Review of The Thin Blue Line (1988) by Anonymous User — 29 Jul 2009

One of the more concrete examples of a documentary actually making a difference: the film makes the argument that a man sentenced to death for murder was innocent, and he was found innocent shortly after the film's release. It's also a righteous skewering of the American justice system. It has interviews from everyone involved: witnesses, suspects, police, judges, attorneys. This is a completely riveting story.

But what really makes The Thin Blue Line stand out is Errol Morris' ability to make a compelling visual accompaniment to the mystery. Interviews are interspersed with slick re-enactments that soon became a standard in television shows dealing with similar subject matter. Combine the visuals with Philip Glass' excellent score, then you have a powerful documentary that transcends the usual cable-TV whodunnit.