Capturing the Friedmans - What's your verdict?
 

Having just sat enthralled watching this tonight, I can't believe I didn't know it was a 2 disc set and i only rented disc one :mad: Regardless, I'm curious to hear others thoughts on their interpretation and who they think did or didn't do what they were charged of. It was an amazing documentary, and really offered the absolute best of everything about the ability of a good doc to present a story....I can not recommend it highly enough. I never thought for a second this would be something i'd buy, but I most definately will be owning this one....

anyway, I'd love to hear more from PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN IT in terms of what they think the real story is...i.e.: what is truth and what is fiction. Personally, while I waffled quite a bit, in the end I don't think either did what they are accused of....like someone said at some point, it just seemed more plausible that they didn't do it than they did over four years repeatedly and heinously and not once did a parent catch on or did a kid every say anything, or that no one ever noticed anything out of the ordinary.

I thought Arnie did, Jesse didn't.

I thought the case against Jesse was pretty weak. The kiddie porn Arnie had makes it harder to believe he didn't do anything.

first of all the whole family seemed pretty wacky,

Arnie obviously loves little boys, had the kiddie porn and had admitted to abusing some boys so regardless of whether or not he did all the stuff he was charged for he belongs in jail (or should I say belonged),

jesse I have no idea, I am on the fence with him leaning toward his guilt only because of his father though, and I agree the case was weak against him

did anyone else find it weird/creepy that on the eve of going to jail he was joking around outside the courthouse, if it was me ...I would be super depressed and probably crying or something

This is where my mind determined that Jesse was probably guilty...watching him goofing off outside the courthouse and then watching his "act" in front of the judge led me to believe that he was probably dishonest in all his interviews too.

However, while I do believe father and son deserved to go to jail and probably abused some of those kids...I don't believe it was to the extent of the charges against them...I think the police have a lot of questions to answer about manipulating witnesses.

It seemed pretty obvious that neither man was guilty of the charges presented in this film.

However, it's also pretty obvious that Arnold had abused children in the past, and that he was more or less rightfully convicted as a child abuser, but for the "wrong" crimes.

Pretty much what my opinion was. Really well done documentary.

I felt that the Arnie more than likely could have done some of the crimes he was accused of, though I felt that film in general sided on Jesse's innocence and was less subjective than it could have been. Secondly, the extra footage on the bonus disc of the DVD is equally fascinating, after seeing the film at the Palm Springs Internatinal Film Festival in January, I was anxious to see the supplements on the disc. Needless to say, it is quite amazing what was taken out for the sake of time and is vital to the understanding of the story and backstory.

I think it is possible that Arnie may have molested one/some of his students, but like most pedophiles he would have done it privately, not in the middle of the class.
I think it is a real possibility that Arnie molested his sons, I got this EXTREMELY weird vibe about the 4 men in this family, they were way too into each other.

After watching the supplemental I think this case was one like many in the late 80's early 90's of mass-molestation, akin to the Salem witch trials, besides the one mentioned in the movie a similar situation occurred in Jordon, MN. A town with a small population, IIRC around 10k and over half the town was accused of molesting the children. The police knew Arnie had to be guilty because of his porn, and went and made a case against him. Watching the one kid talk about it, I just got the feeling he was making up everything he was saying, and very far-fetched.

I have to qualify my "Neither did it" by saying that Arnie is a sick POS. I have no respect for him. The letter read at the end that he sent to Jessie's lawyer is chilling.

I was still undecided at the end of the film. I was 85-90% sure they did not, but after watching all of the extras on the DVD, I 100% (baring other information that I don't know which is eaisly possible) think it is beyond obvious that they did not do what they were accused of. There were several things on the extras that I am suprised they didn't include in the film. If you liked the film, I can't imagine better DVD extras to compliment it.

I have a different view. I see how it can show that he is a good enough actor to convince people, but I don't think the way he acted would depend on wheater he did it or not. A child molestor would still be going to jail. I don't think the way the acted no the day of would depend on if they were guilty, just on the person.

Yup, my thoughts exactly.

Also, I thought Jesse's clowning with his brother's on the day of his elocution was perfectly natural. It was gallow's humor, and it probably helped put his brothers at ease. This strikes me as in complete keeping with Jesse's personality (as we see it in the extras -- particularly evident in the way he treats his mother upon his release).