TRUE CRIME
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1999 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
Welcome to Screenwriting 101.
In order to get you started, your first assignment will be something
simple. You are to write one of those canonical thrillers in which the
old reporter searches almost in vain for leads. You can use that old
plot device of a clock that counts down the hours. This will provide
some pseudo-tension to make up for any shortcomings in your script.
Make it look like the protagonist has found almost no useful clues until
the last act, when near miracles can occur.
Let's say we have a man on death row. Give the reporter less than a
dozen hours to solve the crime in hopes that you'll at least have some
of the audience on the edge of their seats.
Now focus all of your creative energy on that obligatory big scene
toward the end in which the obviously innocent man is about to be
executed. Think of all of the ways that you can manipulate the viewers'
emotions. If you can get them to cry, you've got 'em hooked. Anyone
who cries during a movie feels duty bound to recommend it. Don't worry
that the critics will call the scene manipulative and maudlin; they
don't buy the tickets.
If you are lucky, your agent will get you a novel to work from, "True
Crime" by Andrew Klavan, for example. And if you're really fortunate,
your agent will find you some big name stars to act in the movie, say
Clint Eastwood as the reporter. If they get Clint, he'll probably want
to direct it as well. Isaiah Washington would be perfect as the black,
born-again-Christian who has been identified in a line-up as the
murderer of a young, white, pregnant woman. Make the crime be over some
trivial amount, say $96.
Clint, in his full laid-back mode, can sometimes put audiences to sleep,
so hope that they'll cast some edgier actors against him. Denis Leary
would make a good no-nonsense boss for Clint. If you can get him, James
Woods as Leary's boss would certainly add explosive and humorous power
to every scene he is in and would likely steal the movie.
The studio will probably assign other writers to the project to "help"
you. Whatever you do, don't be too disappointed with the results.
Don't forget that your script is just the score, and you have no control
if the director decides to conduct it too slowly. Finally, with a
strong enough cast, the movie will be entertaining even if far from
memorable. Next time, you can tackle something a little more
challenging, like say a teen comedy.
TRUE CRIME runs 2:07. It is rated R for profanity and some violence and
would be fine for teenagers.
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Have I seen this movie: Yes
And what did I think: Clint Eastwood gives another fine performance in True Crime, although the story has been rehashed so many times. He plays a reporter who is trying to find the truth about a crime to save a man from death row. While he does a fine job acting, and directing, I just can't picture him as a newspaper reporter... he just didn't look the part to me. Also I didn't like the idea of him womanising, it just made me dislike him. Also I didn't see the need for him to do it since he had a beautiful wife, lovely daughter and nice house. James Woods gave a nice performance, although he should have been on screen a little more. Denis Leary didn't have enough screen time either and his character wasn't anything too special. I liked how they portrayed the convict, played by Isaiah Washington as well. The scenes with his wife and daughter were touching and you kept hoping throughout the movie that he would be pardoned from execution. I won't give the ending away, you'll just have to see for yourself. It's worth renting, but even better to wait for cable perhaps.
I give True Crime 3 out of 5 stars
Review written August 12, 1999
