Capturing the Friedmans
Seen it?2003 | 107 min | Documentary, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans and the curious. If you loved Girl in the Picture, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Gritty, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 47 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the question of whether they were rightfully tried when they claim they were innocent and there was never any evidence against them.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Documentary. Also nominated for 1 Oscar and 1 DGA Award. Plus 4 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$4 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 173K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Andrew Jarecki
- Arnold FriedmanSelf (archive footage)
- Elaine FriedmanSelf
- David FriedmanSelf
- Jesse FriedmanSelf
- Seth FriedmanSelf (archive footage)
- John McDermottSelf - Postal Inspector
- Frances GalassoSelf - Ret. Director, Sex Crimes Unit
- Anthony SguegliaSelf - Detective, Sex Crimes Unit
- Joseph OnoratoSelf - Asst. District Attorney
- Judd MartinSelf - Jesse's Best Friend in High School