Critical Evaluation- Leramie Project Critical Thinking Example

The Leramie project is a documentary theatre film, based on a real life event; the murder of Mathew Shepard in Leramie, a small town in Wyoming. The film attempts to assess the attitude of the town people and their reaction to Mathew’s death as well as their opinion on gays and hate crimes. The film focuses on the question, Is Leramie an intolerant town? Through interviews of the locals and a look at the court process, The Tectonic Theatre Project reveals that just like any other American town, Leramie people hold different opinions on gay rights but definitely support ‘live and let live.
The sources of evidence used in the film are reliable and clearly presented. They are an eye-witness account of what happened and views of the people who actually live in Leramie and some of whom closely related to the victim. Being a documentary, the characters are a true representation of the views of the Leramie people. The evidence presented is current and acceptable since it represents real people who were involved in one way or another. The evidence also exhibits balance as it presents the perspectives of those who stand on either side of the argument, for or against gays. It also presents facts from authoritative sources like the hospital while at the same time giving views of Mathew’s close friends.
The movie lets the viewer make their own inferences based on the facts presented. It does however; seem to abhor the hate crimes as it ends with the court process where the accused are sentenced to life imprisonment. Leaving the viewer with a conclusive feeling of justice having been carried out.