Representing a piece of history I felt that this production touched on the frightening truth that we must always be vigilant. As a historian I thought that they did a good job in recreating this event step by step. The performances of Quaid and Dern were perhaps a little over the top but Kirsten Dunst did well as Sara Weaver. The location where this was filmed looked so like the actual Weaver Compound that I wondered if they had gotten permission to film it on that exact location. The court trial was a major victory for Jerry Spence and they recreated this portion of it well. Comparing it to the reproduction of the Waco incident where so many were killed in a fire, I thought it a lesser production but still worth the time to watch it.. Don't spend your Saturday night watching this but don't miss it...
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riveric23 February 2006
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migca15 February 2010To my everlasting embarrassment as an American citizen, the stark injustice of the Ruby Ridge Incident somehow initially slipped by me. For some reason, it took the Waco Massacre to open my eyes and make me realize that our suddenly and scarily militarized police agencies--both federal and local--had but one enemy, and it was us. Although this progression has continued through the tragedy of 9/11, which just happened to give our legislators the perfect excuse to pass laws that shredded our inalienable Constitutional protections, a disappointingly small number of citizens seemed to have grasped what is going on.
That's why although the albeit imperfect "Siege of Ruby Ridge" is far from a great historical drama, it may well be an important one. If it smacks just a handful of still-clueless citizens over the head, it will be worth people's time.
I was actually surprised at how much this film got right. Certainly it was true that Vicki Weaver was the driving force behind the apocalyptic beliefs in the family. Despite his portrayal in the movie, Randy Weaver was far from a dim, subservient religious follower of Vicki, and he would not leave the major decisions regarding his family's fate to his traumatized young daughter. My main complaint would be the over-the-top portrayal of the Weaver family as obnoxious, bible-thumping, jackbooted Neo-NAZI wingnuts. Sharpening their tongues in preparation to lie about the Davidians and David Koresh, the national media did their best to simply repeat all federal agency statements that portrayed the Weavers as just the kind of neighborhood family that needs to be lined up and shot. The Weavers were far from the typical American family, but they were American citizens with the right to be left alone--a fact which the media conveniently chose to ignore.
There is a documentary film about this incident that centers on a grown-up and very appealing Rachael Weaver, along with commentary from the still irascible Randy, called "Legend of Ruby Ridge." Hearing Rachael fondly reminisce about her childhood on that mountain (which she now owns), makes the movie version seem downright ludicrous. -
kspry29 July 2001I don't normally express my views or opinions about fact based movies, but the subject matter of this particular film "The Siege at Ruby Ridge" moved me. Having not paid attention to the events of Ruby Ridge at the time, to my shame, I was curious enough on a Sunday afternoon to watch the movie. At the end of the film I was convinced that either the writers and producers were overly biased towards the Weaver family and were attempting to stir up the general population with their interpretation of the siege, or, and more disturbing, the movie was a true representation. After a few hours of research I was able to conclude that the scenes accurately portrayed events with a minimal amount of poetic license. The actors were emotional and convincing and I grieved with them.
I count myself as among the conservative, (mostly) sheltered, white collar Americans, comfortable in the daily concept of living in a free democracy, protected by our constitution, and generally content with life. A highly emotional, fact based movie like this is powerful enough in it's content to shatter that illusion. And while I choose to believe that the events outlined in the movie were the sad tragic results of a huge (but hopefully unintentional) error in judgment by an imperfect government, the concern that it might not have been...lingers..... -
gruber_haans21 November 2012This movie attempts to portray Randy Weaver's wife as a 'nutcase' (Christian) and takes such extreme artistic license with her character. This movie is so far removed from the truth it's despicable. They also portray a white separatist as synonymous with a white supremacist which is roughly akin to calling Christians Nazis. A separatist wants to separate from the sins of modern society and go back to a kinder gentler time, whereas a supremacist wants to annihilate all other races by violence, the two can hardly be viewed as the same agenda. They also portray the agents as victims of circumstance, when in reality they not only instigated but also escalated this entire event beginning with the sawing off of the shotgun barrel in order to coerce Randy Weaver into becoming an informant for their criminal conspiracy. After reading Sara's book about where they lived and the true name, Ruby Ridge is what it was mistakenly referred to by government agents and thus what the world at large now views the events which unfolded as being true and correct. There are many inconsistencies within this movie when compared to the book. The movie does not do the book justice which in my opinion is a travesty. If there were a lower rating I would most surely have given it
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donnor6 August 2002A faithful adaptation of the excellent book, "Every Knee Shall Bow", which documented the tragedy of the Ruby Ridge incident. The first half of the movie introduces the Weaver family and friends and sets the scene for the dramatic, heartbreaking confrontation in the second half. Halfway through, one is made to feel glad the Weavers are not your neighbor. But by the end one is overwhelmed by the murderous injustice the Weavers suffer at the hands of the Federal Government. Excellent acting helps portray the Weavers as real human beings with faults and virtues instead of as devil or martyr cardboard cutouts.
