THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN AMERICA

US, 2017, 110 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Leo, Josh Lucas, Rory Cochrane, Michael Chernus, Juno Temple, Vincent Kartheiser, Adam Scott
Directed by Tommy O’ Haver.

Any performance by Melissa Leo is certainly worth a watch. She is an extraordinarily versatile actor, with roles ranging from Lady Bird Johnson to futuristic thrillers, winning an Oscar for The Fighter.

This film is a portrait of famed atheist campaigner in the United States from the 1960s the 1990s, Madalyn Murray O’ Hair. While the film starts with a dangerous situation, O’ Hair and her children being abducted and held for ransom, the basic flow is a series of flashbacks tracing the life of Madalyn O’ Hair at home, rebellious, devoted to her young son and challenging school authorities about the teaching of religion, going to the courts and becoming a political influence.

The film also shows the intellectual emotional journey of her son, her forbidding him to marry, his denouncing her and avoiding her, going into business. However, he is contacted by a journalist who has been spurred on to investigate the disappearance, whether it is a hoax or not for publicity, by young African- American man whom she has supported.

It finally emerges that it is one of her associates that she brought in to control her financial interests, which have been built up under suspicious circumstances. The abductors are led by Josh Lucas with Rory Cochrane as one of the mentally unbalanced criminals.

The plot leads to pressure on her second son, Michael Chernus, and her daughter, Juno Temple – the abduction fiasco leading to murder.

In some ways, something of a potboiler, but an opportunity to learn something about Madalyn Murray O’ Hair and her campaign for atheism.

1. The title, expectations?

2. Audience knowledge of Madalyn Murray O’ Hair and her career, her causes, influence?

3. The 1990s, her age, with her son, granddaughter? Her life, campaigns and success, after 30 years? Her causes, reactions, legislation changes? Support, organisation, hostilities?

4. The issue of money, donations, the banking, overseas banking, cover?

5. The use of flashbacks, building up her life and career? The portrait? The screen presence of Melissa Leo and her performance?

6. In the 1960s, her age, living with her parents, their being proper, living at home, her son, illegitimate, attitudes? Her fierceness of personality, saying what she thought?

7. Billy, his relationship with his mother, his age, at school? The issue of prayer before class? Billy and support of his mother? Confronting the teacher, the authorities, suing?

8. Her stances as an atheist, within the atmosphere of the United States and religion? Separation of church and state?

9. Her range of causes, going to the courts, her arguments, victories, over the years?

10. Her campaigning, the role of the media, donations coming in, her mother helping her with the donations? Building up, the association, its structure?

11. Billy, growing up, the attraction to the girl, his mother’s dominance, his change of attitudes, marrying, his daughter, the influence of his mother, the separation, his mother having the custody of his daughter? His work in an office, blaming his mother, his religious change, going to meetings, talking about prayer? The appeal in the 1990s, his not being interested? Change of heart?

12. 1990s, the police not interested in the disappearance, her supporter and his managing the office, noting that the dogs were not taken, his appeal to the journalist, his reasons for supporting her, her sympathy for him as a gay black? The public thinking this was just another stunt? The journalist, his personality, his career, with his boss, learning, the investigation?

13. The abduction, David and his past, prison, prostitution, his lies, engaging personality, being employed by Madalyn, in charge of the accounts? His criticisms, his being dismissed? The associates, the young abductor and his being more sympathetic? The rough accomplice, sexual preoccupation, especially with the granddaughter?

14. The handling of the abduction, David, the demands for money, his knowledge and background, the issue of the banks, the son, dominated by his mother, her courses, handing
the issues of the money transfer? The delays?

15. Madalyn, confronting David? The withdrawals? The investigators noticing?

16. The granddaughter, the sexual assault, the violence? David and his handling the situation, losing it, the shootings, killing the family? The is with David later in prison?

17. The audience effect responding to this story of the campaign, her career, the issues of money, the brutality of her death?