User reviews

Greetings again from the darkness. "You have the right to remain silent." Whether you say it out loud or just finish it in your head, the vast majority of us know what follows, even if it's (hopefully) just from watching TV and movies. You likely also know that it's part of The Miranda Rights ... a list of rights that anyone being arrested is entitled to. If you are like me, you probably hadn't put any thought into the origin of those rights or the requirement for law enforcement to recite them in a timely manner. Director Michelle Danner (THE RUNNER, 2021) and co-writers George Kolber and J Craig Stiles are here to educate by bringing us the story of Trish Weir and Ernesto Miranda.

The film is based on the true story of Trish, an 18-year-old working at a local movie theater. After one late night bus ride home from work, she was abducted and raped. As Trish, Abigail Breslin proves yet again that she is a terrific actor, and fully grown up since her breakthrough performance in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006). What follows is gut-wrenching, and likely a scene that played out all too frequently fifty years ago, and still occurs today. Trish's mom (Mireille Enos, "The Killing") tries to dissuade her from going to the police by warning her that "they never believe the victim", and that she will then be considered "damaged goods." It's painful to watch this play out, despite knowing that mom thinks she is protecting her young daughter. Trish's sister Ann (Emily Van Camp, "Revenge") is very supportive and follows her to the doctor for the initial check-up, to the police station for filing the report, and ultimately to the courtroom.

There is much to consider in this story. How courageous was Trish for standing up and pursuing the case? How about the detectives (played by Enrique Murciano, Brent Sexton) who recognized that even though other victims had chosen not to come forward, Trish could help them stop a really bad guy? And then there is a legal system that was unfair to both Trish and Ernesto Miranda (Sebastian Quinn), as well as the attorney, judges, and jurors involved with the cases. Fittingly, a clip of the 1962 classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is shown, emphasizing the wheels of justice turn slowly. We see that the ACLU attorney (Ryan Phillippe) gets involved when he believes Mr. Miranda was coerced into a confession. This is the case that changes everything.

Supporting work comes from Luke Wilson as Trish's attorney, Lawrence Turoff; Andy Garcia as Miranda's first defense attorney, Alvin Moore; Donald Sutherland as a judge in the case; Taryn Manning ("Orange is the New Black") as a key witness; Dan Lauria as the examining doctor; and Kyle MacLachlan as Chief Justice Earl Warren, who is excited for a rare public reading of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in 1966. It should be noted that the film is very well acted, with the notable exception of Ryan Phillippe, who tries oh-so-hard to steal his scenes, failing painfully.

Michelle Danner's work as director here is exceptional, given how many facets to the story must be juggled and given proper due. Even the re-trial of Miranda is handled well, as Trish is put through another round of emotional turmoil, this time involving her spouse. The film ends with a startling statistic: only 5 of every 1000 sexual assaults result in a conviction. Those are today's figures, so we are left to wonder just how much has changed over the past 60 years.

The film is currently playing the Film Festival circuit.

It's 1963. Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin) gets raped by Ernesto Miranda. It's a long bumpy road from there to conviction to the Supreme Court and back to trial again.

I've never considered this case despite the omnipresence of this legal precedent. Miranda is not even a person's name anymore. On a basic level, this movie is interesting information. The problem is the case itself. It makes one root against this important ruling. It does settle on Trish and her compelling journey especially after her marriage. It's a bumpy journey of a movie. It's probably a bit long at over two hours although I don't know what could be trimmed. I would definitely change the title. They probably want Miranda's name in the title, but I want Trish in there too.

A beautiful tale of salvation and cultural evolution. A young lady's journey through a course of absurd unjustnesses to get the justice done for an obvious heinous crime. The revelation on the backwardness of toxic masculinity is sharply criticized also knocking off any remnants at present. Thought provoking crusade marking a mile stone of law and policing of a country. And the flawless performance by Abigail Breslin was a bonus and the rest of the cast were also putting up sincere performances. Great visuals capturing both emotions and changing imes. Great music saves the story from any dullness. Miranda's victim is a iconic docudrama that's uniquely interesting.

This movie is not a dramatic detective story with lots of horrifying scenes as the dark gloomy poster suggests. It's not even about Miranda and his rights, completely undeserved honor for him to go down in history like that.

Based on a true story, it dramatizes stoic bravery of a young woman who had to go through the unsympathetic and ritualistic court system where procedural mistakes and skillful lawyers playing chess with people's lives have more impact than actual confessions, on a slight chance of helping others avoid her destiny and being able to sleep at night.

A decent movie on the topic that unfortunately never gets old. Were you really raped or actually asked for it. Are you damaged goods or a traumatized human being. Shouldn't you just keep on living like nothing happened instead of complicating your life. Would they believe you?

