Trial by Fire 2018

     The setting of this film is in the state of Texas.  The movie is based upon David Grann’s article “Trial by Fire” published in the New Yorker in 2009.  Cameron Todd Willingham is accused of the murder of his three daughters.  They died in a fire at their home and Todd claims he is innocent of the crime.  The court does not agree and sentences him to death.  Elizabeth Gilbert is a playwright and she becomes interested in Todd’s case.  She believes he did not commit this crime.  She works very hard to get enough evidence to support Todd’s claim of innocence.

     I did not know until the conclusion how this story would end? The New Yorker article asks, “Did Texas execute an innocent man?”  Todd was executed February 17, 2004 for the arson crime that occurred in 1991.  Todd never pleaded guilty and he said he never would.  He was offered a life term in exchange for a guilty plea but turned this down and still insisted he was innocent.  The investigation was shoddy, the trial was rushed and his appeals were denied.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)     

127 min, Bio directed by Edward Zwick with Jack O’Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Jade Pettyjohn, Chris Coy, Jeff Perry, Joshua Mikel, Jason Douglas, Carlos Gomex, Rhoda Griffis, Elle Graham, Tinsley Price, Blair Bomar, Darren Pettie, Wayne Pere.  

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 61% critic 72% audience, Roger Ebert 2* Sheila O’Malley, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 11 reviews, Seattle Times 2*, San Francisco Chronicle a clap by the little man.

Special Note:  Filmed in Atlanta and Douglasville, Georgia.