User reviews

A psychologically abused teen, unable to settle down, goes to another city and gets himself bumped off by the local law. His distraught parents then spend several years trying to prove the police had no business shooting the boy, who the police said had a gun at the time of his death. Good drama about a pair of parents who were unfit for their role as childraisers, but who cared enough to seek justice for their child's death. Really gives the law a black eye.

This was very well written, the acting was done well. It is one that makes you think. The movie is made to show what happened to a young man and his family. It is a true crime drama, there is a repeated chase scene but that is the extent of the action, the goal of the movie was to educate people of a case in 1981 and it does keep you on the edge of your seat with the story.

It's sort of a scaled-down, TV version of RASHOMON--not on that level, to be sure, but quite well-done on its own standards.

Excellent performances from future man-and-wife Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter, as well as future stars Anthony Edwards ("ER"), Sean Penn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

If I ask "Who is your favorite actress always?", many will answer Meryl Streep. They probably don't even know Jennifer Jason Leigh, whom I consider the best actress alive. I've seen her in many movies and in every role she shines, she has a unique, unusual talent. She was only 19 years old when she made this film, a very small role but what an extraordinary role. It's a very good film, a drama, with a solid cast. Also in a small, hard-to-recognize role, Sean Penn.