BEFORE & AFTER (DVD) DVD

Before and After
Director Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Ted Tally adapted the novel by Rosellen Brown into this intriguing drama that, while heavily criticized for a third-act revelation that is something of a cop-out, nevertheless features -- typically of Schroeder's work -- compelling performances, domestic discord, and a search for the truth. Meryl Streep stars as Carolyn Ryan, a rural Massachusetts pediatrician married to Ben (Liam Neeson), a handsome, rugged sculptor. Although theirs is not a picture-perfect marriage, the Ryans consider themselves happy, until police arrive at their home one morning to inform them that their son Jacob (Edward Furlong) was the last person seen the night before with a teenage girl who has been murdered. Jacob is missing, and the Ryans frantically search for him, but when the boy returns, it is obvious that he's not being completely truthful about the night's events. While Carolyn wants the truth, Ben is willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to defend Jacob, hiring an expensive lawyer (Alfred Molina), destroying evidence, and encouraging Jacob to be deceitful. Carolyn and Ben's opposing views of their son's legal trouble cause serious turmoil in the Ryans' marriage, which may be irreparably harmed in spite of the 11th hour appearance of the truth. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Cast Meryl Streep as Carolyn Ryan Liam Neeson as Ben Ryan Edward Furlong as Jacob Ryan Julia Weldon as Judith Ryan Alfred Molina as Panos Demeris John Heard as Wendell Bye Daniel Von Bargen as Fran Conklin

Crew Steven A. Saklad - Art Director Jonathan Glickman - Associate Producer Howard Feuer - Casting Chris Brigham - Co-producer Ann Roth - Costume Designer Henry Bronchtein - First Assistant Director Barbet Schroeder - Director Lee Percy - Editor Joe Roth - Executive Producer Roger Birnbaum - Executive Producer Howard Shore - Composer (Music Score) Howard Shore - Songwriter Jean A. Black - Makeup Stuart Wurtzel - Production Designer Luciano Tovoli - Cinematographer Barbet Schroeder - Producer Susan Hoffman - Producer Gretchen Rau - Set Designer Ted Tally - Screenwriter

Before and After
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: Spanish subtitles Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound Widescreen (1.85:1) - enhanced for 16x9 televisions DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 108 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Opening Credits/Before and After [7:33] 2. Poor Farm Road [7:31] 3. Jacob's Secret [2:52] 4. Hidden Clues [1:49] 5. Postcards [4:59] 6. Captured [3:53] 7. Misunderstood [2:24] 8. One Inch [6:48] 9. Jacob's Choice [3:16] 10. Conflicting Principles [2:27] 11. Individual Liberty [8:39] 12. End Credits [12:37]