Jeri
Jacquin
Coming to
theatres from director Edward Zwick and Flashlight Films comes the story of the
secrets and lies with TRIAL BY FIRE.
It is
1992 and Todd Willingham (Jack O'Connell) is in a complicated and jealousy driven
relationship with wife Stacy (Emily Meade). One morning after leaving for work,
Todd wakes up to his children calling him. He notices immediately that the
house is filled with smoke.
Trying to
get to them he becomes overwhelmed with smoke. Running outside, Todd breaks
windows still trying to reach his children but the fire causes an explosion.
Dealing
with the death of their three children, Todd and Stacy are pulled over after
the funeral to have him arrested for murder. The town's law enforcement have
investigated the fire and come to the conclusion that Todd intentionally killed
the children.
After a
quick trial filled with testimony that is anger filled and no defense put in
place for Todd, he is sentenced to the death penalty and sent to prison.
Elizabeth
Gilbert (Laura Dern) is a writer raising two teenagers while taking care of an
ex-husband. A friend tells her about writing to prisoners and Todd lands in her
life. She learns he has been in prison for twelve years awaiting execution.
Visiting
him in prison, she learns about who Todd was when the incident happened and how
he is now. After getting a copy of the trial she realizes that everything about
it was a travesty. Todd's only other 'regular' relationship is prison guard
Daniels (Chris Coy) who doesn't want to befriend a prisoner but can't seem to
help himself.
As Todd
comes closer to execution, Elizabeth
O'Connell
as Todd is a man with anger and jealousy issues in his marriage. The one thing
that even his wife can agree with is that Todd loves his children. While in
jail that is all he can think about while trying to figure out how he got
behind bars. O'Connell gives a startling performance with moments of somber
realizations that how he has lived his life has set the stage for those who
want to see the execution go through.
Dern as Elizabeth
Meade as
Stacy is a woman who doesn't know how to do the right thing. Dealing with the
death of her children she is constantly being pushed in all directions by
family and law enforcement to agree with the verdict handed down to Todd.
Coy as
Daniels tries from the moment Todd steps into the prison to dehumanize him. As
the years go on, Daniels sees who this man really is and even finds himself
enjoying Todd's company. He, like Elizabeth
Other
cast include: Jade Pettyjohn as Julie Gilbert, Jeff Perry as Hurst ,
Jason Douglas as John Jackson, Wayne Pere as George Gilbert, Katie McClellan as
Margaret Hays, Blair Bomar as Sandy
TRIAL BY
FIRE is not only the story of Todd Willingham but the story of Texas
No one in
the town Todd is from all the way up the ladder seemed interested in whether
the truth was told or not. That's what I took away from the film the most - the
lack of concern for the possibility that the law wasn't followed.
The cast
constantly brings more and more questions to the forefront of the story as the
film goes on which by the end had me totally and emotionally worn out.
Another
aspect of the film is watching Todd grow as a person realizing the mistakes he
made in his life. The one thing that didn't change and perhaps actually grew
was this man's love of his children. The film explores his realizations
and the truth behind the tragedy. Is he really innocent?
TRIAL BY
FIRE is directed by Academy Award winner Edward Zwick and adapted by Academy
Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher from David Grann’s article Trial by Fire found in The
New Yorker.
In the
end - stand up for what is right and for what is true!
No comments:
Post a Comment