The Ruby Ridge incident went largely unnoticed by the American Public until the exact same team of FBI agents were involved in the burndown of Waco a mere eight months later. This film does an excellent job of introducing the complex situation at Ruby Ridge to anyone who is still unaware of what happened there. -
Norway122 October 1998Okay, Kirsten Dunst is great and one of the best aspiring actresses today; Randy Quaid made it nearly tolerable; but I can't get over the fact that this was really another typical American attempt to turn people against the system and gain distrust and dispise for authority. It was supposedly a "true" story; thus a real tragedy. The script was also a tragedy and the general story wasn't much better, though it does make one re-evaluate one's standards and perhaps learn something. There are of course much better films that complete this purpose as well. This too-long military demeaning flick is worth missing.
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fabiogaucho10 November 2016What's the best way to bring the tragedy of Ruby Ridge to the screen? A two-part TV mini-series doesn't sound like an exciting prospect. Low- budget, less than stellar leads, a long run-time...
But it turned out much better than you would expect. Laura Dern is a so- so name, but her acting skills are tremendously underrated, and they are what is needed for a powerful and complex personality like Vicky Weaver. And the producers got lucky to get Kirsten Dunst before she became too expensive. As for Randy Quaid, of course he doesn't have a big dramatic range, but he happens to strike the right note as Randy Weaver. And decent character actors play the more one-dimensional characters. How can Joe Don Baker not be right for a buffoon like Gerry Spence?
More importantly, the screenplay gets it right. The siege itself is a paint-by-numbers task for the screenwriters, since the source material gives detailed minute-to-minute description of the events. But the set- up is more of a challenge. You have to induce pity and discomfort towards the Weavers while making them your heroes - and at the same time follow the real story faithfully. Mission accomplished. We spend a good hour with this odd family and are totally involved with the gradual escalation of both their beliefs and of the set of circumstances that let to the tragedy, even though much of the development has to be done through telling of mundane events.
Good historical lesson, yes. But also good drama. -
RUBY RIDGE: AN American TRAGEDY
A CBS Television Mini-Series
Sunday 19 May and Tuesday 21 May, 1996
The movie Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy is perhaps the most accessible summary of this case but it is not perfect: but, any attempt to present the events spread over a 1983-1992 time frame is going to be inadequate.
The Weavers were far from perfect people, but the reaction to the Weavers by federal law enforcement snowballed into an out-of-control situation that reflected badly on every agency involved.
Randall Weaver was caught up in a BATF investigation of his buddy, Frank Kumnick ("Tony Vickers" in the movie). After four years of BATF informant Gus Magisono presenting himself as a gun runner for a biker gang, Weaver agreed to make two illegal weapons in October of 1989.
In November 1989, BATF Agent handler Herb Byerly ("Burt Yeager") decided Kumnick was all talk and Weaver was just a hanger on. Byerly and Magisono intended to use Weaver to introduce Magisono to Chuck Howarth, move their investigation to Montana and drop Kumnick and Weaver. FBI informant Rico Valentino warned Weaver to avoid BATF informant Magisono. (Can we spell Turf War?) When Magisono asked Weaver to take him to meet Howarth, Weaver told Magisono people were saying he was a snitch and Weaver was not taking him anywhere. Byerly instructed Magisono to have no further contact with Weaver.
