Conveying Emotion in The Laramie Project: Stage or Screen?

When watching The Laramie Project HBO adaptation, I had my doubts. Normally, I like to think of myself as a purist when it comes to adaptations: I prefer the original stage production vs cinema. However, in the case of this adaptation, HBO nailed it on the head. The emotion conveyed in the entire film was something I needed when I was reading the script. The actors, while some being well known, had a professional mastery to persuade the audience into a state of suspended disbelief. The facial expressions and bodily cues by the actors along with the scoring and almost seamless transition from scene to scene sold the movie entirely. I don't believe celebrity had much of a role, if any, in how successful this performance was. On the stage, you have a different atmosphere, one more casual and subtle. You can miss parts or things you need to bring your attention to. On the screen, everything is in your face.