Movie Review - Trial By Fire (2019)

This film starts out seemingly like it might be Manchester By the Sea (2016). Half-way through, it takes a turn and becomes more like Dead Man Walking (1995). It's based on a true-story and real people. The ultimate point is to challenge and question the criminal justice system and particularly that of the death penalty. For Dead Man Walking, it was about a woman, a nun in fact, who would visit a death row inmate. The inmate though was guilty of the heinous crime of which he was convicted. That film had a tougher road because it was about building sympathy for a guilty man, an actual guilty man. It's through a tough case like that, which really tests the idea of compassion and forgiveness that comes from religion and spirituality that is a benchmark of the American south.

Here, the road isn't as tough because despite the question in the first hour, the man who is convicted of murder isn't actually guilty. He's innocent. Of course, all people would agree that an innocent man shouldn't be executed for something he didn't do. The problem is in the legal process and how certain people can be railroaded. The question is why. Why are certain people or the particular person here railroaded? There are perceived reasons, but it does come down to a kind of prejudice and bigotry. It's also a kind of laziness where law enforcement and prosecutors jump to easy conclusions because they're easy without putting in further work or not willing to concede mistakes. There's also sheer corruption at play as well. Based on an article by David Grann, written by Oscar-winner Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious) and directed by Oscar-winner Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond and Glory), this film is aiming to expose that corruption and lethargy in the legal process.

Jack O'Connell (Unbroken and Money Monster) stars as Cameron Todd Willingham, a 23-year-old man who lived in Texas with his wife and his three daughters. He was a bit of a redneck. He was unemployed. He was a bit of drunk. He possibly was cheating on his wife. He talked like Dr. Phil McGraw. In December 1991, just two days before Christmas, Willingham's house burned down. His wife was out shopping. He was asleep but woke up to the conflagration. He was able to escape but his three daughters all perished inside the home.

This is exactly the backstory for Casey Affleck's character in Manchester By the Sea. That film was a vehicle for actors to give incredible performances. This film seems also to be a vehicle for actors to give incredible performances. O'Connell's performance in particular is a bit more showy than Affleck. O'Connell has to portray this Texas accent, which does sound like Dr. Phil. He maintains it fairly well, even in loud and arguing scenes. Later, when his character is in prison, there are echoes of O'Connell's performance in Starred Up (2014), which was a great performance from the young English actor.

Laura Dern (Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Jurassic Park) co-stars as Elizabeth Gilbert, a well-off housewife who happens upon Willingham's case and decides to help him prove his innocence. If this were Dead Man Walking, she would be the equivalent to Susan Sarandon's character. She doesn't exactly have the faith and spirituality of a nun. Being widowed, there is perhaps some flirtation between her and Willingham, but her motives come across as pure, as she simply believes him, even before evidence starts to side with him.

There have been plenty of films and television programs that have dealt with the same issues and themes of this one. From Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) to this year's Brian Banks (2019) and When They See Us (2019), exposing the flaws in the criminal justice system and how many innocent men have been convicted have been numerous. This one could be thrown on a pile with all of them. The performances here help it, but there isn't enough here to make it rise to the top of the pile.

McKinley Belcher III (Ozark and The Passage) is an up-and-coming actor who has a small role as another death row inmate. He's notable for how amazing and beautiful he is. Emily Meade (The Deuce and The Leftovers) also co-stars as Stacy Willingham, the wife of the man on trial. She's amazing and incredible here too. She's notable and I'm interested to her and Belcher in more.

Rated R for language, some violence, disturbing images, sexual material and brief nudity.
Running Time: 2 hrs. and 7 mins.

Available on DVD and VOD.