This year, Denzel Washington won an Academy Award for a solid role in what many considered to be an imperfect movie. This is hardly uncommon, and tends to happen to exceptional actors like Washington who do what they can to elevate mediocre material, but prove their still mortal and can only do so much.
Another fine example of this recurring phenomenon is “The Accused,” which features stellar actress Jodie Foster in an Oscar-winning role, despite the fact that the film has more flaws than Ireland has pubs. Condescending and manipulative, “The Accused” stars Foster as white trash flirt Sarah Tobias who’s victimized and gang raped by fellow white trash flirts in a seedy bar, only to have her sullied reputation called into question when the Deputy District Attorney (Kelly McGillis) attempts to prosecute the guilty parties.“The Accused” handles a delicate topic with clinical coolness and a detachment common in the court of law. While it doesn’t shy away from the taboo, it avoids confronting it head on until the final (and brutal) finale. It’s major misstep is its ham-fisted treatment of the gender bias. Tom Topor’s screenplay makes every male character aggressive, self-serving and conceited, while the female characters fluctuate from being extreme victims to salvation-providing heroes. Only Foster is able to cut through the rhetoric – and her character’s built-in handicaps – to find the sympathetic side of a character we’djust as easily pass judgement on ourselves.Grade: C-THE EXTRASUnfortunately, Paramount’s “Accused” DVD comes with few extras to speak of. The film’s trailer is presented in anamorphic widescreen, but all it emphasizes is that back in 1988, McGillis was the top draw. Funny how times change. But where is McGillis for a commentary? Or director Jonathan Kaplan? Too busy? Heck, I’d even take a short featurette from the cast of ABC’s “The Practice” discussing how they owe their existence to courtroom dramas like “The Accused.”Grade: D-OVERALL EXPERIENCE: C-A lack of features still can’t steal from Foster’s fantastic performance, which speaks volumes for how good she really is here. The film I can take or leave, but Foster’s performance is award-worthy. By Sean O’ConnellMay 6, 2002