Un doigt dans l'engrenage

I watched this when it aired on HBO and told everyone I knew to watch it for themselves. I don't normally recommend a movie or TV show unless I am really blown away. Today I was talking about Bill Pullman and found myself chatting about this flick as one of my most memorable and favorite films. My friend wanted the name after my review but I couldn't remember. I knew IMDb would list all film appearances. I read the three reviews and absolutely disagreed with one of them, so; I thought I'd add my take on it. This movie had me talking and sometimes yelling at the TV. This is a gripping tale that will give you much food for thought about our legal system. Great acting, good script and as on point in 2014 as it was when it first aired. I say watch it.

Pullman does not make a convincing cop; sorry. He is the Leslie Neilson of the 21st century; he belongs in satire and comedy. After a while, Neilson stopped playing dramatic roles and did strictly comedy; Pullman should do the same. The story is a lower case version of The Negotiator, a much better film, starring Samuel Jackson, and with a much bigger budget. This wasn't horrible, but Pullman is no Jackson, and there was not nearly the tension of Negotiator. The supporting cast is not too bad; Loggia does a good job, but it is not enough to save this made for TV film.

In my opinion after watching 'Mistrial', this is a very underrated film (its current rating of 5.6 as of 18/11/2024 is almost criminal) with a great and very unconventional ending in which the 'victor', for lack of a better word, is not the one you expect. Only some questionable production values detract from an otherwise fantastic experience.

This film also offers an insightful and realistic portrayal of the limitations of the justice system, such as when evidence was withheld in court for dubious reasons which sometimes boil down to the judge's 'opinion'. Secondly, I loved the commentary on police brutality and the role of cops in society. They risk their lives on a daily basis for us both most get vilified way too easily when something goes a little awry.

A great and underrated film with a thought-provocative ending but which had a limited budget (which is somewhat understandable for TV productions).

"Mistrial" tells of a highly improbably story of a cop caught in the jaws of an imperfect system who goes over the edge and holds a courtroom hostage. Good work by Pullman can't save a mediocre screenplay and ludicrous lagging story with some good acting talent in scripted mannequin roles. Very ordinary low budget made-for-tv yawner.

Bill Pullman (Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping) stars as a police officer who takes over the courtroom where an accused cop-killer is going to be let free because the evidence he collected is in-admissable. Jon Seda (Selena, Sunchaser) plays the accused cop-killer. The film gains most of its strength from the two main performances, especially Pullman's. Always a likeable actor, Pullman creates a flawed character who is in way over his head. Seda gives a very good performance also. Highly recommended.