An Innocent Man (1989)

29% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(7,843 ratings)

In Peter Yates' crime drama An Innocent Man, Tom Selleck plays Jimmie Rainwood, a stock figure airline maintenance supervisor with a perfect family. Then, one day, Jimmie decides to take a shower. While scrubbing himself clean, two crooked cops are getting themselves dirtier. Mike Parnell (David… More In Peter Yates' crime drama An Innocent Man, Tom Selleck plays Jimmie Rainwood, a stock figure airline maintenance supervisor with a perfect family. Then, one day, Jimmie decides to take a shower. While scrubbing himself clean, two crooked cops are getting themselves dirtier. Mike Parnell (David Rasche) and Danny Scalise (Richard Young) are the kind of bad cops who bust the drug dealers, steal their supply, and sell it back to the local drug lords. On this day, unfortunately for Jimmie, they get the wrong address and bash down his door. When Jimmie comes out of the bathroom wielding his hair dryer, Parnell and Scalise think it is a gun and shoot him. Realizing their mistake, they cover themselves and frame him as a drug dealer. Jimmie refuses to take a plea and he is sentenced to six years in the slammer. In the brutal prison environment, he is taken aside by long-timer Virgil Kane (F. Murray Abraham), who gives him a bleak collection of options to chose from in order to survive prison. After seeing a prison gang rape, Jimmie chooses the kill-or-be-killed selection and stabs to death the nasty black convict who has been bothering him. After three years, Jimmie is released on parole, and he tries to pick up his life again. But Parnell and Scalise return to threaten Jimmie and his family. Realizing that his prison lessons must be carried over into civilian life, he sets up a situation in which the bad cops' drug dealings are revealed, and Jimmie prepares for a final reckoning between the cops and himself. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Peter Yates
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Oct 6, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Apr 8, 2003

Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
The scenes of Selleck in prison are good, but his out-of-prison revenge is too contrived.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lafe F

Tom Selleck is forced to get TOUGH to survive in prison, when he is framed for murder. He doesn't look good in blue, and looks better in Hawaiian shirts as Magnum P.I. It's a bit scary when anybody as nice as Tom Selleck can get sent to prison. The scene where the guards… More
Tom Selleck is forced to get TOUGH to survive in prison, when he is framed for murder. He doesn't look good in blue, and looks better in Hawaiian shirts as Magnum P.I. It's a bit scary when anybody as nice as Tom Selleck can get sent to prison. The scene where the guards take away his wedding ring was sad. F. Murray Abraham helps him get even against a nasty gang of cons. Once Tom gets out of prison, he has real "conviction" to go after the bad cops who framed him, with a great ending scene. Not the most exciting film, but it has some unintentionally funny scenes.
xGary X

Rather clumsy prison flick that is yet more proof that Tom Selleck does not have the star presence to carry a project beyond the small screen. F Murray Abraham provides some dramatic gravitas, but it just feels so "straight to video".
Dean M

Average mystery-thriller of a framed guy surviving in prison' story.
Steve B

Lame and predictable.
Jeffrey M

While I really like Tom Selleck, one of the more under-appreciated actors in Hollywood, this film was not his shining moment. Despite his best efforts, he is not able to overcome the clumsy dialogue, corny exposition, and the completely unbelievable over-the-top corrupt cops… More
While I really like Tom Selleck, one of the more under-appreciated actors in Hollywood, this film was not his shining moment. Despite his best efforts, he is not able to overcome the clumsy dialogue, corny exposition, and the completely unbelievable over-the-top corrupt cops (where's Vic Mackey when you need him?) that are prevalent throughout the film. Yes, much of the prison material is effective, as is Selleck's relationship with his wife, but it all suffers around a poorly written script and amateur execution.

Cast

            Tom Selleck as Jimmie Rainwood

            F Murray Abraham as Virgil Cane

            Laila Robins as Kate Rainwood

            David Rasche as Mike Parnell

            Richard Young as Danny Scalise

            Badja Djola as John Fitzgerald

            Todd Graff as Robby

            Derek Anunciation as Lester

            Tobin Bell as Zeke

            Brian Brophy as Nate Blitman

            Dennis Burkley as Butcher

            J. Kenneth Campbell as Lt. Freebery

            Dave Florek as Court Clerk

            Holly Fulger as Yvonne

            M.C. Gainey as Malcolm

            Terry Golden as Felix

            Philip Baker Hall as Judge Lavet

            Clint Howard as Fellow prisoner

            J.J. Johnston as Joseph Donatelli

            Thomas B. Kackert as Dove

            Charlie Landry as Stevie

            Ernie Lively as Donatelli's Dealer

            Bob Maroff as Venucci

            Gary Matanky as Mechanic at Hangar

            Robert Nichols as Courthouse Guard

            Jack Orend as Officer at Bust

            Jim Ortlieb as Convict at Robby's Death

            Ben Slack as Woznick

            Peter Van Norden as Peter Feldman

            Bruce A. Young as Jingles

            Larry Brothers as Basketball Con

            Dean Hill as Mike

            Alanniss Allddero as Convict Torturer

            Maggie Baird as Stacy

            Ralph O. Benton as Man on Tuna Boat

            David Rhodes Brown as Convict

            Lt. Mike Budge as Warden

            Ron Collins as Fritz

            Scott Jaeck as Albert

            David Meligan as Correctional Officer

            Vito Peterson as Handjob

            Ben Rawnsley as Cop at Jimmie's

            Jim Staskel as Man on Tuna Boat

            Gary Velasco as Courthouse Guard

            Brian J. Williams as Man on Tuna Boat

            Jeffrey Earl Young as Guard

            Howard Feuer
            
            James T. Morris as Junior
See full cast