I guess Miranda's Victim had its heart in the right place and the acting was first rate for the most part but the movie tried to capture the 60's so hard it ended up coming off more like a 70's after school special.

The cinematography was excellent and some of the soundtrack worked but the story was an exercise in who cares-at least the way this writer told it. Could have been something special but the writer and director missed their opportunity in my opinion.

Maybe they delivered what they were trying to but for me it was overly dramatic way too much of the time and ended up feeling flat and falling flat on its face. Little suspense or drama. Sorry. So disappointed.

Although everybody has heard about the Miranda warning, nobody really knows the background story about the circumstances that led to the enactment of this ruling.

Miranda's Victim presents the story from all sides: through the eyes of the attorneys, Miranda, and most importantly, his victim. Trish Weir's persistence in obtaining justice at a time where few women reported rapes is a crusade that still resonates today as women collectively find their voices to share their own sexual abuse stories in the ongoing MeToo movement.

This movie is not just a story. It sends a greater message to all sexual assault victims on how one brave voice can have such a profound effect on the American justice system.

I'm reading a lot of positive reviews and a list of festival awards for this movie but I don't feel the same. This movie tried too hard IMO. The acting looks forced and very trite. I cringed at some of the line deliveries from the very first scene. There is also some odd cinematography choices. One of them being when Trish and her mom or when Trish and her sister are talking, the actors are spaced as bookends for a poster or painting in the middle of the screen.

I know people are praising the acting in this movie but honestly I found the acting to be cliché and awkward. In some of the scenes it looks like the actor(s) forgot their lines, remembered them, then kept going and that is the take the director used.

This movie is kin to an After School Special where we learn something through dramatic storytelling,

Oh, and Luke Wilson playing a lawyer made me think that somewhere Movie Land that he is married to Elle Woods and the kids he shows pictures to another character to, are theirs.

The true representation of the events leading up to the creation of Miranda Rights is very important.

The actors are all collectively exceptional in their roles.

Emotional and provocative scenes that are played out impeccably.

With the gracious cooperation of the actual victim Trish Weir the quality of the story is phenomenal.

Abigail Breslins portrayal of Trish was beyond emotionally powerful and so very real you could feel all her emotions pulsing through you.

Kudos to the writers and especially the Director.

The cast of characters is amazing and they are all so talented it commands the attention of the Movie Academy.

I understand that this is based on a true story and as such is almost a documentary but this movie has some strange emotions that is evokes between the perpetrator, the victim and her family, the police, the lawyers, the judges and doctors.

Are we supposed to cheer the ACLU for freeing a serial r*pist? As such, I felt that the movie wanted us to feel sorry for the Miranda. Are we supposed to boo the police for obtaining a conviction illegally?

The movie seems to try and stand in the of the road and not side with anyone. As a result, to carry on the metaphor, it seems to get hit by traffic from both directions.

The acting is passable, but the real failing of the movie is in the weak direction and writing.

One other question, why did this movie have 20 credited producers? Is that normal?

Miranda's Victim is not your typical courtroom drama. The story is told in a non-linear way that adds more tension and drama to an impactful true story.

The cast is a stacked ensemble with multiple Academy Award and Emmy nominations shared between them. These giants of the industry showcase their talents by giving breathtaking performances set to the backdrop of a heart wrenching time in America's history.

Abigail Breslin brought the audience to tears at my showing, myself included. She gives what could be one of her best performances of her career and allows us to connect to both her, and her real life counterpart Trish Weir.

The film is visually beautiful and tells an important story. In a post Roe v Wade world, this film and the message behind it becomes even more important.

It's beating us over the head with its point, like "Unbelievable".

At the same time, it's highlighting the fact that the aclu stood up for an assaulter.

There's not too much subtlety or nuance, that could have been added.

I think this story would have been more interesting if told from the point of one of the women who said she was just robbed, but then she sees the court case play out.

Also, the mom's view was just tossed to the side, when at that time she honestly had a valid point. Most women DID only get shamed and treated worse for reporting what happened to them, it still happens. She wasn't this evil out of touch person, she wanted to protect her daughter given her own life experience.

Everyone knows the Miranda Rights, but I had never heard the actual story of how they came to be before watching this movie. The writing is very well done, pulling from mysteries, crime procedurals, and courtroom dramas to keep you on your toes and in the moment. The acting is phenomenal, as you could guess from the cast list. Abigail Breslin and Sebastian Quinn absolutely deserve nominations for their performances.

In the past, I've started steering clear of movies around assault because it's so often depicted in a glorified or exploitative way. Miranda's Victim was not the case at all. The sensitive subject matter is handled with such care and dignity, and the real-life survivor the movie is based on was involved throughout the process, which speaks volumes.

