Our Fathers (2005)

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Movie Info

Based on the book by Newsweek senior editor David France, the made-for-cable Our Fathers dramatizes the pedophilia scandal that literally tore apart the Catholic Diocese of Boston. The story is set in motion when the Boston Globe gets wind of a determined effort by lawyer Mitchell Garabedian (Ted Danson) to get belated justice for his client Angelo DeFranco (Daniel Baldwin), who as a youngster was repeatedly abused sexually by Father John Geoghan (Steve Shaw). Several of Angelo's contemporaries had previously come forth with stories of Father Geoghan's misdeeds, and the similar outrages of other priests, but they had made the error of complaining to the head of the Boston Diocese, the arrogant Cardinal Bernard Law (Christopher Plummer), who turned a deaf ear to the claims and in some cases went so far as to tell the complainants that they, and not the priests, were somehow to blame. All the while, Law and his colleagues covered up the scandal through a series of covert transfers of the offending priests, allowing the perpetrators to continue their sexual activities with shocking impunity. The film also details a number of related subplots, including the plight of Mary Ryan (Ellen Burstyn), all of whose seven sons suffered from the priests' abuse, and Father Spagnolia (Brian Dennehy), who dared to attack Law's handling of the scandal from his pulpit -- only to have the sexual skeletons in his own closet revealed. Our Fathers made its Showtime cable debut on May 21, 2005.

Cast

Ted Danson
as Mitchell Garabedian
Christopher Plummer
as Cardinal Bernard Law
Brian Dennehy
as Father Dominic Spagnolia
Daniel Baldwin
as Angelo DeFranco
Ellen Burstyn
as Mary Ryan
Kenneth Welsh
as Bishop Murphy
Will Lyman
as Wilson Rogers Jr.
Wayne Best
as Father Doyle
Colin Fox
as Daniel Kibbe
James Oliver
as Patrick McSorley
Jan Rubes
as Pope John Paul II
Steven Shaw
as John J. Geoghan
Damien Atkins
as Young Geoghan
Hugh Thompson
as Tom Blanchette
Aidan Devine
as Bernie McDaid
Chris Bauer
as Olan Horne
Thomas Mitchell
as Gary Bergeron
Donald Ewer
as Ordination Cardinal
Julian Christopher
as Bishop Gregory
Peter MacNeill
as Older Spags' Friend Billy
David Sparrow
as Father Connelly
Kathleen Laskey
as Shauna Tannenbaum
Philip Williams
as Robbie Robinson
Joseph Ziegler
as Jim Muller
Richard Fitzpatrick
as Jack Tannen
Martin Doyle
as George Flynn
Cedric Smith
as The Pope's Cardinal
Ric Reid
as American Cardinal
Paul Fauteux
as Vito
Garen Boyajian
as Vito's Brother
Alec Stockwell
as Dying Birmingham
Rodger Barton
as D.A. Conley
Matthew Edison
as Young Spags' Friend Billy
Gary Krawford
as Winston Reed
Ian Alden
as Geoghan's Murderer
Kay Hawtrey
as Spags' Housekeeper
Maria Syrgiannis
as Waitress
Kathryn Haggis
as Sister Martha
Conrad Bergschneider
as Angelo's Father
Lucy Filippone
as Angelo's Mother
Nikolas Lozzi
as Angelo (age 13)
Billy Lister
as Angelo's Brother Johnny
Waneta Storms
as Angelo's Wife
Paul Brian Anderson
as Judge
Hugh Dillon
as Johnny DeFranco
Leah King Pinsent
as Marge Magnus
Chris Wiggins
as Angelo's Old Priest
Jessica Greco
as Judy
Ned Vukovic
as Archdeacon
Munroe Chambers
as Young Patrick McSorley
Alon Nashman
as Martin Baron
Victoria Snow
as Sacha Pfeiffer
Deborah Grover
as Judge Sweeney
Jude Coffey
as Globe Editor
Richard Greenblatt
as Globe Editor
Stephen Bogaert
as Globe Editor
Bill Lake
as Fire Chief Williams
Amy Price-Francis
as Donna Morrissey
Scott Fink
as Young Father Birmingham
Travis Ryder
as Tom Blanchette (age 12)
Roman Podhora
as Bartender
Dan Petronijevic
as Young Spags
Jeff White
as Gary Cohen
Paul Hubbard
as Roderick MacLeish Jr.
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Critic Reviews for Our Fathers

All Critics (1) | Top Critics (1)

... a worthy adaptation of David France's scrupulous book...

Jan 18, 2018 | Full Review…
New York Magazine/Vulture
Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Our Fathers

Good and necessary film. This showcases 1 of the many reasons I disagree with organized religion, especially catholicism.

Sarah Prisbylla
Sarah Prisbylla

Super Reviewer

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