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True Crime
1999 127 min United States of America R 16+
★6.5
Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Director: Clint Eastwood
Trailers
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EN
Description
Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.
Budget:
$55M
US Gross:
$16.65M
Worldwide:
$16.7M
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Actor
Isaiah Washington
Actor
LisaGay Hamilton
Actor
Awards
5 nominations total
Key opinion
True Crime is a character-driven drama that divides audiences, functioning less as a conventional thriller and more as a somber meditation on aging, failure, and systemic indifference. While many appreciate Clint Eastwood's subtle direction and the performances of his supporting cast, others find the pacing uneven and the protagonist's personal flaws too distracting.
| Acting | James Woods delivers a standout, memorable performance as the cynical newspaper editor. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a thoughtful drama exploring social bias and systemic guilt rather than serving as a standard, high-octane crime thriller. | |
| Direction | Clint Eastwood's direction is praised for its calm, deliberate pace and nuanced depiction of an aging protagonist, though some find his portrayal of a washed-up, alcoholic reporter unengaging. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing; some viewers find the slow build and personal character digressions necessary for emotional weight, while others view them as tedious and prone to dragging. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay presents a compelling, morally complex premise about justice, but relies on predictable tropes and contrived plot developments to reach its conclusion. |