Top if off with a phenomenal directorial vision, beautiful cinematography, and a passionate team that really truly cares about telling this story, and you have a great film start to finish. They actually stayed so close to real life that a lot of the lines are pulled straight from evidence files and court documents, yet the ending is poignant and satisfying. I can't say enough. Absolutely take the time to watch it -- you won't be disappointed.

Incredible balance way of telling an untold story! The actors were phenomenal and the locations, and wardrobe transported you to their world. The movie was intriguing, it held your attention from start to finish. I had never heard of the story behind the Miranda Rights and what a surprising story it was. This movie has you going through a roller coaster of feelings towards the characters as the story develops. The story also presents the challenges, flaws and mindset of the time the story took place and how it influenced all of the characters and their decision making process. Overall a surprising story with great script, acting cinematography and set.

This is my first review here and I felt like I had to write one for this movie. It was amazing. The performance by Abigail Breslin is incredible. She was absolutely perfect for this role. Luke Wilson, Emily VanCamp, Enrique Murciano, Brent Sexton, and cast were all great! I have never heard this story before and it breaks my heart knowing what she had to go through. I fear even today that things have not changed with not believing the victim but I hope it has on some level. I don't think I have seen anyone comment about this but that Dr. Crawford really made me mad in the beginning! It takes a brave person to go into an ER and do a rape exam. I hope doctors are a little more supportive now. Great movie!!

IN A NUTSHELL: One of the courses I currently teach at a university is Politics, so I was especially interested in seeing how this story would be told. Already, it has 25 wins and 8 nominations!

The dramatic movie was directed by Michelle Danner, and written by George Kolber, Richard Lasser, and J. Craig Stiles.

THINGS I LIKED: The terrific cast includes Abigail Breslin, Donald Sutherland, Andy Garcia, Luke Wilson, Emily VanCamp, Enrique Murciano, Mireille Enos, Nolan Gould, Joshua Bowman, Sebastian Quinn, and Ryan Phillippe.

Academy Award-nominated Abigail Breslin did a terrific job in the leading role. We all fell in love with her when she appeared in the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine. I first noticed her as the darling little girl in Signs in 2002. I'm so happy for her to land this movie. She successfully portrayed a frightened, young girl and slowly showed subtle degrees of maturity, forgiveness, courage, and even dignity as the years passed after the rape. Well done!

I appreciated the fact that the film was directed by a woman because she was able to sensitively show the various reactions of the crime by the featured women in the story.

There is a clip shown from the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Great movie.

Young viewers might find it hard to believe that people didn't just easily say the names of male and female genitalia like they do now. I thought the film represented how "good girls" actually behaved back in 1963 and how completely devastating being raped as an 18-year-old virgin it would have been for Trish Weir.

Fun fact: Emily VanCamp and Josh Bowman also starred together in the 2011 film They are now married in real life!

The emotional heft is strong throughout the entire film. Get your tissues ready.

Keep watching during the final rolling credits to see photos of some of the real people involved in the events shown in the movie. We also get to read what happened to them and where they are now. One of the final shots shows that out of 1000 rape cases, only 5 of the rapists are actually convicted. That is so wrong and abhorrent in many ways. The film offers a phone number to call if you or someone you know has been a victim.

Kudos to the team for creating a very accurate 1960s period piece that truly looks and feels spot on.

It was George Kolber, one of the producers, who found Trish Weir and got her permission to tell her side of the story. Wow, she was brave then and is still now.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Some of the transitions between scenes were choppy.

There is a strange green screen in Act 1.

This is a heavy film to watch because of the subject matter.

Some viewers might be confused by the non-linear storytelling method, as the timeline jumps around quite a bit.

One thing the movie doesn't address is why a married man would kidnap and rape a young girl. Ernest Mirando deserved to rot in jail. It's so frustrating to watch the courtroom trials. What a filthy scumbag Ernest was.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: A lot of talk of rape with some dramatization of the events Two F-bombs Some blood

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This is a very important story that I can't believe hasn't been told yet. Acting and cinematography are excellent and would have gotten a 10/10 but for soundtrack and a few scenes where it is hard to imagine you are in Arizona.

Breslin is terrific and the courtroom drama is sensational. Donald Sutherland is excellent in his role as trial judge. Garcia, Wilson, and Phillipe are convincing as the righteousness attorneys.

Definitely a movie and story for the times.

Michelle Danner has done it again with the star studded cast and the ability to tell a complex and emotionally straining narrative. The time period was masterfully created as well.

