Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse
Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse is an American feature-length documentary film, released in 2013 and directed by Brian Lindstrom. The film explores issues of police accountability in the case of James Chasse, a man with schizophrenia who was killed by Portland, Oregon police officers in 2006. The title refers to a song about him, "Alien Boy" by the Wipers.
Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Brian Lindstrom |
Produced by | Jason Renaud Brian Lindstrom Andrew Saunderson |
Cinematography | John Campbell |
Edited by | Andrew Saunderson |
Production company | Mental Health Association of Portland |
Distributed by | Breaking Glass Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
In Family of James Chasse v City of Portland, Judge Garr King[1] added the film to the case gag order and was asked by Portland city attorneys for a change of venue based on teasers for Alien Boy. The case was settled in 2011 for $1.6 million and instructed an investigation by the Department of Justice which found the Portland Police Bureau "engages in a pattern or practice of excessive force" against persons with mental illness.[2] Prior settlements in 2009 included $925,000 from Multnomah County and a reported $600,000 from American Medical Rescue. Members of Portland City Council agreed with DOJ findings in a settlement signed in November 2012.[3]
The film was produced by the Mental Health Association of Portland, a nonprofit advocacy organization[4] and distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures.[5]
Alien Boy: the Life and Death of James Chasse premiered[6] at the Portland International Film Festival in February 2013.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] It is an official selection of the 2013[15] Big Sky Documentary Film Festival,[16] Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival, Cinema Pacific Film Festival (Eugene, Oregon), Astoria International Film Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival (Seattle),[17] and Rendezvous With Madness (Toronto).[18]
The film was reviewed in a number of publications including the Seattle Weekly,[19] The Seattle Times,[20] and The Stranger.[21] Rotten Tomatoes rates the film 87%.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Portland wants Chasse case to be heard outside of Oregon". Oregonian. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Justice Department and the City of Portland, Ore., Reach Preliminary Agreement on Reforms Regarding Portland Police Bureau's Use of Force Against Persons with Mental Illness". USDOJ. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Portland mayor, chief, and Oregon U.S. Attorney announce settlement on Portland police reforms". Oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "The Tragic Legacy of James Chasse Jr. - Alien Boy Revisits the Lessons and Lost Opportunities of the 2006 Police Death". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- ^ "DEAL SEALED: Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". Dorkshelf.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Alien Boy to (Finally) Premiere at PIFF". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse: The human soul behind the monster's mask". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
- ^ "PIFF Preview: Alien Boy". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
- ^ "James Chasse documentary 'Alien Boy' and a weekend of last performances". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "Alien Boy' chronicles life of James Chasse". KGW.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "Review: Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". KATU.com. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "Portland Mayor Charlie Hales on Alien Boy: "It's a Stunning Film"". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "I Am James Chasse". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "Alien Boy' review: The untimely end of James Chasse". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "2013 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS Announced!". Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
- ^ "Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ^ "Stress, Speed, Scripture, and Schizophrenia". seattleweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Rendezvouz With Madness 2013: Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse Review". Dorkshelf.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse: A Police-Brutality Doc Our Mayor Should See". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ "'Alien Boy': documenting a mental-illness tragedy". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ "They Got Him on the Run: Alien Boy Documents the Short Life of a Portland Musician". The Stranger. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ "Rotten Tomatoes - Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.