The Exonerated (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Bob Balaban

Writers:

Jessica Blank (writer)
Erik Jensen (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Wrongful Conviction | Interview | Mockumentary | Racism | Death Sentence

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Sunny Jacobs
Aidan Quinn	...	Kerry
Danny Glover	...	David
Brian Dennehy	...	Gary Gauger
Delroy Lindo	...	Delbert
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Bauer	...	White Cop #1
Jessica Blank	...	Paula
Robert Bogue	...	Doyle (as Rob Bogue)
David Brown Jr.	...	Robert
Dennis Burkley	...	Sheriff Carroll
Bobby Cannavale	...	Jesse, Sunny's husband
Hamilton Clancy	...	Robert's friend (scenes deleted)
Johanna Day	...	Sandra
Venida Evans	...	State's Attorney
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Farmer
Carlin Glynn	...	Judge
Grainger Hines	...	Prosecutor
Erik Jensen	...	Jeff
Katherine Leask	...	Sue Gauger
Laurence Luckinbill	...	Prosecutor
Chuck Montgomery	...	Defense Attorney
Ed Onipede Blunt	...	Bar Guy
Jay Patterson	...	White Cop #2
Anslem Richardson	...	Robert's Inmate
Lee Tergesen	...	Walter Rhodes
April Yvette Thompson	...	Georgia
Myk Watford	...	White's Cop #2

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Court TV

"The true stories of 6 exonerated survivors of death row." Stories are told through gritty real life-like interviews.

This film places the audience as observer to personal interviews with ex-cons whose death row convictions were overturned, therefore they have been released from prison. They describe the circumstances leading to arrest and conviction, and their states of life and mind before they were arrested. It is a biting commentary on the tragic state of racial and socioeconomic policeable inequality and abuse, which then highlights severe failures of the US legal system. It is maddening in its portrayal of police prejudice and ineptitude. There is no riveting plot, instead there is riveting dialog which makes you sit up and listen - then makes you think again about the death penalty. Less involving than traditional story-teller movies like Dead Man Walking or The Life of David Gale, it is no-less impactful and thought- provoking. The stories are tragic. It is a stage-production which is well brought to the big screen, and deserves the larger exposure derived from theatrical/DVD distribution. A fantastic piece of cinematic art.