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Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper, Frances McDormand, Pamela Reed, Ned Beatty ... see more see more... , M. Emmet Walsh , Raul Apartella , Shane Baily , Kevin Barber , Don Wayne Bass , Suzi Bass , Peggy Beasley , John Brasington , F. Drucilla Brookshire , Gary Bullock , Traber Burns , Jerry Campbell , Kevin Campbell , Marc Clement , Kathryn Cobb , Bill Collins , Matt Craven , James "Fred" Culclasure , William De Acutis , Michael Easler , Wilbur Fitzgerald , David Fitzsimmons , Kristi Frankenheimer , Jim Gloster , Ed Grady , Robert Gravel , Dorothy L. Grissom Hardin , E. Pat Hall , Bob Hannah , Whitey Hughes , Roger Jackson , Gary Howard Klar , B.J. Koonce , Charles Lawler , Joe Loy , Wesley Mann , Mykel Mariette , Yvonne Denise Mason , Douglas F. McDaniel , Wallace Merck , Tim Monich , Laurens Moore , George Nannerello , William Newman , Ralph Pace , Richard Portnow , Jim E. Quick , Randy Randolph , Jill Rankin , Chris Robertson , Timothy Scott , Perry Simpson , Lee Wilkof , Bud Davis , David Dwyer , Mindy Marin , C.K. Bibby , Mary Tyler Moore

Since Chattahoochee is a story based on true events, it may seem absurd to suggest that the actual events of Chattahoochee are pirated from other true-life tales like Gideon's Trumpet. But it certainl... read more read more...y seems as if true stories are just as derivative as any fictional narrative coming out of Hollywood. The Chattahoochee saga details the Emmett Foley (Gary Oldman) story. The film takes place in 1955, when Foley, a Korean war veteran depressed and shattered by continual unemployment, snaps and shoots up his neighborhood, hoping that the police will come and shoot him down like a crazed dog so that his wife Mae (Frances McDormand) can collect on the insurance money. Instead of being gunned down by the law enforcement officers, he is sent to Chattahoochee, a notorious prison for the mentally ill which makes The Snake Pit look like a vacation in Bermuda. The gruesome conditions in the jail send Foley into listlessness. But then his anger gets the better of him and, encouraged by a friend, Walker Benson (Dennis Hopper), he begins sending letters to the authorities protesting the sub-human conditions in the mental facility. Due to his efforts, a state commission is formed to investigate conditions in Chattahoochee, and Foley has a chance to tell the world of the horrible conditions. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

51% liked it

1,452 ratings

Critics

17% liked it

6 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Mick Jackson

Release Date: June 1, 1989

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DVD Release Date: September 16, 2003

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Stats: 61 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (61)

  • webalina
    August 5, 2007
    webalina
    Hard as hell to sit through, but SO worth it if you do. Gary Oldman plays a Korean War veteran who cracks up and is sent to an asylum/prison camp that makes the farm in Cool Hand Luke look like Disneyland. Supposedly based on a true story about a place in Louisiana. Oldman is fan... read moretastic. He's so talented. It's a shame he wastes so much effort playing freaks -- True Romance, anyone?
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 11, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Based on a true story, a Korean war vet named Emmett Folley (played by Gary Oldman) can't adjust to life back home and has a crisis with the law. He is sent to Chattahoochee, an outhouse of an institution where the state of Florida locks the mentally ill and the criminals togethe... read morer. Emmet is a rebel against the cruel guards. Emmet's wife and kid are visiting less and less, so Emmet finds companionship in Walker Benson (played by Dennis Hopper). The two of them talk of escaping this place, but Emmett has a bigger idea... A movie of the human spirit against all disgusting odds; they were probably hoping for Academy Award nominations with this one. It's grim and gritty, but is ultimately a joy to watch.
  • threefolddado
    January 29, 2010
    threefolddado
    Great performances by Oldman, Hopper, Reed and McDormand add to the intriguing true story of one patient's battle to reform a mental institution. Nice direction and realistic throughout.
  • bastet05
    January 30, 2010
    bastet05
    A good showcase of the standard yet subpar institutions that pervaded the mental help landscape for some time. It is pretty brutal, and Oldman does a superb job as always.

    Spoilers
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    Hopper isn't bad himself, and you have to love the awkwardness of the scene where Hopper... read more asks Oldman how big his wife's boobs were (i could see where this was leading) to where it was all so he could jerk off in the dark (oldman realizes it when the moaning happens and shows perfect discomfort. My only disappointment was how the ending was wrapped up in a neat package in under a minute and a half. Overall, an oft overlooked but very good example of the subject material.
  • jam233
    January 5, 2010
    jam233
    A bit overly dramatic and certainly over acted, it feels it is much more important than it really is, but there at least was an effort made. It just doesn't ring true. The score is very good however and there are a few powerful scenes.
  • Dubats
    February 9, 2009
    Dubats
    It was nice to see Oldman and Hopper in the same movie. A graphic look at the abuse that took place, based on true events.
  • belovedsweet
    October 21, 2006
    belovedsweet
    Good grief. I wonder if anyone, other than myself, has any knowledge of this film. It's a really well-written, well-acted film. Of course, how could Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman be bad.

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Critic Reviews

Andrew L. Urban
January 9, 2009
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

This fact based story from the mid 50s American penal system is a sobering and dramatic reminder of how many states treated mentally ill patients, criminal or otherwise Full Review

Jake Euker
July 8, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

Off the beaten track, but too bleak to merit the detour.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
May 24, 2003
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
May 24, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 24, 2003
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 24, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
May 24, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

June 1, 1989
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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