In June 1990, at a motel restaurant near town, Byerly and Gunderson approached Weaver with a deal to go undercover or go to jail. Weaver flipped Byerly's card in his face and told him where to go. Byerly filed an exaggerated report against Weaver alleging Weaver was a suspected bank robber. Beyerly had run a background check before approaching Weaver and knew Weaver did not have a police record.
Weaver was arrested and released with a 19 January 1991 court date. Pre-trial services sent Weaver a notice the hearing was moved to 20 March. The new date was actually 20 February; a fugitive warrant was issued when Weaver missed the hearing. Then a grand jury indictment was issued on 14 March before Weaver had a chance to appear in court on 20 March. This is complicated and is glossed over in the movie.
Marshal David Hunt ("Brian Jackson") was caught between a rock (US Attorney Ron Howen ("Matthew Duncan")) and a hard place (Vicki Weaver). The movie shows some of Hunt's problems, but does not explore the tangled obstacles raised by Howen.
In October 1991, Hunt was informed by the local FBI that both the BATF and the US Attorney's Office had exaggerated Weaver's connections to the white supremacists. Hunt developed a surrender deal that needed the signature of Ron Howen: Howen refused the deal insisting on unconditional surrender. Vicki refused to let Randy surrender without a written guarantee that she would keep custody of their kids.
Then the Weaver case was picked up by the Spokane newspaper and repeated by Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and others. This pressured the US Marshal Service HQ to start Operation: Northern Exposure.
The first half of the TV movie ends as the Weaver men are about to encounter three surveillance marshals in the forest at a fork in the trail called the "Y". The shooting at the "Y", the Ruby Ridge Siege, the Ruby Creek Vigil and Protest, and the Weaver-Harris Trial occupy the last half of the movie. At this point in real life, the Frank Kumnick ("Tony Vickers") character is out of the picture, and Weaver's buddy Bill Grider and wife Judy are represented by the movie characters "Tony Vickers" and his wife "Janice" which is why "Janice" pops up out of nowhere in the last half. Artistic license.
The shoot-out at the "Y" in the second half is a lot easier to follow in the movie than the real life incident: the real "Y" was in a dense Northwest rain forest; the reel "Y" is in California pine woods. As US Marshal Larry Cooper testified at the trial, there were so many things compressed into ninety seconds, it was hard to remember what happened first. Sammy Weaver, his dog Striker and US Marshal Bill Deagan ("Danny Barnett") were dead by the time the fateful fourteen shots were fired.
The reports by Dave Hunt ("Brian Jackson") to US Marshal Service Crisis Center got garbled by the time the info was passed by USMS HQ to FBI HQ to the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. The HRT Commander believed the gunfire lasted all afternoon into the night. Hunt's reports in the Crisis Center Log recorded several times that the last gunshots were heard at 11:15 am that morning. The FBI unfairly blamed the Idaho marshals for the miscommunication when it was a HQ USMS and FBI problem.
To sum up within 1000 words, Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy is not a documentary but is a fair but flawed summation of the case. The movie does not candycoat either the Weavers or the government. If anything, it paints everyone dirty.
Except for the Weavers, Kevin Harris, Bo Gritz, Gerry Spence and Paul Harvey, all the other character names are fictitious including Vicki's family.
Reel names (real names): USMS Ross Jones (Duke Smith), FBI HRT Cmdr Earl Martens (Dick Rogers), FBI Richard Atwood (Danny Coulson), FBI SAC Doug Wilkes (Eugene Glenn), FBI Dwight Stanfield (Fred Lanceley), Roy and Eve Marks (Wayne and Ruth not-Marks), FBI Ken Yamasaki (Lon Horiuchi), Judge Andrew Stratton (Judge Edward Lodge), -
bargaintent21 April 2006This movie which is based on a real family and their desire to uphold their religious beliefs clearly proves that we do not have the freedom of religion that we believe we do after all.
This family hurt absolutely no one while living on their mountain in their self-built cabin. The movie portrays the mother, Vicki, to be a little on the wacko side, however, the real life Vicki was a very educated and intelligent woman.
The movie, however, does show how the father, Randall Weaver, was clearly entrapped by the government by sending an under cover "spy" to befriend Weaver over a period of 3 years, finally selling him a sawed off shotgun to help support his family of 6.
Although some of the acting itself was not exactly great, the overall movie was fairly close to the TRUE story of this family whose 14 year old son, as well as a loving mother of 4 were killed by FBI agents.
