The Most Hated Woman in America
The true story of Madalyn Murray O'Hair -- iconoclast, opportunist, and outspoken atheist -- from her controversial rise to her untimely demise.
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- Cast：
- Melissa Leo , Josh Lucas , Michael Chernus , Rory Cochrane , Vincent Kartheiser , Adam Scott , Juno Temple
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Reviews
Simply A Masterpiece
Powerful
Fresh and Exciting
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
This film is simply average. Honestly, a documentary about the woman in question would have been a heck of a lot more entertaining. Whoever made this, just did not have a big enough budget give birth to a film based on something that happened over 40 years ago.
There are several problems with the story line and the film. Check this interview on Stitcher www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-thinking-atheist/e/49877401 with Frank Zindler, former interim president of AA and someone who knew Madalyn Murray O'Hair personally.
I added this to my queue at Netflix a few months ago, thinking it was a documentary for some reason, but no this is an original drama from Netflix, and it is great! Oscar winner, Melissa Leo stars in the life story of Madelyn Murray O'Hair, the outspoken activist and founder of "American Atheists". Kids -- you can thank her for not having to pray in public schools anymore LOL.She and her younger son and granddaughter were kidnapped and held for ransom in 1995 by a former employee (played superbly by Josh Lucas) who knew the inner-secrets of where some of the cash donations were being funneled. This movie goes back and forth between her life up to that event, and the kidnapping situation, so it's sorta a biopic and crime picture in one.I had so many different emotions watching this -- it has an underlying sadness, but you find a lot of humor throughout it as well. Just absolutely outstanding! And not to give anything away -- but the ending is just horrific; OMG, I was devastated, not knowing the outcome. Juno Temple, Peter Fonda, Michael Chernus, Rory Cochrane and Brandon Mychal Smith round out the cast.
A great opportunity to tell an exciting and unusual life story got lost here. Although I may have forbearance with lack of craft skills. But a filmmaker may not embark on a topic he does not understand or know how to treat and process. This production is extremely clumsily thrown together. Sometimes it becomes involuntarily comical even. Melissa Leo deserves an apology.
