Show A CRY IN THE DARK 2 1 by Mike Richan Contributing Writer There can be no doubt that Meryl is the greatest living working film actress today even the decade Every role she has played for forthe forthe forthe the past ten years since The Deer Hunter in 1977 has been flawless Her choice of characters characters characters charac charac- is demanding and intriguing Choice Out of Africa Ironweed This excellence excellence excellence ex ex- is usually remembered at Oscar time with a nomination She will most likely be nominated again for forA forA forA A Cry in the Dark and rightly so She has delivered the most powerful screen performance performance performance mance of the year in her rendition of a mother accused of killing her infant and claiming that thata a wild dingo an Australian dog stole the baby from the family's tent while on an outing Based on a true story that has seen its final chapters just written in Australia this film examines examines examines ex ex- amines not only the experiences of this woman wrongly jailed for three years for a crime she did not commit but how it effects her family and the country Of special note in inthe inthe inthe the film is the outrageous nature of the Australian press and how public condemnation tion played such a pivotal role in the process of determining her guilt Without a doubt performance on the witness stand forced by barristers to detail the death of her child is the most powerful and effective acting seen on the screen this year The film itself has a steady grip on the material and split-second split flashbacks during her testimony are haunting and intense fine acting from Sam Neill as her husband and minister to a congregation of Seventh-Day Seventh Adventists Adventists Adventists Ad- Ad accents the story slightly off-center off direction from Fred Plenty keeps an edge on the film An admission ticket well spent A Cry in the Dark is dark and depressing often without hope but firmly grounded in the innocence of its victims Its It's about trial and justice and the powerful effect the press can play on both |