I highly recommend reading The Ferderal Siege at Ruby Ridge...In Our Own Words, written by Randy and Sara Weaver themselves, which give the truthful account of what happened during those awful days in Idaho. -
13Funbags25 April 2017This is by far the best made for TV movie ever.I assume that's because it's a real story.It's not just "based on", it's the real story.They didn't do anything to glamorize the story because it didn't need it.The truth is so mind blowing, there was no reason to give it the Hollywood treatment. It was called a mini-series but it was only 2 parts and the original name was Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy.The title was changed for the DVD. The story is about Randy Weaver and his family.They were religious extremists who feared the end of the world so they move up on a mountain to get away from everyone. He gets caught up in the white power scene and ends up selling sawed-off shotguns to a fed.It was all the feds idea too.Weaver was dumb. A 14 year old Kirsten Dunst screaming "white power" is reason enough to watch this but the story is very important.You need to see what the American government is capable of doing to its citizens.
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Someone said this was "allegedly true". Scratch the allegedly. It happened.I saw the news reports. This movie recreates the events at Ruby Ridge in exacting detail. Mistakes were made on both sides,and William Degan,Sam Weaver and Vicki Weaver paid the price. The cast is excellent,particularly Laura Dern,Randy Quaid,Kirsten Dunst,GW Bailey, Diane Ladd,Gary Graham,Nicholas Pryor,Bob Gunton,Tracy Griffith and Joe Don Baker.Well directed and well written. I do not agree with the Weaver's views but this story needed to be told.
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victoryorvalhall12 May 2022This day ppl will watch your struggle.
We are everywhere, never let them take your smile.
RiP Randall. Now you get to see them again after the hell government put you thru.
Best from Norway. -
we_hunt5 September 2006I was in this movie as an uncredited FBI agent. The movie isn't intended to turn people off. It was just intended to give as accurate an account that you can give in the time of a made for TV movie. All of the outdoor scenes were filmed in the area of Magalia, California. This is about 1.5 hours north of Sacramento. The area is a wonderful wildlife area with a great history of hunting and fishing. This area was also frequented by the famous Indian, Ishi. The area is a bedroom area for the towns of Paradise and Oroville, CA. I can tell you one thing for sure. Randy Quaid is a real down to earth individual who loves the outdoors. He is genuinely funny and full of energy. A real good guy to be around.
Michael Wahl -
skier217730 July 2001At first, I did not want to sit through this movie. I thought that it was going to be a completely religious movie from beginning to end. I had no idea what was in store. I didn't remember any of the siege itself. I was 15 when it happened. So I went to the internet and looked it up. It was indeed a true story. One that definately should have been told. True, I didnt want to sit through 4 hours of the movie, but it really was worth it. I would definately recommend it to friends to see!
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The movie itself is a must-see. The content, questionable.
When this first released as a TV movie in 1995, it failed to make sense to me why the feds were picking on, and then killing a rural family.... until I watched it later as an adult.
Here's Randy Weaver (Quaid) and his wife (Dern) with their young, growing family. Moving out to countryland USA Idaho, to build a private life for themselves... away from government and politics. Like any rural, live-off-the-land folk.
They have their religious beliefs (that most others wouldn't care for, nor support) the same as any great American family. Beliefs that are protected under the Constitution of our land, and the Bill of Rights. That is, until Randy becomes friends, and barely surface involved with a local militia-elect and white-power community. Despite that there's no actual depiction of any real violence occurring.
Yes, Vickie Weaver becomes a whacked out idealistic fundamentalist, with Randy and young family in-tow. Turning their kids into weapon-wielding soldiers at home-guard. But that's neither here or there. They bared right to practice their faith, in their own community, or in comfort of their home. Without political pushback or threats. They didn't deserve how the government moved in, and then turned on them - as though they were common anti-law violent fugitives. Everything just went sideways, and then turned into a full-blown war, they didn't see coming. Yes, Randy was guilty, like his neighbors, of harboring extreme weapons that would cause potential harm. But this government crack-down depiction went well over the top.
