Three Must-See Documentaries

With Halloween fast approaching, I thought I would review a spooky movie this week. Although I saw Zombieland (and found it entertaining) and re-watched a couple of horror classics, I wasn't inspired to write about any of them. Instead, I realized that the scariest thing I've come across over the years (through my love of documentary films) is the American judicial system. So I decided to rummage through my movie collection and recommend my three favourite crime-themed documentaries that should definitely succeed in scaring you sh**less.

Each film, in my opinion, does an excellent job at illustrating all the injustices that can occur due to shoddy police investigations, questionable eye-witness testimony, fear tactics and emotional juries. Although I highly recommend you watch these films (because they are all important and extremely well made), I don't recommend watching them with the lights off. These things really did happen to both the victims and the accused -which in itself, makes these stories all the more terrifying.

Two of these films show graphic crime scene photos. One of the films deals with the murder of three eight year old boys. But if you can brace yourself for some upsetting images, I hope you will watch these films and find them as fascinating and enlightening as I did.

THE THIN BLUE LINE (1988) *****

This documentary film directed by Errol Morris relays the details of how Randall Adams found himself convicted of the murder of a police officer in Dallas County in 1976. Adams, who was a drifter was picked up by a teenage runaway (David Harris) one night while walking towards a gas station. Their night together ended with a police officer being shot and killed on the side of the road. The events of that evening are described in detail through Adams' recollections, interviews with David Harris, the police, the lawyers involved in the case and the three eye-witnesses who testified against Adams.

Morris' style of this film incorporates re-enactments of the events of that night giving the film a very unique look into various possibilities of what may have happened. Adams, who was 28 years old at the time always insisted on his innocence. While Harris, a 16 year old juvenile delinquent convinced the police of Adams' guilt and became the County's star witness. This documentary was ground-breaking both in its narrative techniques and the effect this film had on Randall Adams' fate.

MURDER ON A SUNDAY MORNING (2001) *****

This film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2001. The director, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade films the trial of Brenton Butler. Brenton, a 15 year old black male is accused of murdering Mary Ann Stephens, a white tourist visiting Jacksonville, Florida. She and her husband were robbed at gunpoint at their motel and when the robbery went bad, Mrs. Stephens was shot and killed. Although Mr. Stephens witnessed the murder (and identified Butler as the assailant) and Brenton signed a confession, his lawyers Pat McGuinness and Ann Finnell are convinced of his innocence.

This movie follows the court room drama as it unfolds, and interviews McGuinness extensively. Both lawyers, though public defenders, are passionate and determined to prove that Butler had nothing to do with this crime. Instead, they insist he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when picked up by the police. As McGuinness gets closer to the truth through his own investigations and cross-examination skills, you will be left stunned by the revelations he uncovers one by one. If I were ever in need of a criminal trial lawyer in Jacksonville Florida, this guy would be first on my list!

* If you pick this movie up, make sure to watch the special features as well. The additional interviews are just as interesting as the ones that made it into the film. Interviews with some of the jury members are also included so you can find out what they thought about what they heard in court and why they delivered the verdict that they did.

PARADISE LOST : THE CHILD MURDERS AT ROBIN HOOD HILLS(1996) *****

This HBO film follows the trials of 18 year old Damien Echols, 16 year old Jason Baldwin and 17 year old Jessie Misskelley Jr. for the murder of three 8 year old boys who were found naked and hog-tied in the woods in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993.

The State is convinced that the murder of the young boys was part of a Satanic ritual killing. The three victims were found beaten and sexually mutilated. The three accused teenagers were viewed as outsiders by their Baptist community- They wore black, listened to heavy-metal music and possessed books about the Wicca religion. They were picked up by the police one month after the murders occurred.

The film begins with the trial of Jessie Misskelley. Because the 17 year old (who has an IQ of 72) signed a confession to the murders, he is tried separately from the other two suspects. The film follows both trials and interviews both the victims' families and the families of the accused.

This film is fraught with grief, fear, out-rage, disbelieve and multiple theories of the events of the crime when there is little to no physical evidence at the scene of the murders.

The graphic nature of the three young victims' demise is extremely disturbing. The outcomes of the trials are astonishing.

Away We Go ***1/2 (rave)

This is a great quirky feel-good movie to rent! Sam Mendes (who directed American Beauty) did a wonderful job with this comedy. I didn't make it to the theater to see this one but while I was combating a cold and lying on my couch, it definitely perked up my spirits when I watched it a couple of days ago.

The movie stars Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski. Their characters Verona and Burt are living in Colorado and expecting a baby. When they find out that Burt's parents are moving away from Colorado before the baby is born, the two decide that it's time for them to move and figure out where they would like to make a home for themselves and their unborn child. They decide to visit other family and friends to see what kind of homes and families they have built for themselves. And as they reconnect with some people from their past, their travels take them to Arizona, Wisconsin. Montreal and Miami. With each visit Verona and Burt witness the parenting/relationship skills each of their friends possess and/or lack. And with each revelation of seeing what their friends are doing wrong, they hope to discover what will truly be right for them.

The supporting cast in this movie is awesome. Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels who play Burt's parents set the tone as the first eccentric pair we meet before Burt and Verona set out for their travels. And the eccentricity doesn't stop with them. Allison Janney plays Verona's ex-boss who can't get enough to drink and can't stop talking about all the things that are wrong with her kids. Maggie Gyllenhaal steals every scene she's in as a pretentious hippie who abhors the use of strollers ("I loooove my babies! Why would I want to push them away from me?") and Melanie Lynskey's character does an impromptu dance to express her sadness that is slow, quiet and poignant.

But it's the strength of the relationship of the main characters that makes this movie work so well. Burt and Verona are a couple of odd-balls in their own right. Burt uses a fake persona when dealing with people at work and Verona paints images of people's brains. But as you watch them together and intermingling with others, there is no doubt that it's the two of them against the world and you can't help but root for them as they try to find their place in it. Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida who wrote the screenplay, incorporated hilarious and intimate scenes for Krasinski and Rudolph in the film that really allowed the audience to appreciate their character's connection and love for one another. Nothing about this movie was sappy. Instead it was lighthearted and genuine.

Like I said, I watched this movie a couple of days ago but I can't stop thinking about it. The characters have stayed with me and I find myself giggling to myself as I replay certain scenes over in my mind. Now I know I have a head cold but I really do believe it's the movie and not the cold medication that's keeping me happy. And I can definitely state you don't have to be sick to enjoy it (maybe just a little mental).

If you liked Garden State, you'll like this movie. If you like to laugh, and possess a kind of off-the-wall sense of humour you'll like this movie. If you like original scripts with quirky characters you'll like this movie. And if you need a great soundtrack playing in the background to really enjoy a film. Well let me assure you, you too will like this movie.