Alicia I love this movie so much

Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

SnoopyStyle Defense attorney Ellie Harrison (Mariska Hargitay) just got a big win but she's conflicted about getting a white collar criminal off the hook. On an Amish farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a dead baby is found and unmarried Katie Fitch (Alison Pill) is arrested for killing the baby. Katie refuses to acknowledge her pregnancy no matter what. Ellie is pushed to defend by Katie's mother's cousin Leda who's been shunned. The judge orders that Katie could go home as long as Ellie is there as her guardian. Katie talks to her dead sister. Her father is exceedingly tough.I really like Mariska Hargitay and Alison Pill. They are doing perfectly good work here. It's a Lifetime movie filmed in Nova Scotia. That's probably its main drawback. The production lacks a cinematic style. Paul Shapiro is a TV director and this looks like a slightly below average TV show. I think the movie could have done a lot more with the style. As for the story, Ellie should be concerned with trying to get Katie off rather than worrying about the truth so much. Also the trial drags on for too long. It doesn't have enough drama. There is a shocking twist which would be so much more useful as part of the trial. It's not the most compelling TV movie.

Anna Smith I liked the overall look of this film and also the work of the actors. Escpecially the main characters, Amish girl and her lawyer do a good job, I like the closeup shots of their eyes and faces, those are wonderful, to portray emotions and expressions in their eyes in such a way is really good. The problem of this movie is that it is trying to be a thriller and an psychological movie at the same time. It could have chosen one or the other, that would have made it more intense. I think a murder mystery thriller in the Amish environment would have been a mighty good idea. Or then full-time psychological drama, the clash of Amish world and regular Western world through personal drama of one person. At the moment this hoovering on the border of both genres makes the movie weaker. In spite of this, overall it was an interesting movie, and the actors did a really good job.

caa821 While watching this film, I glanced at comments previously made on this site. Although few in number, they had a wider range than for most films. I haven't read the book, but can understand how it contained information and interesting studies of relationships between characters in greater detail than the time available would allow in the movie. And there are always variances in opinions, but usually not this great. For example, based upon its ratings, I may be one of the few people in the country who has seen CSI very seldom, and I wasn't familiar with Mariska Hargitay. However, I may start ensuring I view it in the future. Her performance here was outstanding, and she is a completely attractive presence. I had never heard of Alison Pill, either, and her performance was equally well-done. (In looking-up her profile here, she is a real cutie - not entirely hidden in the film, but unavoidably dimmed by the nature of her character.As with very good movies like this one, the supporting characters and cast performances were excellent, as was, of course, the story. The Amish represent a very culture to view, and having lived for many years in an area with Amish, I feel their society was represented fairly, respectfully and accurately. As others have mentioned, the plot does keep one guessing and yet each aspect is believable. In so many films where the story has a lot of twists and turns, either the story has contrivances needed to create them, and they sometimes detract, rather than enhance, the overall presentation. Neither was the case here. Not only an outstanding film, but one you look forward to seeing again, or perhaps buying a copy.

Francis A. Breen, Jr., M.D. I'm tempted to call this "Mariska trapped in a hunk of Swiss cheese" but this confused mess of a movie has a lot more holes than that. It's so weak and contrived that even the exceptional acting talents of Mariska Hargitay can't save it. Every time a plot twist was needed the accused simply told another lie and off we went in a new and contrived direction. The depiction of Amish life is cartoonish. One would think that the writers would know better than to have the accused calling her parents "mom and dad". And white buttons on shirts? There's a lot more but to delve any deeper might give away what little plot there is, so I'll simply recommend avoiding this film altogether.