Brilliantly done. The story line is eye opening in itself. A tremendous piece of history that needs to be told. Historic and meaningful piece; which is surprising that most of us has never really known the history of the "Miranda's rights" and where it came from and how it got its name. Then the flow of the movie was well executed and kept me at edge of seat entire movie. Emotion evoking movie with perfect balance of excitement, courtroom drama, history and even drops of comedic stints. A powerful movie that left you feeling good at the end. Excellent acting and very well directed and executed. Must see!

I was fortunate enough to see the premier of this film. At first I did not know what to expect, but being a law school student I was definitely excited the movie focuses on what inspired Miranda's rights. Also, having prior experience in law-enforcement training, it was some thing that was pushed very hard. It was imperative to know Miranda rights.

Being able to see the real life story and perspective of someone who was actually involved, the victim, was incredible. I genuinely enjoyed the reproduction of that time period and the several steps within the judicial system. The film did not try to hide the truth of how long and arduous that process can be. The cast was phenomenal and did a terrific job! Having the ability to meet them in person prior to the film and then see them acting on the big screen was jaw dropping. In no way could I believe they were the same person. That's how good the acting was. I do not want to pick apart the film and ruin the storyline, but all I can say is watch it, it will be a classic and Michelle Danner really did a great job putting this film together. I hope students and those interested in law careers or law enforcement will give this film a watch!

Miranda's victim does what so many "crime" shows neglect doing: telling the victim's story. Such a heavy topic is dealt with masterfully, capturing the raw humanity behind every aspect of a complicated case. Additionally, this case is one that isn't frequently highlighted, so it is also every educational towards such a vital aspect of our legal system. The script is real and honest, and the performances are a reflection of this. From a directorial standpoint, not a beat is missed. The film is highly engaging and leaves you feeling uncomfortable in all the right ways. Definitely a movie worth your time.

Very well done true story of this important case in our nation's history. Abagail Breslin does a great job as the lead and Luke Wilson along with Ryan Phillippe are amazing as the lawyers in this case. The film does a great job explaining the story in fine detail so no stone is left unturned. It hits on every aspect of the case.

Michelle Danner did a great job directing, the cinematography was top notch and all other supporting cast did a great as well. Each character appears to have been portrayed with historical accuracy and the end of the movie sums up how each person's life went after the trial. Please give it a watch!

This movie is an excellent dramatization of the impact of the Fifth Amendment which, among other things, seeks to protect an accused person from self-incrimination. It is hard to watch at times but covers an important aspect of the USA justice system.

Abigail Breslin is the victim, Trish Weir, starting when she was 18 in 1963 (coincidentally, I turned 18 in 1963) and going through her married, young adult life. She is excellent in what must have been a difficult role.

The criminal here is Ernesto Miranda (thus 'Miranda Rights' or 'Miranda Warning') who was only marginally educated and had been in troubles of various types starting when he was in grade school, his first conviction was when he was in the eight grade in Mesa, Arizona. This movie focuses on his kidnap and apparent rape of the 18 year old girl shortly after she got off the bus, coming home at midnight from her job at the movie house.

Interestingly the actual victim was Lois Ann Jameson but because it was agreed she would be protected went by the pseudo name Trisha Weir. Only later in life did she identified.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. As we both grew up and started college during that time it was nice hearing some old songs from the 1960s.

Remarkable storytelling with a unique balance!

The narrative is both enlightening and thought-provoking. The writing is superb, complemented by exceptional acting. Director Michelle Danner infuses her enchanting directing style into the film, guiding the audience on an emotional journey. It's nearly impossible not to shed a tear while watching this powerful movie.

Mireille Enos is delivering an outstanding performance with her role Zeola. Congratulations to the entire team who put their effort and heart into this movie.

A definite must-see!

Plot summary : In 1963, eighteen-year-old Patricia Weir is kidnapped and brutally raped. Committed to putting her attacker, Ernesto Miranda, in prison, Trish's life is destroyed by America's legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation.

The movie, "Miranda's Victim" has an important story to tell. Trish Weir displayed tremendous bravery and determination to relive the memory of a horrific experience so that it would protect and benefit others. With the help of her attorney, she overcame much criticism and discouragement to come forward. This movie provides an avenue of support for people today.

The cast is marvelous and the performances are fantastic, thanks to Michelle Danner's splendid direction. It's also an honor to have Monmouth County, NJ chosen as film location to recreate this 1960's historical event.. This is an amazing movie and highly worth checking out.

Everything about this movie was expertly crafted. I wasn't aware of the story behind Miranda Rights, and this feels like history everyone should know. It's crazy to me that this story hasn't been told before now, but this was worth the wait. It's clear when watching the movie that everyone involved truly cared about doing it right. This team not only took on a very tough subject matter, but handled it with grace and care while delivering a gripping story that is true to history. The acting, the writing, the directing, etc - it all comes together to create something truly amazing. This movie should be high on your "to watch" list!