a cry in the dark a cry in the dark be a film that i anticipate would offer a phenomenal performance from meryl streep and a solid and if unremarkable film . this assumption come from the fact that aside from streep best actress nomination and the movie receive little attention from major award group . little do i anticipate that a cry in the dark would be such a riveting drama and well construct on every level . if you ask me and this be an under appreciatted classic . the film open rather slowly and let the audience settle into the chamberlain at a relaxed pace and really notice that and at the core and they be an incredibly loving and simple family . fred schepisi ( the director ) select random moment to capture of a family on vacation that give a loom sense of the oncoming tragedy and while also show the attentive bliss with which lindy ( streep ) and michael ( sam neill ) chamberlain care for their child . while the famous line a dingo take my baby . have become somewhat of a punchline these day and the movie never even come close to laughable . the actual death of azaria be horrifyingly capture . it be subtle and realistic and leave the audience horrify and ask question . the majority of the film take place in courtroom and focus on the chamberlain continuous fight to prove their innocence to the press and the court and which suspect lindy of murder . the fact that it be clear to u from the begin that they be innocent make the tense trial all the more gripping . a an audience member and i be fully invest in the chamberlain plight . and be genuinely angered and hurt and sadden when they be make to look so terrible by the medium . but at the same and the medium or public opinion be understandable . i love the way the medium be by no mean make to be sympathetic and but they always have valid reason to hold their view . the final line of the film be very profound and capture perfectly the central element that make this film so much different from other courtroom drama . in term of performance and the only one that really matter in this film be those of streep and neill . and they deliver in every way . for me and this rank a one of ( if not # 1 ) meryl streep best performance . for all her mastery of different accent ( which of course be very impressive in their own right ) and streep never lose the central heart and soul of her character . i find this to be one of streep more subtle performance and and she hit it out of the park . and neill and an actor who have never impress me beyond be charismatic and appeal in jurassic park and be a perfect counterpoint to streep performance . from what i have see and this be undoubtedly neill fine work to date . it a shame he wasn not recognize by the academy with a lead actor nomination to match streep . b or c the two of them play of each other brilliantly . more emotionally grip than most film and and also incredibly suspenseful . a cry in the dark far exceed my expectation . i highly recommend that people who only know of the movie a the flick where meryl scream the dingo take my baby . watch the film and see just how much more there be to a cry in the dark then that one line . a .