The Exonerated

I knew before this film that the justice system in the U.S. is far from perfect. and having watched it only reinforced that in my mind. As far as I know, everything that is said in the film is from a transcript of some kind. They are actual words, not inventions of a filmmaker with an agenda. While the filmmaker probably does have an agenda, that doesn't make the ideas and content of the film any less valid.

For me, this film could stand as the entire argument against the death penalty. Punishments are supposed to be about justice. Justice is not a system where six innocent people can be sentenced to die because of purposeful deceit or accidental human error. In reality there have been many more people exonerated from death row, but that doesn't make the argument any stronger. It should only take one death of an innocent to convince any rational person that this punishment is not morally sound.

This film places the audience as observer to personal interviews with ex-cons whose death row convictions were overturned, therefore they have been released from prison. They describe the circumstances leading to arrest and conviction, and their states of life and mind before they were arrested. It is a biting commentary on the tragic state of racial and socioeconomic policeable inequality and abuse, which then highlights severe failures of the US legal system. It is maddening in its portrayal of police prejudice and ineptitude. There is no riveting plot, instead there is riveting dialog which makes you sit up and listen - then makes you think again about the death penalty. Less involving than traditional story-teller movies like Dead Man Walking or The Life of David Gale, it is no-less impactful and thought- provoking. The stories are tragic. It is a stage-production which is well brought to the big screen, and deserves the larger exposure derived from theatrical/DVD distribution. A fantastic piece of cinematic art.

I've just watched this film and I myself write to two inmates in American prisons, one on Death Row (DR) (and he did not commit murder), so this topic of justice v. injustice is one very close to my heart & sensibilities.

What can one say when one hears that someone has spent up to 21 yrs of his/her life for a crime he/she did not commit, and the only way they finally get off DR was from DNA exoneration.

This is a film that all policemen, the judiciary, and school kids should have to see as a matter of course, but actually I reckon all Americans should see - to realise how many innocent lives have been totally ruined or, worse, lost at the electric chair for a crime they never committed. Why, also, does the law not act, when new evidence comes to light, ie why are people not released when they are found to be innocent. What is wrong with people not standing up for the truth? Is it so hard to do? How can these people sleep at night knowing that they have done nothing with evidence that could mean an innocent person could be released? This is totally beyond my understanding! This world is weird and mad! Films such as this one prove it. But this film was also so gentle in its delivery, so lacking in anger, which everyone had every right to be. (I would certainly have been had I been in their shoes.) It was great to see such fine actors taking on a film like this. It certainly added authenticity. An important film for the world to see: that not everyone who goes to prison is guilty! 10/10, from NSW, Australia

Unlike some people who have reviewed this title, I found nothing surprising about "The Exonerated." It's an indictment against the death penalty and also for our justice system. In light of some recent jury verdicts, it does seem that there are a few things very goofed up in our system, which is supposed to be the greatest. If it is the greatest, that's pretty sad.

Exonerated tells the stories of six innocent people who received the death penalty. The dialogue comes from the words of the real-life accused. The characters are played by: Brian Dennehy, Susan Sarandon, Aiden Quinn, Danny Glover, Delroy Lindo, with peripheral characters played by Bobby Cannavale, Dennis Burkley, and Chris Bauer, among others. Directed by Bob Balaban, the material was originally a play.

The shocking thing here is, after these people were exonerated, how long it took them to be released. And to think, these are the stories of six people - how many more people have stories like this, and how many died on death row, despite their innocence. It's a staggering thought, and their stories are compelling and sad, stories of wasted years and frustration.

One of the major problems is that many of these people were interrogated for hours and hours and did not ask for a lawyer. And the police are something else in regard to this civil right - if a person asks for an attorney in order to avoid interrogation for hours upon hours, it's assumed he or she is guilty. The public assumes it (well why would you need a lawyer if you didn't have anything to hide?) and the police assume it. First of all, when the police say 'anything you say can and will be used against you,' they mean it. If you talk without an attorney, your words will be twisted to convict you. Secondly, why would someone want to be interrogated for 16 hours or until they are so beaten down and exhausted that they confess?

At the end of the film, we are introduced to the real people. Human beings, victims of police in a hurry to make a case, bad lawyering or no lawyering, bad juries, or being the wrong color. It's a sobering thought.

Six riveting stories that are mesmerizing in the simplicity of the presentation and the power of the language. Innocent people--minorities and the poor, always--aren't always treated fairly by our justice system. Jesse Tafero, husband of Sunny Jacobs (played by Susan Sarandon in the film) was executed even though the evidence shows someone else committed the murder he was executed for. If it's liberal to want justice for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for counsel, then, yes, this is a liberal film. I would also recommend "Dead Man Walking" and the neglected "Last Dance" for fictional films based on true cases. "The Exonerated" is actually a very moving, very well presented film that should make you angry as hell.