Loeb and Leopold

Author: Jeremy
Location: London, England

"Loeb and Leopold"

Directed By: Oliver Stone
Written By: Brian Helgeland
Music By: John Ottman

Principal Cast:

Kevin Spacey - Clarence Darrow
Topher Grace - Nathan Leopold
Jamie Bell - Richard Loeb
Josh Hutcherson - Bobby Franks

Tagline:
"There's no such thing as a perfect crime"

Synopsis: Chicago 1924: Leopold( Grace) and Loeb (Bell) thought of themselves as the Nietzschean supermen. They thought they can commit the perfect crime of kidnapping and murdering the 14 year old Bobby Franks (Hutcherson) without being caught. They were exceptionally intelligent: Leopold had already completed college and was attending law school. He spoke nine languages fluently and was an expert ornithologist. Loeb was the youngest graduate in the history of the University of Chicago. However, the discovery of Franks body lead to their arrest and trial for a murder case, punishable by a life sentence. Loeb's family hired the infamous lawyer Clarence Darrow to plead for insanity and spare them the capital punishment. The trial was known as the trial of the century and featured Darrow's finest hour with his 12 hour speech. It explores the human nature of pre-determinism due to our ancestors and whether a person can be convicted because of a philosophy they have adapted.

What the Press Would Say:

The movie is very reminiscent of Hitchcock's Rope but the film itself is more historically accurate. A very controversial film exploring different philosophy about human nature such as determinism and Nietzsche's supermen and also issues about capital punishment and justice. Spacey did not disappoint the audience as he play the infamous lawyer Clarence Darrow. You can't help rooting for the wrong side as Spacey delivered the character perfectly well as the wittiful, compassionate lawyer against capital punishment. Grace And Bell breakthrough their teen image as the violent criminals Leopold and Loeb. Their performance can be summarized in two words: silent killer. They played the characters well as the intelligent deluded students drowned into the world of philosophy with a very dark side. The partner is very reminiscent of Jake Gylenhaall and Heath Ledger of Brokeback Mountain but with less romance and more violence and dark philosophy. Throughout the whole film, they are very chilling as the thrill killers. Their acting can easily be matched to that of sir Anthony Hopkins in the silence of the lambs as they are geniuses who are incredibly cold and violent. The film itself is very beautifully done and it every single details is ensured for historicity. The costumes are well done as well, designed by Girogio Armani himself ala The Untouchables.

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor: Topher Grace
Best Actor: Jamie Bell
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey
Best Cinematography
Best Costume
Best orginal Score
Best sound editing