True Crime MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -3

Clint Eastwood plays an anti-hero in this intelligent story of two very different men whose paths cross under most unusual circumstances. Steve Everetts (Eastwood) heavy drinking and womanizing has wrecked his marriage, and his reputation as a top-notch investigative reporter is in tatters. Tucked away on death row of San Quentin prison is Frank Beachum (Isaiah Washington), a young black man scheduled to die by lethal injection in 12 hours. Frank led a life of petty crimes until he married, had a child and developed a deep religious faith. He refuses to repent for the crime he is about to die for, because he insists he is innocent. Steves friend and boss, Alan (James Woods), sends Steve to the prison to write a human interest story about the condemned man. Its Steves last chance to save his career, but what he learns about the murder convinces him Frank is innocent. TRUE CRIME is intense, heart-wrenching and thought provoking. Mature audiences will be mesmerized by this suspenseful tale of two desperate men.

His boss knows instinctively to call a colleagues house to locate Steve, who is indeed in bed with that colleagues wife. They are shown in bed caressing and laughing about cheating on their spouses with no remorse or shame. That is the only bedroom scene, but at the office crude jokes about Steves lifestyle abound. Filthy language also plays a prominent part in the script with many slang terms for sex and body parts, 59 obscenities and 19 regular profanities. Repetitive flashbacks of the killing Frank is accused of are graphic, showing the murdered girl shot point-blank in the chest. As the clock runs out and the execution begins, each step is carefully carried out as the prisoners wife and others watch the terrified Frank. The afternoon before the scheduled execution Franks wife (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and child are allowed to visit with him, and the audience realizes the depth of their love and faith. After Steve witnesses the love and faith of the Beachums, he realizes what his lust for women and alcohol have cost him. It is a shame a good movie is ruined by its one implied sex scene and dirty language.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522