No, government agents aren't perfect. Far from it. Despite their extensive military training. So, how they reacted to this event was beyond criminal. Attempting to cover up a malicious act, that wasn't happening, in the direct shooting a 14-yr old boy, and the family dog, as potential threats, when they were just out tracking a deer. Then, the idiot command blowing everything out of proportion in accusation of the Weavers plotting gun violence, when they weren't - later attempting a 'cut deal' with a holed up Randy, in surrender.
I just sat, shaking my head, as the whole scene unfolded. Crying with the family, as Vickie got killed by a careless sniper. The courtroom drama itself, almost unfolded in lotacracy. With the officials attempting feign of blame, when they knew they were guilty of committing a heinous wrongful act of ill-constitution against an innocent family, who were rightly bearing arms, to hunt game on their own land. More bottom line of how clumsy and careless the government can be, against certain citizens and their alienable rights. -
Fm-rommel30 December 2001The following review reveals parts of the plot.
This movie showed that federal agents had what it took to shoot a 14-year-old boy in the back, gun down his pet dog, and snipe a woman holding a baby. The incident should sow "dissent" not the movie. If you can watch an incident like Ruby Ridge occur and still feel the system is great than you better take a good look at yourself.
Although Mr. Weaver and his family were extremists in some of their beliefs, they were and those of them that are still alive are still American citizens. And as such, they have certain inalienable rights. Rights wrongfully denied to them, such as trial by jury not a government death squad. In both real event and the movie, the federal agents illegally altered the rules of engagement and basically tried to avoid negotiations until they had to negotiate. They employed a shoot first and well there were no questions later. Being told that they "can and should shoot on sight any armed adult". There was no distinction made between armed adults walking around or armed adults pointing guns and federal agents. Just shoot on sight any armed adult.
However in the end justice was partly done in that Mr. Weaver and his friend were acquitted. Mr. weaver received roughly 3 million dollars in a settlement with the government. But those trigger-happy federal agents were never brought to justice.
Remember that federal agents have extensively more training when compared to local and state law enforcement agents. And as seen in the movie, federal not state or local law enforcement agents committed these heinous and atrocious acts. People with high levels of training, and they claim that they aren't to blame. They wrongfully and unconstitutionally altered rules of engagement. In essence declaring open season and giving their agents hunting licenses.
This movie or more so the criminal act committed by the government against the weavers shows/showed how much the government respects/ed its citizens and their alleged rights. -
mocopperhead19 October 2003Lionel Chetwynd's creative writing about this supposedly "True Story" is rivaled only by Stephen King. Of course the American public knows only what the mainstream news spouts and what is portrayed in this "Van Gogh" of TV Docu-Dramas. Therefore, they don't know the difference between the facts about Randy Weaver and the Ruby Ridge incident, and what some establishment based writer, director and producer want us to believe. Of course the network that "Seige At Ruby Ridge" aired on, wanted the public to see ONLY what they're newscasts portrayed. Not necessarily the actual TRUE events that really happened. I would suggest reading Randy Weaver's own account of what he and his family were put through at the hands of over zealous Government Agents in his book. According to people who were actually at Ruby Ridge, the only similarities between the TV movie and what really happened was that the names of the characters were spelled correctly. Of course the main story line was somewhat factual. However, any more than Randy Quaid having the same first name as Randy Weaver leaves it very loose on the facts. Therein, all of the actors and actress' should have done their own research about the character they were to play. I've met and talked personally with Randy Weaver and found him to be NOTHING like he was portrayed by Mr. Quaid. I wouldn't mind having THE REAL Randy Weaver as my neighbor anywhere, anytime. They can keep the racist nutball they tried to make him out to be.
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lisagirl11718 November 2002The government obviously did not handle this right but none of it would have happened if the Weavers weren't a couple of whacked out fundamentalist right wing zealot nut jobs. I felt anger toward the parents for warping their kids minds and getting one of them killed. That alone made this tough to sit through. The acting was excellent, and I have to admit I didn't even recognize Laura Dern, it must have been the dark hair. Randy Quaid again demonstrated his amazing range by playing this role in the same year he reprised Cousin Eddie in the latest Vacation incarnation.
