Live! From Death Row (1992 TV Movie) User Reviews

poorly done script

[walker-7 · 13 June 1999]

The movie while attempting to portray a death row message and possibly spark debate goes about it using implausible scenes. Firstly no death row would be so poorly guarded or easily taken over. Also the scene with the swat team bursting in is a phony. No swat team could be that slow or inept if they were all the hostages would be long dead. Good acting by Bruce Davison and Joanna Cassidy cannot save a bad script.

an honest look into prisons around the world

[myspecialparadise · 7/10 · 28 March 2014]

"Live! From Death Row" is a movie that everyone that lives in, what we call, a civilized society ... should watch ... more than once! Most importantly it deals with the fact that many inmates, of prisons around the world, are mentally ill. Unfortunately, our system / our society is so riddled with hate, extreme hate, that few people, if any, actually receive justice. In many cases ... the criminal is the biggest victim in the court room, and, until we come to terms with this fact, we will continue to create monsters which become magnified year after year ... until they are put on death role, and murdered by our/the system, as well as the society, that created them! In the case of content, the talent is much less important than the message of/in this film. As usual, Bruce Davidson does himself proud with placing himself in the character's shoes ... and the quality of the film is rather like an afternoon soap ... you are sucked in, and the tentacles keep you from going anywhere else ... you need to know what happens next. I think someone other than Joanna Cassidy should have played the part of the reporter. Though she was not a huge mistake, she just doesn't quite reach her goal of believability. I would have sought someone closer to the quality of a Kate Hepburn, or a Maureen O'Hara, but this was not a big budget film, so funds must have been too short to get anyone better. Don't get me wrong, she was not bad, she just wasn't that good either. However, and as I have already said, the content makes up for the quality ... big time. If you want to read more about the content, I would suggest yo go to my facebook page billie.love.583.

Anyhoots ... as I said, this is a movie that should be seen by everyone, especially when it comes to the English speaking world.

Not bad, could have been better

[MissTRious · 9/10 · 6 October 1999]

The story is a little far-fetched, however Bruce Davison's presence on screen managed to compensate for that in part. His character as the cool killer is enjoyable to watch and suitably un-nerving. On the whole a little of a wasted chance at a serious social comment, but a fine performance from Bruce none the less.

Mildly entertaining but needed more work.

[Novastar · 2 September 1999]

I completely didn't expect to see this, I came home one evening and it was on. However I was instantly compelled to watch it. The death penalty is an area I find quite interesting and this film plays on that. Bruce Davison was excellent even though he didn't really seem to be in control 100% of the time. I wasn't quite sure, though, how Alana Powers really was the host of one of the best national talk-style shows as I found her actually rather dull. There are some really great supports and the final scene between Lorraine and Kenny was done extremely well.

This is one of those movies that you shouldn't go out of your way to watch, but it's definitely worth a good look if it comes your way.