The Most Hated Woman in America

THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN AMERICA earned that name after suing to remove mandatory prayer from schools. The case went to the Supreme Court in 1963 where Madalyn Murray O'Hair (Melissa Leo) and her son won on the Constitutional merits. She defined "atheism" when she addressed the Court: "An atheist loves his fellow man instead of god. An atheist believes that heaven is something for which we should work now, here on earth for all men together to enjoy." Murray O'Hair prided herself in being a "nonconformist" and that included her being a Communist (not mentioned in the movie), having two children out of wedlock, and rejection of the expectations and limitations that society placed on women and minorities. She colorfully promoted atheism and freedom of speech extensively through rallies, her appearances on mainstream media TV shows, and through her organization, American Atheists, a group supported by heavy donations from a sympathetic public. Donations went beyond operating needs and Madalyn formed offshore bank accounts, illegally holding millions for her family's personal use and evading taxes. Her demand for loyalty alienated her older son, Bill (Vincent Kartheiser), who grew tired of living his mother's life. When his fed-up wife left with their daughter, he turned to alcohol and, as if for revenge, religion. Death threats from the religious were commonplace for Murray O'Hair but no harm came to her until an old associate kidnapped her in 1995, demanding a million dollars for her release. When she disappears, the police have no interest. (In real life no one reported her missing for a year.) Only a protégé (Brandon Mychal Smith) and the reporter he enlists (Adam Scott) look for her. The kidnap plot is bungled and Murray O'Hair, her younger son, and granddaughter end up dead. Their fate was not discovered until years later.