True Eastwood

"True Crime"
Overall Rating: ****½

Clint Eastwood is one of the most important living American filmmakers. In 1992, he established his reputation with "Unforgiven;" that movie subsequently won multiple Academy Awards and was named on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest American films. In my opinion, "True Crime" is even better than "Unforgiven."

Steve Everett (Clint Eastwood) is a reporter who is on the skids. Though once a great investigative journalist, he has become his own worst enemy: he's a recovering alcoholic, he's having an affair with his editor's wife, and he recently crusaded unsuccessfully to free a rapist--who turned out to be guilty. When a young reporter for his paper dies in an auto accident, Everett inherits her assignment: a human interest story on the last day of Frank Beachum (Isaiah Washington), a man on death row for the murder of a young, pregnant co-ed. Some details in the Beachum case don't seem to add up, however, and raise doubts: is Beachum innocent, or is Everett merely on a wild goose chase in search of redemption?

"True Crime" keeps the audience in suspense. The facts come to us chaotically they do to Everett. The evidence is all there--if only we, and Everett, can find it. The question of whether Beachum is guilty is left open until the last possible minute--but when answered, there is no doubt whatsoever. Similarly, whether Everett can redeem himself is an open question until the end--for he may well be trying to free a guilty man. Subtle parallels between Everett and Beachum--such as the fact that they both smoke and that each of them are married and have one daughter--coupled with shots of Beachum in prison interspersed with scenes of Everett's investigation, help tie the two together. "True Crime" is about both of them--and remains coherent even though they almost never appear together. The film's depiction of the whole execution atmosphere completes the picture: the media circus on screen is reminiscent of many executions reported on the 11 o'clock news.

The great script is brought to life by great acting. Though all the performances are good, four deserve special attention. One of the great supporting roles is carried out by the actor who plays the warden--a man who believes in the justice of the death penalty and is hardened by his contact with prisoners; despite this, he is humane in his own way--sending out men to find Beachum's daughter's green crayon so she can finish a final picture for her father. The other is Penny Bae Bridges who is amazing as Beachum's young daughter, Gail; she completely understands her character, though her character may be too young to completely understand what's happening to her father. "True Crime" belongs to its stars, however. Isaiah Washington is excellent as Frank Beachum--a character in a situation that is difficult for most people--including myself--to imagine. Clint Eastwood is magnificent when it comes to portraying all of Everett's complexities: determined investigator, insecure father, and antagonist towards his boss.

While "True Crime" is not perfect, its problems are relatively minor. There is an automobile stunt that adds nothing, a sex scene that shows more than it needs to, a few places where too much is implied, and what seems like an unnatural amount of media attention. Even so, its problems pale in comparison with its merits.

"True Crime" is not for kids. Considering that the plot revolves around a violent crime, the amount of violence is limited; however, the flashback depictions of the murder and its aftermath are extremely explicit. Additionally, there is copious strong language, graphic sexual content including frontal nudity, and a great deal of content relating to alcohol/drug use and capital punishment.

Admittedly, I was prejudiced going in--I am opposed to capital punishment, and between the content of the previews and the fact that Clint Eastwood is a libertarian, I knew that it almost certainly contained a sympathetic position. (It does, though I was pleased to see that it didn't simply dismiss capital punishment; though it finally comes down against the death penalty, the movie presents plenty of arguments in favor of it.) More to the point, in addition to being thought provoking on the subject of capital punishment--and more generally, redemption--"True Crime" is an engrossing mystery. It was much better than I expected. It would be a crime to miss it.


Title: "True Crime"
Release date: March 19, 1999

MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: ****½

Aprox. run time: 128 min.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Larry Gross, Paul Brickman, Stephen Schiff, Andrew Klavan (novel)
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/TrueCrim.htm
Added to blog site: 8/4/09