True Crime

Eastwood at his best! An exciting thriller/drama about the very controversial topic of capital punishment. Steve Everett, a newspaper journalist (C. Eastwood) is asked to do a story on a convicted murderer Frank Beachum (Isaiah Washington). Everett discovers that Beachum is innocent, but has less than a day to prove it.

Clint Eastwood's "True Crime" is not one of his classics but it is a very satisfying watch. The story is kind of corny but Clint makes it works. There's also a poorly written character that's (almost) offensively bad that the movie manages to overcome. That character is Michael McKean's "Reverend Shillerman". McKean's a good actor but he's given an impossible job. The reverend is a ridiculous stereotype and adds nothing to the film. Clint's character, on the other hand, is terrific. He's the least likable character Clint has ever played. Clint plays him just right. In lesser hands the character wouldn't have worked. Clint is terrific in "True Crime". Other than McKean, the supporting cast is top-notch. The scenes in the newsroom alone make this movie worth watching. I first saw "True Crime" in the theater (MovieWorld, Douglaston, NY). I've seen it several times since. I don't watch it as often as I watch Clint's other movies. I need to watch it more often.

Based on Andrew Klavan's 1997 novel of the same name, Clint Eastwood's 'True Crime' is a watchable film, but it's not memorable. Reason? The erratic screenplay, that goes Topsy-Turvy in the second-hour. Eastwood stars in the film as a journalist covering the execution of a death row inmate, only to discover that the convict may actually be innocent. 'True Crime' is interesting parts. The erratic screenplay plays a spoilsport in the second-hour. Eastwood's Direction is completely under-stated & well-done, how one wishes if the screenplay had been tighter. Performance-Wise: Eastwood is mediocre. Isaiah Washington gives a fantastic performance. James Woods shines in a brief role. Denis Leary is effective. Lisa Gay Hamilton is impressive. Bernard Hill is passable. Others lend support. On the whole, 'True Crime' is a one-time watch.

I thought this would be bad, but it turned out better. Not another liberal film, with the big bad government, which usually ends up being a preachy film. One with real life ugly characters, not the black and white tv characters. Eastwood saves this film with his mean dirty and often cynical view of life, which is a view I hold as I keep getting older. In the end, even the good guy has bad character flaws. This was no tv movie. 6/10

Trite, flawed movie. Concentrates on scenes and characters that GRATE on the nerves. The James Woods character is especially horrible. Some of the scenes ring so false and are so poorly written that they fail completely. Examples---the condemned prisoner chattering away so comfortably as soon as Eastwood the reporter appears. In his "second" life--as a director---Eastwood panders to the left wing: The minister is completely evil, dishonest, etc etc The scene where the prison guard jokes by hiding under a sheet on the execution table reeks. What audience was Eastwood aiming at here? I am sorry I wasted the time watching this picture.

I saw a piece of Swiss Cheese today, it reminded me of the plot of True Crime. Not a believable moment in this movie, from the sadly aged (and sagging) action hero flattering himself as a still attractive womanizer to the obligatory "nail biting" ending you can't watch seriously if you've ever seen Altman's "The Player". If Clint didn't see that satire he most surely agreed with the sellout Hollywood insiders it was attempting to scathe. Another disappointment in a vast ocean of laughable Eastwood directorial efforts for nearly 30 years. Thank god he still manages to screw up and make the odd good movie like "Josey Wales" and "Unforgiven." At least "True Crime" counterweights the crass bad acting of James Woods with a dignified performance from Isaih Washington as the man about to be executed. But it's the script that should have been executed before either were hired. For insanely loyal Clint Eastwood fans only.

Still a great movie nearly 20 yrs later! Subject is still timely and relevant. Clint never goes out of style as an actor or director. If you overlook things like beepers, news still printed on paper and high speed runs to the Governor's mansion because reporters (or Governors) didn't have cell phones for some reason, the movie could have been made yesterday! Great early performances from Dennis Leary, Isaiah Washington, Lisa Gay Hamilton and James Woods.

Clint Eastwood certainly doesn't have to prove himself any longer as the man who was immortal in the 70's with his Dirty Harry-image is now one of the better cineasts around in Hollywood. Eastwood plays a reporter who passed more hours behind the bar then behind the typewriter and when out of a sudden he is asked (more forced...) to report about the human feelings from someone who will end up on an electric chair the coming 12 hours, Eastwood decides it's time to investigate the innocence of the condemned...no further comment on here. The movie certainly has its black holes (why can a drunk journalist find out something in an hour?) and its cliches (of course it's a black guy who will be sent to the chair) but it's a moving one and it once again reopens the question about the death penalty. Eastwood plays brilliant as well, but as he is a pensioner now it'll be time that his wifes in movies aren't played by young babes. Ok movie, but better skip the laughable end though.

Clint Eastwood and James Woods should run and hide after releasing this fiasco. For a starter, Clint, your playing the stud opposite girls young enough to be your granddaughters just doesn't hack it. The audience actually groaned and voiced my thought "Give it up Clint" when the bedroom scene unfolds faster than the hanging skin on Clint' aging bod! The film picked up a bit toward its grateful conclusion, but not before suffering the ticket buyers to one of Eastwood's worst efforts. James Woods added to the downfall of this flick by over-acting more times than the "F" word pounded the ears of the audience. Not a proud moment for either of the great actors.

I saw this movie about two months ago and I'm still trying to figure out what in the world was going on. First of all I wish Clint would keep all his clothes on. This is supposed to be a thriller, not a horror film. Why in the world he felt compelled to partially disrobe at his age I'll never know, but it is painful to see. I also thought there was a peculiar chemistry between himself and his real life daughter who appears as his daughter in the film. The real life mother of the little girl who plays the daughter, Frances Fischer, is also in the movie. She is Clint's ex-girlfriend before his present wife. Confused yet? I honestly think Frances Fischer and James Woods were the only people in the film who could act. It was just a disjointed, weird film. I am sorry I paid good money to see it.