Rating: 
Summary: Great performances in a well-made movie.
Review: Having recently returned from a month in Australia--with a visit to Uluru (formerly Ayer's Rock), I decided to buy the DVD version of this film, having not seen it since it's initial release. It's such a pleasure to watch a movie well-made. Meryl Streep and Sam Neill are both excellent. It's easy to overlook Neill's pitch-perfect turn, since Streep so dominates the film. This, in fact, may be one of Streep's best performances in a career of great performances. Again, she masters an accent, and she is particularly good at capturing the nuances of complicated women, who are not always our typical movie heroines. Lindy Chamberlain is such a character. Her unwillingness to cater to media expectations is, in part, what lands her in the slammer. The tragedy of this true story is not just that a family is destroyed, but--with the passage of time--we realize that we are still perpetrating such media circuses and trial by rumor at an accelerated rate(O.J., the Clinton scandals, the 'Elian' saga, and now Gary Condit). Seeing (and enjoying) the movie again has led me back to the source material, and I'm now reading "Evil Angels" to gleen more detail than the movie could possibly contain. I heartily recommend the movie--although I wish the DVD version contained the "extras" that we've learned to love about the new medium.
Rating:
Summary: spellbinding
Review: The story of the baby who was taken by a dingo was perhaps the most newsworthy of the 1980's. I was at the time a master control operator at Channel Seven in Melbourne and on duty when the news of a missing baby at Ayres Rock in Central Australia came thru. I had the job of organizing the television signals from the Rock to our network in Melbourne. It was quite a task and seeing the events unfold on the DVD, I again revisited my own part of the overall picture of history. Further to this event, my 3 year old daughter [Nicolette] was eventually to play the role of Kahalia Chamberlain in Fred Schepschi's film and appears in the final 3 scenes. I still work in the TV/Film industry and occasionally look back at this excellent piece of dramatised history as a genuine piece of work, accurately played out and presented. History proved the innocence of Lindy and the incompetence of our forensic work, however, hindsight is a wonderful thing Barry Minster
Technical Manager
Melbourne Australia
Rating: 
Summary: This MOVIE WAS JUST TOO HALLARIOUS TO TAKE SEROUSLY!
Review: This movie is just a true joke. I remember seeing this movie in the middle of the night once before the time of all night infomercials. I remember seeing this movie in the twilight of my mind that place bordering on brain dead and boredom late one night. I had honestly talked myself into beleving I did not see this dreck until I happened to stumble upon it here at Amazon. As serious fare this movie is a ripe stinker with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever save one. Veiwed in the right alas morid anti-social callous context this movie is a hoot. The more I think of it the whole movie has a totally lamer excuse, "The Dog (Dingo) Ate My Homework" feel to it. I mean a movie about how a "Dingo ate my baby" get real, the parents collectively must have the I.Q's of a very small bowl of yeast. Add to the mix the cardboard acting, bad accents and truly lame script and its like watching a film called How NOT to make a movie 101 at a community college. I'd buy this movie for one reason so I could have a personal living object lesson on JUST HOW BAD A TRULY LAME MOVIE CAN GET! If Oscars were given for worst movies this one would have few rivals and NO PEERS!, in my humble opinion. This movie does work as a dark comedy if you are roaring drunk, stuck infront of a DVD player / TV without strength, coordination or inclination to move in desparate need of a laugh. I wish that hungry Dingo had ate the master print of this movie before it had any chance to reproduce. Had that dingo eaten this tripe he would have been voted humanitarian of the year for such a selfless act by a greatful world. Bad Dingo Bad Bad Dingo.
Rating:
Summary: Streeps Last Good Film
Review: A CRY IN THE DARK, in my opinion, is Meryl Streep's last good film before she started making films like SHE DEVIL and became an action star in RIVER WILD -- fun, good, Hollywood movies, yes! But this talented lady deserves so much more. Watching A CRY IN THE DARK on DVD made me think how much ahead of its time this film was. It predated O.J. Simpson and all of the "mothers killing children" stories that have been newsworthy of late. (Of course, the story is old news to Australians.) However, the film focuses attention on the power of the media and the harm of "speculation". I think Meryl's character shows us, too, that a stern, blank face is open for interpretation and imagination. Because she did not react in public as we all expect a grieving mother to, then suspicions arise. Streep is excellent. Sam Neal is as well. The film is like a puzzle. It is precise in its depiction of the events surrounding the child and dingo. I'm not sure the point of the film is to cast blame or say these people lied: rather, the film examines the circus around the events. And at the heart of the circus is the religious faith of this couple ... why did God take the child? Why are they being accused? Very interesting. Very thought provoking. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Truth is still stranger than fiction
Review: Gather three Australians and turn the conversation from footy to the Lindy Chamberlain case. One of you is almost certain to survive the encounter. Although the survivor will almost certainly be only you. Still arousing the highest passions among Australians, the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain and the subsequent jailing of her mother for murder remains the most noted legal and social episode there. Even this film and new evidence has failed to clear the Chamberlain's name, indicative of the bizarre circumstances surrounding Azaria's death. "The dingo took my baby" remains a derisive expression in the Australian lexicon. Spellbinding isn't a trite phrase in describing this film, even if you already know the story. Schepisi keeps the focus tight on the Chamberlains and their dilemma. A few departures showing Australian public reaction to the case are vivid and pointed. You are in no doubt as to the feelings engendered. Azaria's loss and the media's role in helping condemn the Chamberlains aren't wasted moments. The motivation behind the police desire to make this a murder instead of a dingo attack is strong. The reason for their intensity isn't clear, but it never was since their treatment of the case was incredibly poor. The inept handling of evidence by the Northern Territory police is only mildly presented during the courtroom scenes. As Lindy, Meryl Streep's abilities soared to new heights in this film, as so many here have noted. Her talent for assuming the role, even that of a living person, is nearly matchless. Her dominant role in the film is only natural, since the case and the notoriety focused on her almost exclusively. Sam Neill, as husband Michael, appears almost distracted and confused. The scene in which she accuses him of virtually abandoning her to the law's persecuting assault on them is particularly vivid. Both knew the injustice they were suffering, but Lindy/Meryl was the one who lashed out in retaliation. In Australia, the concept of the "tall poppy," especially assertive women, being "cut down to size" is a cultural icon. Lindy Chamberlain became a "tall poppy" in the courtroom and the inevitable result transpired. Other actors aren't given much space to show their talents. Lewis Fitz-Gerald, who gave a fine performance in Breaker Morant, is restrained here. He's no Perry Mason, but the usual lawyer's struggle for justice is reduced here to a visual whimper. Bruce Myles as the prosecutor is suitably sarcastic in his desire to convict. He harbours no doubts about the guilt of the Chamberlains. The conviction seems almost unreal in light of what we see in the film, but it must have been real enough to Lindy Chamberlain, who delivered her fourth child while incarcerated. The irony of the conviction was recently revived with a dingo attack on a young child on Fraser Island, off the Queensland coast.
