True Crime Review
By Joe Lozito
Eastwood's "Crime" doesn't ring True
I like Clint Eastwood. I like that he continues to make ponderous films that aren't afraid to dissect the genres into which they fit so well. I like that he continues to people his films with excellent actors. And I like that he continues to play the flawed leading man roles himself. Mr. Eastwood's newest film "True Crime" certainly fits into all of the above categories, but why does it then fall short of his better works, such as "Unforgiven" or "A Perfect World"?
It could be that "True Crime" starts with a very unlikely premise: Mr. Eastwood's Steve Everett, a hotshot investigative reporter who has burned pretty much every bridge he ever crossed, has to determine if Frank Beecham (Isiah Washington) was wrongly convicted before he is executed by lethal injection. Ignoring that this seems like a retread of many other Capital Punishment films, add to the mix the fact that Steve has only twelve hours in which to accomplish his task.
Again, Mr. Eastwood has surrounded himself with a fine ensemble. Most notably James Woods stands out as the hot-headed editor of the Oakland Tribune, for which Mr. Eastwood works. He plays it in Perry White-on-speed style and adds a much-needed boost to any scene in which he appears. Even Mr. Eastwood's adorable young daughter (playing - who else? - Steve's adorable young daughter) lends a note of sweetness to her scenes with her father.
But this is really Mr. Eastwood's film, and he is still a charismatic man. He directs the film with some degree of style and he certain knows how to keep the tension up. However, his low raspy voice, which has always been one of his chief character traits, on occasion fails him. He seems as though he isn't up to the task of arguing with his fellow actors, let alone flirting with the young women that have apparently earned Steve his womanizer reputation.
"True Crime" is, like many other of Mr. Eastwood's films, about flaws. Flaws in the justice system, and flaws in human beings. How did it come to a point that we would have doubts about a man we've sentenced to death? How did Mr. Eastwood's character so alienate those in his life that, when the chips are down, he has no one to turn to? "True Crime" doesn't provide any answers and, as its own flaw, it doesn't stirs up enough feelings to make us ask any questions.
