TRUE CRIME
Clint Eastwood proves once again why he is still one our premiere film directors. Why? Because, he never fails to entertain. The writer gives him the blueprint, but he is the one who molds the design of the story to fit the weathered persona he perfected in "Unforgiven." "True Crime," is no exception.
This time, instead of a gunslinger who’s seen better days who has to prove he can still ‘do it’ one last time, he’s Steve Everett - investigative reporter - forced by circumstance to prove he can still ‘do it.’ Everett is assigned to get ‘a day in the life’ of convicted murderer, Frank Beachum, hours before his scheduled execution. It’s supposed to be a simple human interest piece, but when Steve reviews the facts of the case, he discovers discrepancies between the testimony of the key witness and the physical evidence. That’s the story line. Here’s the scoop.
"True Crime" is not about a guy - Frank Beachum - who didn’t do it. His innocence is a given. It’s about a guy - Steve Everett - who didn’t ‘do it’ enough. It’s about the personal quirks that made him a good reporter, and the failings that dragged him down, He’s a married newspaper reporter on his last leg, seeking pleasure from booze and the company of other women. Steve has never grown up even though his lifelines stretch from his hands to his face. He’s still belly-to-the-bar, spinning tales of his exploits, and using his charm and easy going manner to disarm any one who will listen. Surprisingly, the movie is sometimes downright funny! The humor comes from Steve’s flippant attitude towards life. Everyone but his spouse knows his business, even the story editor whose wife has a thing for Steve. The affair is fuel for some uproarious rapid fire, tete-a-tete, boys-will-be-boys dialogue between Everett and his boss, Alan Mann, played effortlessly by James Woods. He gets vicarious pleasure from Steve’s misdeeds, but still chants the party line when it comes to a story. Steve’ll take anything he can get, even the last minute assignment to hear a condemned man’s last words. Getting Frank Beachum off the hook turns out to be Steve Everett’s big chance to redeem himself and prove he can still - Do It!
A colleague’s notes, the personal effects of the victim, and Everett’s stab at sobriety all figure in the outcome of "True Crime." Eastwood gets able support from a great cast that includes Isaiah Washington as Beachum and Lisa Gay Hamilton as his wife. Bernard Hill(the captain in "Titanic") is the tight-lipped warden who is not so sure about Beachum’s guilt, but who must nevertheless give the order to take his life. Michael Jeter is the self absorbed key witness, and Denis Leary is the wronged story editor whose grudge against Everett is a mixture of personal and professional jealousy. More humor is squeezed from a no smoking ban in the newspaper office alluding to Leary’s one man show, "No Cure for Cancer."
The presence of Clint’s real life daughter as his pre-school child in the movie may be an indication that the recipe for the man who has to ‘do it’ one last time is changing. Is there a need for the aging Eastwood to connect to something beyond the vagaries of his art, or is Everett’s reveling in his daughter’s joy just a plot device to connect him to Beechum’s family? I suspect it’s a little of both.
For all its good points, the ending of "True Crime" is rushed. It’s supposed to be a nail biter, with Everett having an epiphany with the clock ticking away. But the story is essentially over when Everett realizes his hunches were correct. The 11th hour heroics are merely the pieces that fill in the picture’s blank spaces. "True Crime" is about the journey, not the destination. The ending may be a let down, but it’s a lot of fun getting there.
Suggested Video Pix
A Clint Eastwood movie worth another look.
"Bronco Billy" (1980) - Directed by Clint. Eastwood runs a modern wild west show, and charms the pants off everybody. In a key scene, Eastwood lets a distasteful sheriff prove who’s boss off camera, leaving the audience wondering if Bronco Billy had to give up a piece of his dignity to save his show and the livelihood of his employees. One of Clint’s favorites, and one of his least successful. But still a great film. It never dates.
Clint Eastwood Fun Facts:
"A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) - His first big hit after a seven year run on TV’s Rawhide is based on Akira Kurasawa’s Samurai flick, "Yojimbo"(1961) which was modeled after Hollywood westerns.
"For a Few Dollars More" (1966) - The sequel to "A Fistful of Dollars" is likewise loosely based on "Sanjuro" (1962), Kurasawa’s sequel to "Yojimbo."
Some Oldies but Goodies in the newsroom
"Five Star Final" (1931) - A classic with Edward G. Robinson as the editor and Boris Karloff as a reporter. Released the same year as "Frankenstein."
"Deadline USA" (1952) - Humphrey Bogart as an editor who sticks to his guns during an attempted corporate takeover. Directed by former journalist, Richard Brooks. A winner.
"The Front Page" (1931) - Based on the original play from ex-newspapermen, Ben Hecht & Charles McArthur. With Adolph Menjou and Pat O’Brien. "His Girl Friday" (1940) - The same play with Rosalind Russell taking over the role of the star reporter. Cary Grant is the editor. Directed by Howard Hawks. "The Front Page" (1974) - Another remake with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Directed by Billy Wilder.
"Switching Channels" (1988) - A modern update of "His Girl Friday" with Kathleen Turner in the Rosalind Russell part taking place in a modern TV newsroom