A convicted wife murderer returns twenty two years later to seek revenge on the daughter who help convict him.A convicted wife murderer returns twenty two years later to seek revenge on the daughter who help convict him.A convicted wife murderer returns twenty two years later to seek revenge on the daughter who help convict him.
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Gisela Kovach
- Susanna
- (as Gisele Kovach)
Ferdy Mayne
- Mueller
- (as Ferdinand Mayne)
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How many times have I watched something for a period of time before realizing that I'm looking at Amy Irving? This film was no exception. The woman is a chameleon, and though she certainly has been recognized for her work, I think she's underrated.
The plot of this film is mildly interesting - a man convicted of murdering his wife makes parole and looks up his daughter, who helped put him away. His daughter begins to doubt her testimony.
It would have been more intriguing to keep the plot on that level, to have the audience unsure throughout the film. Unfortunately, the plot disintegrates past a certain point and becomes a chase film, albeit through some magnificent scenery.
Donald Sutherland is very good in what has become a familiar role for him. But Amy makes the movie.
The plot of this film is mildly interesting - a man convicted of murdering his wife makes parole and looks up his daughter, who helped put him away. His daughter begins to doubt her testimony.
It would have been more intriguing to keep the plot on that level, to have the audience unsure throughout the film. Unfortunately, the plot disintegrates past a certain point and becomes a chase film, albeit through some magnificent scenery.
Donald Sutherland is very good in what has become a familiar role for him. But Amy makes the movie.
This 1993 drama/thriller 'Benefit of the Doubt' stars Donald Sutherland and Amy Irving. Sutherland delivers a strong performance (as does Irving) in a rather "straight to video" quality film.
Amy Irving plays a character very unlike her other performances (such as Carrie, The Fury or Anastasia). For one thing she doesn't have her trademark curly hair but is a straight blonde, she plays Karen an Arizona single mom who works in an adult bar and smokes cigarettes. She has daddy issues, 22 years ago her father Frank (Sutherland) was arrested and placed into prison with the help of Karen after attacking his wife and killing her.
Frank is released and Karen is hysterical when she first finds out her son Pete (Rider Strong) has had a harmless encounter with her father. Karen tells her son to promise her not to see him again but Frank finds ways trying to enter her life again and seems harmless doing it. What Karen doesn't know is if what she saw that night 22 years ago actually happened and if she can trust her father again, a man she help stay in prison for such a long time.
One word can describe Amy in this film, and that is 'HOT', she is incredibly sexy and has a racy scene with her on-screen boyfriend Dan (Christopher McDonald), Sutherland is 'good' in his role. I watched this not expecting much and is good, just good. It wasn't incredibly well made but it passes for a good midday movie or if you are suffering from incredible boredom.
6/10.
Amy Irving plays a character very unlike her other performances (such as Carrie, The Fury or Anastasia). For one thing she doesn't have her trademark curly hair but is a straight blonde, she plays Karen an Arizona single mom who works in an adult bar and smokes cigarettes. She has daddy issues, 22 years ago her father Frank (Sutherland) was arrested and placed into prison with the help of Karen after attacking his wife and killing her.
Frank is released and Karen is hysterical when she first finds out her son Pete (Rider Strong) has had a harmless encounter with her father. Karen tells her son to promise her not to see him again but Frank finds ways trying to enter her life again and seems harmless doing it. What Karen doesn't know is if what she saw that night 22 years ago actually happened and if she can trust her father again, a man she help stay in prison for such a long time.
One word can describe Amy in this film, and that is 'HOT', she is incredibly sexy and has a racy scene with her on-screen boyfriend Dan (Christopher McDonald), Sutherland is 'good' in his role. I watched this not expecting much and is good, just good. It wasn't incredibly well made but it passes for a good midday movie or if you are suffering from incredible boredom.
6/10.
Donald Sutherland is paroled from prison after 22 years. He was sent there for killing his wife, on the evidence of his daughter, Amy Irving. Now he wants to go home, repair the misunderstanding with her -- for he calmly insists that he did not do it -- and help take care of his grandson. After a while, he succeeds..... and then, of course, the story begins.
It's certainly a well cast movie, with Theodore Bikel and Graham Greene, and there's some startling photography of Glen Canyon in Utah. But it's another of the many, many movies that Sutherland made in this period, in which he played older men who you couldn't tell if they were nice guys or murderous creeps until, almost invariably, they turned out to be the latter. I grew tired of the trope and the casting early on, and a quarter of a century later, I see nothing here to change my mind.
It's certainly a well cast movie, with Theodore Bikel and Graham Greene, and there's some startling photography of Glen Canyon in Utah. But it's another of the many, many movies that Sutherland made in this period, in which he played older men who you couldn't tell if they were nice guys or murderous creeps until, almost invariably, they turned out to be the latter. I grew tired of the trope and the casting early on, and a quarter of a century later, I see nothing here to change my mind.
"Benefit of the Doubt" features another "Creepy Grandpa" performance by Donald Sutherland, not unlike his character in "Panic". Sutherland is very good in both films, and is surrounded by excellent supporting actors, William H. Macy in "Panic", and Amy Irving and Graham Greene in "Benefit of the Doubt". Another plus is the beautiful desert setting, with magnificent red rock formations. Although the story is rather straightforward, the entertainment value is high. Grandfather is released from prison, and seeks relationship with estranged Daughter who helped convict him. Theodore Bikel's performance, as the district attorney is noteworthy also. Recommended. - MERK
I have to say that although the story itself was quite mediocre, casting Amy Irving as the daughter was a brilliant move. Irving was practically unrecognisable as the woman who - many years ago - identified her father as the murderer of her mother.
Irving is relaxed, uninhibited & - again - almost unrecognisable in her role as Karen Braswell. Karen has straight, bleached blond hair & drives a pick-up. Her role blew me away when I first saw this film. After "Carrie," "The Fury," etc... I was so used to seeing Irving as curly-haired, cautious, & retrospective. Karen Braswell was brashy, kinda trashy, blond & sure of herself - a role that actors literally kill for.
If you are a fan of acting, I highly recommend seeing this film JUST for Amy Irving's performance. She is AMAZING-!!!
Irving is relaxed, uninhibited & - again - almost unrecognisable in her role as Karen Braswell. Karen has straight, bleached blond hair & drives a pick-up. Her role blew me away when I first saw this film. After "Carrie," "The Fury," etc... I was so used to seeing Irving as curly-haired, cautious, & retrospective. Karen Braswell was brashy, kinda trashy, blond & sure of herself - a role that actors literally kill for.
If you are a fan of acting, I highly recommend seeing this film JUST for Amy Irving's performance. She is AMAZING-!!!
Did you know
- TriviaThe film cast includes three Oscar nominees: Graham Greene, Theodore Bikel and Amy Irving. Leading man Donald Sutherland has a special Oscar but not a competitive.
- How long is Benefit of the Doubt?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $151,860
- Runtime
- 1h 30m(90 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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