O'Haver does a fantastic job at thoroughly disturbing the audience, while always leaving enough room to never take them over the edge. Catherine Keener is great, and its obvious why Ellen Page was O'Haver's first choice right from the start. Tried and true filmmaking methods make this work, but it never really tries anything new. It also tries to get inside the heads of a few too many characters and has trouble maintaining a focused narrative.

The director struggles a bit but the true story is touching and both Page and Keener do a terrific job.

This films passage from small town life to horrific torture is chillingly played out by Page and Keener. While their performances are fantastic, and the real life premise grotesquely fascinating, the narrative structure and progression are merely acceptable. The cinematography felt a little too contrived for the true story being told, and the way the plot kept jumping forward to the trial was distracting and softened a mood that would have had more of an impact if it were left razor sharp.

It could have been an interesting movie about social psychology. Instead, director Tommy O'Haver chose to rely on shock value. There are better torture movies than this.

A little too fond of waving its "true story" status around as an excuse to show torture (been watching The Passion of the Christ, have we?) but... interesting.

This is a very unpleasant film to watch because of the subject matter. However the performances of Ellen Page and Catherine Keener are outstanding. If you are in the mood for a dark film with two great performances then definitely check this film out.

Compared to the fictionalized The Girl Next Door, based on the same true events, An American Crime is more loyal to the real details. For that very reason, it is jarring that so much was ommitted from the portrayal of Sylvia's atrocious treatment, to the extent that it is unclear why she dies. And while TGND also had credibility issues, An American Crime is considerably worse and less realistic. It is a slick, beautified film that consistently fails to capture the grit of real life.

movie is not that good but story has deep emotions. it breaks out your feelings.

I had already seen The Girl Next Door so soon realised that this was a film on the same case. It is just as sad as The Girl Next Door but less brutal, a quick read on IMDB and it appears that some of the events in TGND didn't actually happen so perhaps this version is a more realistic account and TGND is a 'gorified' take on it.

Beautifully acted, and who doesn't love Ellen Page? But now I better understand those who condemn movies about the underbelly of life. Yes, it's a true story; no, this is not life as most of us experience it. What does it teach us? Nothing, other than what we already knew: the most depraved thing you can imagine, there are folks out there more depraved than that. Is there a name for this genre? If not, may I suggest one? Depravity porn.

** S L E E P E R * A L E R T **

I love you Ellen, I love you more than anyone and that was the most painful movie for me ever, full of irrational cruelty and characters more annoying than thousand lesbian feminists with PMS in one room. Fuck you, Gert-'I'm-sorry'-rude. Fuck you, Pau-'horrible-lies'-la. Fuck you, John-'watch-this.nice-eh?'-ny. Fuck you, Mar-'mama-said-she-is-a-slut'-ie. Fuck you, Ricky. Fuck you, Sally. Fuck you, Shirley. Fuck you, Teddy.

A sick and shocking real story, with good performances here. It has an interesting structure, which gives sense to the plot. The facts and courthouse were well alternated and the characterization of each character too, especially Catherine Keener, that grows, little by little.

Maybe some deepness in characters' stories should be fine. Depressing with it's real story.

Watch "The Girl Next Door (2007)", its about the same crime. I think this movie is more popular because of Ellen Page but "The Girl Next Door (2007)" is soooooo much better.

A good film with great acting and story.

Keener and Page bring conviction to their roles, but the very structure of the story makes it difficult to develop the characters. O'Haver handles the toughest elements quite well. In depicting the abuses heaped on Page's character, he's brutally honest while showing restraint that prevents the film from becoming exploitative. While he deserves credit for that, he's culpable for the film's most egregious misstep, a third act narrative trick that delivers a sucker punch to the audience.

As much as you want to you will not be able to forget this movie

A sugar-coated, watered down version of what really happened. The Girl Next Door is far superior.

Emotionally attached story, but actually some of kid actors manage to survive with a decent roles. Story also did good observation on mother's environment and place as a single parent with six kids in those times. Not a black and white storytelling at all. The touch was lost towards the end and director leaned more on emotions.

One of those "based on a true story" films that astounds. The screenwriter mostly succeeds in portraying seriously evil people thinking they're doing the right thing.

Horrific

07 Nisan 08, fitas1 siraL koltuk8, 13:30, yonetmenin katilimi ile, 27.ist. film fest. & ellen page mukemmel oynamis.film gercek bir hikayeyi anlattigi icin daha sarsici geliyor.yonetmenin sonunda sag gosterip, sol vurmasi gercekten zekiceydi.film mutlu sonla bitti diye dusunurken -ki oyle olsa film hakkinda bu kadar iyi oldugunu dusunmezdim- "gercek bu degil, gercekte hollywood filmlerinn sonu yok" dercesine yonetmen ellen page'in olumunu ani olark seyirciye sunuyor.film, her bunyeye gore degil.