Matthew Shepard became a symbol of the damage caused by hatred and homophobia when his brutal murder became a front page headline across the U.S. This movie, based on a play about the incident and adapted for the screen by one of the play's authors, revisits the tragic events of Shepard's murder and the impact it had on the small-town community of Laramie, Wyoming. Writer/director Moises Kaufman employs a gripping documentary style that intersperses real new reports with actors portraying local residents horrified by the murderers' actions--as well as those who are more opposed to homosexuality--to create a harrowing and important emotional experience. The star-studded cast includes Christina Ricci, Steve Buscemi, Dylan Baker, Peter Fonda, Jeremy Davis, Jeneane Garofalo, and many others.