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Reviews
True Crime (1999)
Good film hampered by need for action and happy ending
I enjoyed this film as despite its 'save the innocent man on death row' cliche-ridden plot line it did not did not preach the message. Was it anti-racist?, anti-death penalty? or simply anti-poor justice / don't kill the wrong man?
The characters were all allowed flaws (especially Clint - who even showed us that he is not growing old with dignity - or at least his body isn't) and there were scenes which register true emotion. The comparison between the two fathers dealing with the daughters ("speed-zoo" and all that) was excellent). The film was spoiled by the need to introduce too much of a cliff hanger (was he / wasn't he guilty), an action sequence (most implausible and unnecessary car chase ever!) and the ultimate last second rescue! I seriously wonder and would love to know if the original script / version has the opposite conclusion, with the final phone call actually arriving too late. How much more powerful that would have been?
I really felt cheated by the last 10 minutes of an otherwise well-made, thoughtful and well-observed film.