Review of True Crime (1999) by James H — 21 Mar 2004

[size=3]Clint Eastwood may make bad films, mediocre films or very good films...but the one thing he will probably never make is an incompetent movie. Eastwood is one of the consummate professionals among directors (and actors), and there is no doubt that he knows how to tell a story simply and effectively. This is demonstrated once again in [i]True Crime[/i], a fairly standard thriller that is not particularly memorable but gives Eastwood a chance to tackle the issue of the death penalty...even if it is tackled in a superficial way. Eastwood plays Steve Everett, an alcoholic, womanizing reporter who is not very liked by his coworkers or his superiors...perhaps because he has made a habit of sleeping with their wives. Steve's new assignment is to cover the final living hours of Frank Beachum (Isaiah Washington), a young black man who is on Death Row. Before long, Steve begins to suspect that Frank is innocent and has been wrongly convicted. He gets support from his editor-in-chief (James Woods), but finds that it is difficult to prove Frank's innocence. For most of its running length, [i]True Crime [/i]is an effective dramatic thriller, because it depends on the personalities of the two central characters and focuses on how Steve views saving Frank as a chance for his own redemption. While Eastwood might have been well-advised to leave the role of Steve to someone else, he still manages to convey some of the world-weariness that is integral to the character. Washington, meanwhile, is quietly dignified and quite powerful because of it...we want to see this man freed from the injustices that have been done to him. Unfortunately, Eastwood relies on action cliches in the final 20 minutes of the film, and so what could have been a powerful drama is undermined by silliness. In fact, the climax reminded me of the pandering Hollywood ending that Robert Altman poked fun at in [i]The Player[/i]...it is almost a carbon copy of the climactic scene in that film (or rather, the film within that film). There are never any moments in which [i]True Crime [/i]rivals [i]Dead Man Walking [/i]for the depth and power of its examination of the death penalty, but it still is somewhat thought-provoking. If Eastwood had trusted the characters to see the story to an end, [i]True Crime [/i]would have been a very enjoyable drama. Instead, it is passably entertaining but not nearly as memorable as its subject matter demands.[/size].

[size=3](BASIC) [/size].