When a death row inmate requests his execution be photographed, Roy Scheider as the chosen photo journalist uncovers incriminating photographs from the trial, that may prove the convicted man's innocence. The story line is somewhat confusing. This is probably due to the fact that most of the participants in the original crime are dead or missing. Thus a lot of the movie consists of speculation talking about characters that have zero development. There is also a totally unnecessary romance between Schneider and Bonnie Bedelia that slows things to a crawl on several occasions. As usual Schneider is very good, but the story lacks impact because of all the second hand talk regarding a seven years ago event. - MERK
5 Reviews
Take a hard look
hidion11 July 2002
There are clunky parts to this film, and the film is not flawless. This film obviously, in the vein of The Green Mile and Dead Man Walking, carries a staunch anti-death penalty political view. Those who agree with such a standpoint will rate it far higher than the sum of the parts. For the pro-death penalty crowd, this film undoubtedly is seen as left-leaning liberal crap. While fictitious, the story nonetheless resonates with too many real-life counterparts. The prevailing strength of this film is the social reality that resonate throughout. Undoubtedly, this film's ratings on IMDB will be hurt by political views alone. I invite - no, plead - with all of those like-minded individuals to see the unique possibilities that this film implies. This is one of the disturbing films, like the movie Kids, that should be seen at least once by us all.
It made me think
jeffthompson9828 September 2000
I had never thought of killing the wrong person in a death sentence. This film made me take a hard look at the justice system and the idea of capital punishment. I am still searching but the passion that was portrayed in this movie was great and the idea that an the guiltless could die in the name of justice still haunts me. Sometimes films are needed on a social level I believe this film is one of them.
The Intrusive Eye
tedg21 February 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers herein.
There are lots of self-referential or reflexive films. That's where the act of making the film is acknowledged in the film itself. A common model is the where a photographer acts as detective and something discovered in HIS film reflects onto OUR film. `Blowup' is the classic example with `Femme Fatale' a more recent twist. Scheider probably understands this. Director Frank Pierce surely does. This is the guy that gave us one of the best reflexive projects: `Dog Day Afternoon,' as well as `Cool Hand Luke' and `Cat Ballou.' No dummy this guy, and though this is an incredibly stupid story - as all TeeVee projects must be - there's some cool reflection here.
The story resembles `True Crime' and `The Player,' both similarly reflexive, more than `Dead Man Walking' or `Dancer in the Dark.' The execution isn't the point, only an excuse for the photographer to have his lens make the story. His Pulitzer was won, we are told, by a similar event. Along the way, we get some not bad shine on well-worn stereotypes: the floozy wife, the two-faced cop, the conniving DA, the small-town police clerk, the pushy reporter. The one minor twist is that this inmate thinks he was guilty and is not saved.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 4: Has some interesting elements.
There are lots of self-referential or reflexive films. That's where the act of making the film is acknowledged in the film itself. A common model is the where a photographer acts as detective and something discovered in HIS film reflects onto OUR film. `Blowup' is the classic example with `Femme Fatale' a more recent twist. Scheider probably understands this. Director Frank Pierce surely does. This is the guy that gave us one of the best reflexive projects: `Dog Day Afternoon,' as well as `Cool Hand Luke' and `Cat Ballou.' No dummy this guy, and though this is an incredibly stupid story - as all TeeVee projects must be - there's some cool reflection here.
The story resembles `True Crime' and `The Player,' both similarly reflexive, more than `Dead Man Walking' or `Dancer in the Dark.' The execution isn't the point, only an excuse for the photographer to have his lens make the story. His Pulitzer was won, we are told, by a similar event. Along the way, we get some not bad shine on well-worn stereotypes: the floozy wife, the two-faced cop, the conniving DA, the small-town police clerk, the pushy reporter. The one minor twist is that this inmate thinks he was guilty and is not saved.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 4: Has some interesting elements.
A quirky yet death row down to the minute and haunting score
cnrfbones20 March 2019
A man on death row wants his electric chair execution filmed live, or by still photographer. He gets Roy Schieder, supposedly who shot Tina Turner's Private Dancer.
A man from Time? Magazine comes down to tell the story---Roy knows nothing.
It's a cop killing and Ray and a friend were at a plane on a drug deal gone wrong. When checking his pictures against the ones on the other cop who shot self, they were flipped in court and they are just seeing a pattern. There is new evidence at eleventh hour, after putting Ray thru several near missed, he knows nothing of what they know.
With a haunting score by James Newton Howard, of Signs, this grabs you from start to finish.
Roy Scheider is there for his job and zero hour is approaching.
It's a race to see what happens in the end. Still, you can 't help but feel a bit changed.
An absolute terrific film. It was an HBO production.
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