Good Riddance (2011) User Reviews

"The most hated woman in America" is a bad title.

[GayBoi1 · 5/10 · 23 June 2022]

First off, most Christians don't hate. Christianity doesn't preach hate. We may hate what people do, but we don't hate.

I give this documentary a few more stars because it was more of a crime documentary than a Christianity vs atheism one. Madalyn Murray O'hair was an evil person to be sure. It's been documented how evil she was. How she swindled people, stole from people, knowingly hired unrepentant murderers and child molesters to work for her organization. Despite how much O'hair tried to make Christianity out to be evil, it was one of her own who killed her and her family.

O'hair also tried to move to the Soviet Union because of their inhumane state atheism, where practicing Religion was a crime and could get you anything from prison time to even the death penalty (depending on the dictator), but in the end even they didn't want her. I don't doubt for a minute that if O'hair had been given full power over the United States she would have made it like the Soviet Union (probably more like Stalin's version than any of the other leaders). I just hope she had a change of heart before she went to her judgment.

"Good Riddance"? -- or "Sorry You're Gone"?

[startlepoint · 7/10 · 20 January 2019]

This is one confusing documentary. It starts out with anti-O'Hair sentiments as nasty as the caricature of her on the DVD cover. O'Hair biographer Ann Rowe Seaman seems especially fragile and triggered about her subject's aggressive personality, especially when reading out some mean portions of what was, after all, O'Hair's private diary. (Maybe Seaman was better off writing about someone like J.K. Rowling or Oprah).

When the time came to address O'Hair's lawsuit in San Diego with the Truth Seeker publication, I would have appreciated a bit more background information on what had happened. What did she mean when, after lawyer Roy Withers asked her how she got her money, she retorted by asking if "dancing boys in sequin jockstraps" is a living? Was she implying something about Withers himself, or the Truth Seeker owner? She uttered a poetic set of words here, but they had no context.

The previous reviewer is correct regarding O'Hair's pronunciation of god as "gawd." That's the way many from Baltimore talk. Phil Donahue, though a Catholic, had been mostly supportive of O'Hair and called her a "friend." Like many, he had reservations about her combative style but defended her message.

My favorite parts of the documentary were the interviews with Tim Young (the T.J. Young who directed the film) and Ed Martin. These two investigators provided some information about the circumstances of Robin O'Hair's death that were shocking.

Going back to the documentary's confusing viewpoint, the film starts out with a negative view of the famous atheist, but by the end, it lauds her efforts. Even the delicate Ms. Seaman admits that O'Hair's blistering style was likely the only way the message of church-state separation would have gotten any public attention.

Back in the sixties through the eighties, there were few (if any) other prominent atheists; most of them stayed confined to ivory towers, or like Carl Sagan, mentioned it casually. (Some leading atheists today like Sam Harris put me to sleep with their academic lingo.) O'Hair was the only people's atheist who, after getting numerous death threats and having her children threatened as well, developed a harder shell. But her ability to articulate an unpopular viewpoint (and hold her own against the holy rollers) is stunning to watch.

This is worth viewing, but if you're sympathetic to O'Hair, be patient: the film gets better as it moves along.

"The Most Hated Woman in America (to some)!"

[BugisStreetAnnie · 9/10 · 14 May 2012]

I was so thankful to see this on DVD (unfortunately, no EXTRAS!). It is very good, but I feel a few inaccurate points are within.

ONE; There is a scene when Madalyn is on stage and is insulting a largely Christian audience - calling them 'witless' and 'very rude'..... Well, you do have to wonder why so many Christians would show up in an auditorium to be berated like this. According to Madayln's son, Bill Murray - in his 'mommie dearest' book - this was a staged event. She appeared with the Rev. Bob Harrington, the so-called 'Chaplain of Bourbon St.' in these shams to receive large donations from the mostly Christian audience members. It was later exposed by a newspaper reporter and the 'debates' eventually ended. Even in this documentary it sounds like Madalyn is reading a script (acting for effect, In order to raise the take!) in these segments, and why did they never show Rev. Harrington that was connected to this? I can only guess because he is now old and ailing, so they didn't want to drag him into the picture. Too bad because that would have been an important factor.

Regarding her son, Bill Murray, however, I was amazed how he seems so emotional-less regarding his daughter, Robin, who was brutally murdered. He doesn't shed a tear while talking about her gruesome death. I cried more for my sweet cat when she died. Maybe this isn't his personality, but it is very bizarre regardless.

Well, one thing about Robin, she did seem to have a brilliant mind, but I suspect this had more to do with her Jewish mother (I still wonder whatever became of her? This is never mentioned.), and to Madalyn, than to absentee-father, Bill

Also, normally I like Phil Donahue, but I'm surprised how misogynistic he comes off (typical Catholic, I guess. I bet he raved about Bill Maher's 'Religulous' documentary...who basically did the same job as Madalyn at criticizing religion) as mercilessly badmouthing Madalyn. He constantly used her for his ratings, and then his comment (ridiculing her) of Madalyn with her using the word, GAAWD!, but Bill Murray said the word the same way. Perhaps it's simply their Baltimore, Maryland accent and not a condescending remark? Just Sayin!

Also, while being deposed in a lawsuit with 'The Truth Seeker' publication, this is where Madalyn says something about, "hiring dancing boys in sequin jockstraps...Is that a living?" (a great sound bite) when lawyer, Roy Withers, asks where she gets her money to live. A fair question, but you soon learn Madalyn can hold her intellectual own!

My only wish is the entire documentary of Madalyn being interviewed back in 1970 (I think it is) when she speaks about how much she hated her mother (a Bob Elkins film, I believe)...and The Truth Seeker deposition, would have been included in its entirety as DVD extras!