True Crime is a fairly engaging movie that has some good performances. Clint Eastwood as the director stages the action well and moves the plot forward. The supporting cast is well rounded and helps advance the narrative. What could've made this movie better is a brisker pace, but Clint Eastwood the director chose a more laid back style. After thirty years in the business, Clint Eastwood can do whatever he wants with his films. He's earned it.
Strictly by the book sub par drama. Oh look, Clint's playing a hard bitten (insert occupation here, they're all the same character) journalist who has all the appeal of toothache. I only watched it because a couple of my favourite actors were in it. James Woods, Denis Leary and Michael McKean. Pity they were only in it for about 15 minutes throughout a 2 hour yawn fest.
Clint just has that way of drawing you into the film and holding you there. This was his greatest film but still a very enjoyable one. James Woods was excellent and came out with one of the greatest lines I have heard in a movie for awhile. "He's gonna want your ass and I'll have to give it to him, then you'll just be a hole with no ass around it."
I thought this movie was pretty good. While some may have thought that the plot was simple, I think the movie shows how our views are clouded by prejudices (not necessarily a race thing). I thought the exchanges between Woods, Leary, and Eastwood were pretty entertaining, too. There were just minor flaws in the movie which were a bit bothersome... like when Woods was yelling at Eastwood about having an affair with Leary's wife, you would think they would at least close the door. Anyway, the movie was long but didn't seem long. (I did fast forward during the injection scenes since I knew nothing of significance would happen and they were there just for drama.) Anyway, I would imagine the story (about injustice) had some significance to Eastwood for him to pick doing it...
True Crime is flawed but still largely enjoyable, with an ending that confirmed my deepest suspicions: that the movie would end up as Hollywood formula. It is really, really bad, surely the darkest hour of what is otherwise a well-composed movie.
The plot isn't always great, but the people moving through it are the centerpieces. All of the key players are incredibly interesting, and their respective actors offer great performances. Eastwood himself is an odd pick, because he is far too old to be playing the woman-stealing lothario. Fuck my wife? Sure, if you can find the Viagra first! And I'm aware that there's a touch of narcissism in this, as I'm sure there is in Eastwood himself. Remember how he was constantly running around in his underwear in Play Misty for Me? Clint Eastwood thinks he's got it and is not afraid to flaunt it, even if he's like 200 years old.
So perhaps casting himself as the protagonist was a flaw, but all it really gets from you is a derisive chuckle or two. The rest of the movie's pretty tight. Certainly a little formulaic, and a little implausible, but the human aspects of it really shine. For whatever reason, it kept reminding me of Zodiac, but it doesn't take a film critic to see that Zodiac was far more absorbing. It's not a knock on Eastwood, so much as the material he chose to work with.
Somehow while I was watching True Crime, it didn't really occur to me how weak the plot really was. Looking back at it now though, it was just way too easy for Clint to solve this crime. It just easily fell together for him even though 6 years of investigation found no suck evidence. With that being said, there's a reason that the plot holes that bored through this movie were less important than in other films. Mainly the performances by Eastwood, who somehow made his rebellious, old-timer, with young girls throwing themselves at him, character work. Isaiah Washington also gave a very heartfelt performance. True Crime also contained a heart-stopping scene towards the end involving lethal injection, that really makes the movie worth while.
It takes some time to get used to Clint, and I'm not sure I've got there yet. Some conversations are very embarrassing, but at the same time it's nice to see Clint take his daughter to speed-zoo. Hmm... or am I just a bit drunk?
A really, really good movie. Another Clint Eastwood classic again that i thoroughly enjoyed. Isaiah Washington was wonderful, and he made me tear up. Great movie.
I must admit I rather enjoyed this film although I agree that Clint Eastwood was a tad too old at the time of filming to act the ageing playmate. I'm sure he could have left that role to a slightly younger colleague. Isaiah Washington was fantastic and I do hope to see him in other films and not just TV series in the near future.
Death Row - a rather morbid theme maybe but as the wrongs and rights of the death penalty are regularly back on the table I'm sure this film will never really go out of fashion.
Why it wasn't appreciated more in cinemas at the time of its release I don't know. It is definitely well worth the watch if you are a fan of crime, suspense and mystery.
A journalist believes that a man on death-row will be executed in a few hours, for a crime he didn't commit and starts a race against the clock to prove his innocence.
Hunted thief..brutal cop..opportunist..even cold hearted murderer..what ever character Eastwood played, I always found something redeeming that made me like..or at least feel empathy for him. But this caracter..no! A nice plot, but the dislikable character moderates the pleasure, and therefore also the rate.
Brilliant and thrilling with Eastwood as a reporter who believes a San Quentin Death Row prisoner is innocent and scramble to save him before the clock is ticking.
Like it more when Clint is in a western movie,but he's good in a 'ordinary' role to,once in a while. Of coures,nothing can be compared with The good the bad and the ugly. That movies is just liike wow!
Back to this movie. I sure as hell wanna tell ya'll the ending,but I can't spoil the surprise for ya! The film was a real thriller,and Clint did a really nice job on it.
A movie about capital punishment and makes you think do we really need it, possibly executing innocent people. This is one of Eastwood's best stories. It's thrilling and keeps you hanging around to see if Clint will save the day.
Just a bit cliche, but I loved Clint's character. I loved him because I wasn't really forced by the plot to like him. He's not the saint, he's just a guy that's good at something and goes for it... no special beliefs, no moral attitude. I like such guys. Dangerous, but once you get to know them, you know what to expect.
Stands as Eastwood's best performance next to his role in Blood Work and Million Dollar Baby (and no, Dirty Harry and the Man With No Name were entertaining and clasisc, but not -good- performances).
MCT:September 4, 2008
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MCT:August 25, 2007
