Based on the true story, the film Patty Hearst covers her kidnapping and indoctrination into a militant army that ultimately has her committing crimes. An interesting story with talented leads and fascinating visuals.
The kidnapping of Patty Hearst is one of those stories that was just a bit before my time. I had heard of it, of course, but I mostly knew her as the woman who played Wanda’s mom in the film Crybaby. I always got a kick out of knowing that she was the actress, but I never knew the details of her history.
Patty Hearst is a film based on her autobiography. It tells how, when she was 19 years-old, the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped her and demanded money from her wealthy family. Unable to get the amount they wanted, this militant group, led by the dominating Cinque, groomed her to become one of them and commit various crimes with them. After sending messages to her family expressing the doctrine of the group and being caught on camera robbing a bank, she was ultimately captured (along with others) and sentenced for her crimes.
While the drama itself feels a little long and drawn out, there are three fantastic features about this film. First, Ving Rhames dominates the space with his voice and his presence as Cinque. He strikes fear and loyalty into the hearts of his followers, but he is also incredibly charismatic. It is not surprising that all of these people are attracted to his being (particularly if the real Cinque was similar).
Second, Natasha Richardson is outstanding as Patty Hearst. Much of her performance is understated, as that is likely how things went down (she stayed in the background and followed the leaders), but one scene in particular stands out. Having been blindfolded for almost 2 months and then groomed, Patty is beginning to lose her mind. The eye movements plus the verbal and visual unraveling by Richardson connects you to Patty as in no other scene.
Third, several cinematographic and directorial choices are excellent. While Patty is blindfolded, she imagines what the visuals may be around her while listening. In one scene, it is as if Rhames is walking around in a box with holes poked through it, allowing flood lights to come through and fill the odd space. Another scene has the camera float on top of a dollhouse room of lawyers meeting, and another fades from darkness into a bright red bathroom.
The story is told fairly well and it is an interesting saga. You definitely get the picture of what Hearst lived through (according to her own stated experiences), and the camera doesn’t allow you to forget. The last 3 minutes of the film are a single continued shot of Patty speaking and responding to answers in a conversation. Trained on her face the entire time, it’s clear that this is her story.
Runtime: 104 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.25/5 Stars
Available: Free on PlutoTv, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
The kidnapping of Patty Hearst is one of those stories that was just a bit before my time. I had heard of it, of course, but I mostly knew her as the woman who played Wanda’s mom in the film Crybaby. I always got a kick out of knowing that she was the actress, but I never knew the details of her history.
