#shane meier

[shortoncache]

I've always wanted an excuse to do this

[hamill91]

'Tis amazing how seeing what happened vs reading  or hearing about something that happened can change just how you relate to it. I knew of the Matthew Shepard story, read about it briefly over the years, but I never took the time to sit down and actually think about it or really read it or even look up anything related to it. Just Saturday morning last, I'd seen an episode of Family Guy where Sam Waterston guest stars. I like Waterston, so I went to check out his IMDb. Lo and behold, I see him attached to a Telly film about Matthew Shepard from 2002 or so-- The Matthew Shepard Story (2002)-- and not only attached but credited as the young man's father. Knowing I needed to know more, and seeing Waterston involved, I decided to watch it. Going into it, I knew it would be a heavy subject, what with Matthew's tragic killing and all. I couldn't, however, anticipate just how heavily it would impact me. With the exception of the time I cried in the cinemas during a funeral scene (I'd just lost my granddad months before), I've never cried so much watching a film, nor have I been left so speechless and in awe and in shock and in, well, everything. The film does everything right, I believe. I also believe it's a film that everyone should see at least once in their life. But be warned, you will never be the same afterward.