Rating:
Summary: A Movie With A Timeless Theme
Review: Michael and Lindy Chamberlain (Sam Neill and Meryl Streep) must endure the double horror of having their infant baby carried off by a dingo and then being convicted in a-- forgive me-- kangaroo court of the child's death. This movie, which grips you early on and never lets you go, sad to say, is based on a true incident that occurred in Australia in 1980. The Chamberlains, who are devout Seventh-Day Adventists, are guilty of being different. They are tried by both the public and media. Hysteria and rumor run rampant while reason and justice get lost in a rush to judgment. With the possible exception of IRON WEED, Meryl Streep has never made a bad movie. She is perfect here as the mother who has hope against hope that the truth will out and she will be found innocent. With an awful haircut-- the old bowl over your head look-- and the additional weight she apparently gained (she is pregnant during her trial) she manages to almost look plain and frumpy. Sam Neill as her fundamentalist minister husband gives an outstranding performance as well. The scenes of the Australian outback are beautiful. The theme is timeless: too often to be different is to be evil. If you are different, then you are not a person; and I can ignore the evidence and find you guilty of heinous crimes. Unfortunately, the Austalians in 1980 were not unique in this disease. One only has to remember the recent debacle of innocent inmates on death row in Illinois who were found to be innocent with new DNA evidence. Then there's Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in the 1950's. There's still questions about whether they were guilty of the crimes for which they were executed. The list goes on and on.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: "Cry In the Dark" is based on a true story about a disappearing baby. The mother maintains her claim that a dingo carried her baby daughter through the woods and killed her. As the country listens, rumors circulate that she killed her baby. The family either stays tighter knit or almost separates. Much drama occurs during the turmoil of losing a family member and being called the antichrist. Regardless of what's said in interviews, no one listens. Meryl Streep deserved her eighth Oscar nomination for Best Actress as the accused mother. Streep gives much of her own nightmare thoughts into the screen. Just her expressed emotions are enough to give the audience chills while causing them to almost cry. Sam Neill gives the best performance of his career as the accusee's husband. All 350 acting extras also give great performance. The writers greatly informed the audience of the real events. It digs deep into every characters' raw emotions. The director and the producers wonderfully led the cast and crew to their highest potential. This is one of the top ten best movies released in 1988. Its compelling theme will leave the audience with a sense of joy by the movie's end.
Rating: 
Summary: Evil Aussies!
Review: I saw this not long before visiting Down Under and going to Uluru (Ayers Rock). I was amazed to read that, in spite of this film, in spite of the fact Lindy Chamberlain's conviction was overturned, a THIRD inquest was held into the death of poor little Azaria in 1995, and you know what? THEY STILL DON'T BELIEVE LINDY! The coroner would not hand down a verdict stating that a dingo killed Azaria. And I read a statistic that 1 out of every 3 Australians still think - that is, still firmly believe - that Lindy Chamberlain murderered her. This is a heartbreaking film, especially given that it's a true story. Streep and Neil are superb.
Rating:
Summary: chilling account
Review: This is a measured, sober, and critical film that very clevery presents the way in which public hysteria can affect justice for individuals and is relevent to all societies. With this in mind, I would like to object to an early comment about "the blood thirsty, bigoted morbid folk of Australia." My mother, with many of her friends, campaigned on Lindy Chamberlain's behalf at the time and although there are others with opposing views it hardly warrants that kind of stereotype. I doubt that as an Irish person that the reviewer would like to be judged by some of the ridiculous cliches and stereotypes about the Irish. The film, on the other hand, is incisive and intelligent and depicts with moving gravity the seriousness of trial by media.
Rating:
Summary: Meryl Rocks!
Review: A sign of how convincing Meryl Streep was as Lindy is that Aussies who mock Lindy's "The dingo's got my baby" base it on the line from the film. The twentieth anniversary of the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain has just passed and the Chamberlain's separately (they are separated now and both remarried) fight for compensation from the Northern Territory Government. Hence the films and Schepsi's ulitmate success is in that it exists as a time capsule to early 80's terra australis. Evil Angels is as relevant today as it was when released. Only in her portrayal of Karen Silkwood does Streep bring the same rawness to a role as she does here. 5/5
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