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kevy1066715 January 2006A poster here said the government screwed up but it wouldn't have had happened if the Weavers weren't politically incorrect in their beliefs. That is totally BS. Have you heard of something called the bill of rights? Just because the Weavers were fanatically about some things ( some I agree with, some I don't) does not give the US government any right to murder his wife, his sons and even their dog. Maybe you should leave Ohio and go back to the Soviet Union,etc where the government welcomes your oppressive anti-free speech regime and holds the victims responsible for the evil things the government does. If it can happen to the Weavers and those at Waco, it can happen to any and all of us. Shame on you.
Rot in hell to the lowlife sniper( of Chinese, etc descent, not that matters much because he still be a murdering scumbag if he was White) that murdered Randy's wife, sons and dog.
Forgive but never Forgot when the US government became the Gestapo in 1992 Iowa and 1993 Texas. As for Randy being a "white supremacist", that is not a crime, nor does it make one a terrorist or a criminal, unless you support the ADL/SPLC Nazi-like thought crime BS. -
amoviebuff4 July 2002First, the physical setting of this movie was inaccurate. The movie was filmed hundreds of miles from the actual location (with our dense forests and tall, green trees being replaced by a few scrubby bushes).
Secondly, both the chronology and the portrayal of "actual" events were faulty. Weaver did not move directly from Iowa to "Ruby Ridge." He and his family lived in different areas of the community for quite some time prior to his moving to "Ruby Ridge" and into disfavor with the government--in which time he even ran for Sheriff. Please note that contrary to most reports he never lived on Ruby Ridge, but on the adjacent Caribou Ridge.
Finally, the fair acting could not compensate for the inaccurate script. I might have found the story quite interesting if I hadn't had any prior knowledge. Unfortunately, though, the characters in the movie had little to nothing in common with and the actual people involved in this tragic event. -
I found this film engrossing but distasteful. No, I don't believe this movie was "made to turn people against the system" and yes, it was a true story but the networks turned it into the 'Movie of the Week", so how much is true and how much is drama is debatable.
The extremes that both the Weavers and the FBI go to in order to make their points and accomplish their missions are unrealistic. The Weavers slowly turn from nice folks--maybe a little fanatical, to guntoting, rabid, white separatists who will greet you with a bullet between the eyes rather than a friendly smile. What was in the air they were breathing in those Idaho mountains? At one point they were model neighbors and at another, they were cussing and picketing their them with their fledgling Nazi kids.
The judicial system is realistic in the beauracratic way of initially handling Weaver's gun charge including the entrapment issue, yet things go horribly wrong in the way things are handled during the seige. How many feds does it take to get one guy off a mountain?
I don't think this movie did either side any justice. The script could have been better written although good work from Quaid, Dern and Dunst. That alone made the film passable.
I don't think this film succeeds in turning anyone against the system--at least no one who is educated enough to understand the way that system works. -
4-Eyes25 April 1999This excellent TV movie reminded me of one of the classic Greek tragedies. Sadly, this one was true!
The movie showed in detail how poor communication led to fundamental misunderstandings on both sides that ended in a needless loss of life. Very thought provoking, with an important lesson to teach: talk first and you may not need to shoot later. -
louis1242 April 2000This picture should serve as a wake up call to those Americans that sit in front of their TVs with bellies full of beer and fall asleep each night. Weaver is relentlessly pursued by a system that has entrapped him and now kills off his family right before his eyes. This is a true story, and Lon Houriuchi, the "hero" murders Weaver's wife while she holds his infant son. If that isn't enough to get you going, they also kill his son and dog. Anyone that doesn't see or admit to what is going on here is wearing blinders. Of course, the picture is given the necessary Hollywood leftist bent, but what would you expect?
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dewey1529 July 2001I've read several comments about this movie, but most are quite removed from the story. The Weaver family come from Iowa. I happen to believe that Randy Weaver is full of it. He claims to be a victim, when he should be taking full responsibility for putting his family in that position.
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Haplo-429 December 1999This is a good movie about what the dangers are about fanatics. It all starts of nice and easy but after a time the real purpose of the teaching comes forth. What was good now turns to evil. And, mind you, this can be the case in most of the different religious sects that has sprung from Christianity and Islam.
The thing about the military operation shows also how hard it is to appreciate the situation and how dogmas can threaten the life of ordinary(?) men.
So watch this movie with both scepticism and with criticism but think about the message it carries inside and contemplate.