Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian Lindstrom
Produced byJason Renaud
Brian Lindstrom
Andrew Saunderson
CinematographyJohn Campbell
Edited byAndrew Saunderson
Production
company
Mental Health Association of Portland
Distributed byBreaking Glass Pictures
Release date
  • February 15, 2013 (2013-02-15) (Portland International Film Festival)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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.

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

  1. ^ "Portland wants Chasse case to be heard outside of Oregon". Oregonian. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Portland mayor, chief, and Oregon U.S. Attorney announce settlement on Portland police reforms". Oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Alien Boy to (Finally) Premiere at PIFF". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "PIFF Preview: Alien Boy". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  9. ^ "James Chasse documentary 'Alien Boy' and a weekend of last performances". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  10. ^ "Alien Boy' chronicles life of James Chasse". KGW.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  11. ^ "Review: Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". KATU.com. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "I Am James Chasse". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  14. ^ "Alien Boy' review: The untimely end of James Chasse". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  15. ^ "2013 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS Announced!". Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Stress, Speed, Scripture, and Schizophrenia". seattleweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  18. ^ "Rendezvouz With Madness 2013: Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse Review". Dorkshelf.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "'Alien Boy': documenting a mental-illness tragedy". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  21. ^ "They Got Him on the Run: Alien Boy Documents the Short Life of a Portland Musician". The Stranger. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  22. ^ "Rotten Tomatoes - Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.

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