Review of The Thin Blue Line (1988) by Lester Y — 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.
This review of The Thin Blue Line (1988) was written by Lester Y on 29 Jul 2009.
The Thin Blue Line has generally received very positive reviews.
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