Really Surprised!

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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.

Nassau County district attorney, Kathleen M. Rice, re-investigated the case of Jesse Friedman in 2013 to determine whether his conviction should be upheld or overturned. Their report, prepared by an independent review panel, demonstrate Capturing the Friedman's is, in the mildest terms 'incomplete, and in some points, even incorrect, either case misleading.Here are some of the key points taken from the report (which can be found online in District Attorney's web site). With respect to the Jesse Friedman case, the report says: " None of the five individuals who Friedman advocates suggest "recanted" have, in fact, recanted to any degree of legal certainty. Three have not recanted at all. Reviews of transcripts concerning these individuals reveal that abuse occurred. Another who spoke to the Review Team stood by his account, in contrast to the statement he gave to filmmakers. The subject of the most recent purported recantation has refused to speak to the Review Team or even confirm he wrote the letter outlining the claim, which was provided to the Review Team by Jesse Friedman's lawyer." "Unedited film transcripts of Judge Abbey Boklan and Detective Anthony Squeglia show that each was the subject of selectively edited and misleading film portrayals in Capturing the Friedmans." "The "Meyers Tape" – one of only two pieces of direct evidence of heavy-handed police interviewing techniques cited by Friedman, his advocates and the Court – is, in fact, no tape at all. All that remains of a tape that hasn't existed for more than two decades are notes taken during its screening by a Jesse Friedman attorney. Those notes, presumably limited to information the attorney found helpful to his client's case, were then reduced and curated by filmmakers, and read dramatically by Friedman's attorney in Capturing the Friedmans." "A sworn affidavit from the therapist who treated former student "Computer Student One," stated that she never performed hypnosis on the child. A portion of an unedited transcript of the film's interview with "Computer Student One" contradicted his claim of pre-outcry hypnosis and had been edited out. "Computer Student One" claimed in a 2004 media report that Capturing the Friedmans "twisted" his account. The filmed allegations of "Computer Student One" remain the only direct evidence offered by Friedman or his advocates suggesting that hypnosis was used to induce victims to make accusations in this case."I also find it difficult to understand how these basic facts are totally omitted in the documentary, such as: "While maintaining his innocence prior to his eventual guilty plea, Friedman commissioned and failed at least two lie-detector tests."Overall I found the film, especially the narcissism still preserved in Friedmans' character interesting enough to google the case. In this sense, I guess that makes it good fiction movie, but still not a documentary.

The story of the Friedmans is one that requires an understanding of the people involved. They are the ones who drive the story till the end. The way in which their confusion and deception of the situation, seeming to belong to the eye view only, is in any case a he said she said tale. The facts on both sides pulls you back and forth unaware of where you stand. When the Friedman family, with their crazy antics, believes what they think is to be right and to hold no other truth to the facts of the case, it makes you wonder who are these people? Where did they come from? It is a surprise until the end. A moderate and frustrating tale, Capturing the Friedmans requires much attention with little thought.

Entertaining story, and even good film making. However, Andrew Jarecki should be ashamed of the biased point of view he MANIPULATED in this film. Is this a case of one Jewish person (Jarecki) defending a Jewish family (Friedmans)? As a new yorker myself who is not Jewish, I understand how Jewish folks stick together...But this is crossing the line and is an absolute disgrace! Jarecki left out ABSOLUTELY INCRIMINATING evidence, footage, and persons involved in this. Jesse and Arnold are without a shadow of a doubt GUILTY, and this film makes an unethical attempt to raise that doubt and draw sympathy for these predators and monsters.How dare you defend these two individuals!!! Jarecki is a FRAUD for this. There was a 3rd predator who was to testify against Jesse & Arnold about the abuse, there was an overwhelming amount of child pornography that was found (NOT A STACK OF MAGAZINES THAT JARECKI DOWNPLAYED THIS INTO). Jarecki talked to 3-5 victims out of 17 (admitted by Jesse Friedman). Jarecki left out Jesse Friedmans total admission to everything in an interview from jail with Geraldo Rivera as well. You can check it out for yourself, but don't for a minute let Jarecki fool you that these monsters are anything but sick, sick individuals who destroyed dozens of lives. Here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjYWOZgMbHQ&feature=related

The Friedmans are your typical middle-class Jewish family. But when Arnold Friedman and his 18 year old son Jesse Friedman got arrested by the police for abusing and molesting young children's in the Friedman home. They got arrested at Thanksgiving in 1987 for hundreds shocking crimes. The oldest son David Friedman doesn't believe it as first, including his mother Elaine and his brother Seth. Documentary filmmaker Andrew Jarecki (All Good Things) interviews David, Jesse, Elaine including the reporters, victims, the prosecutors, sex crime unit, the judge, formers students of Arnold's computer class, Jesse's former friend and Arnold's brother. All the interviewers with the filmmaker are searching the truth of what did happen with Arnold and his son Jesse along with the students were sexually abused and some students claimed that nothing sexual happened in class. So, who is telling the truth?Director Jarecki makes an fascinating documentary with the now infamous "The Friedman" family. David Friedman, now he's an entertainer for children. Who seems to be still in denial of what happened to his family, although he's an intelligent person, who loves to entertained and being an magician to please young children. "Capturing the Friedmans" does have some darkly comic moments including some truly disturbing moments during the interview and the vintage news footage. The documentary is at its best during the amazing home video footage of the family to witness an better understanding of the family falling apart.Disc One has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine Dolby Stereo 2.0 Surround Sound. Disc One also includes an running commentary track by the director and producer/editor:Richard Hankin. An interesting commentary track if you truly liked the documentary. Disc Two includes unseen home movies from inside the Friedmans house, Great Neck Outraged, New witnesses and evidence and more. "Capturing the Friedmans" is certainly an difficult documentary to watch. But it is extremely admittedly powerful and unforgettable. Director Jacrecki and Producer:Marc Smerling received an Oscar nominated for their solid work. Since the documentary is not for all tastes. But this documentary shouldn't be missed and also is what to make of all this is wisely left to the viewer, what he or she thinks of the damaged family. (**** ½/*****).