Search - True Crime [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Adult Language Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 08/10/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 7 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 1 Genres: Drama, Detective Film, Crime Drama

Investigative reporter Steve Everett (Clint Eastwood) has just relocated to the west coast after getting fired from the New York Times. Thanks to his old friend, Alan Mann (James Woods), the editor-in-chief of The Oakland Tribune, Everett still has a job, but that's hardly the end of his problems. An alcoholic and a womanizer, he's been sober for two months and his marriage to Barbara (Diane Venora) is in as bad a shape as his car. Everett has also earned the hatred of city editor Bob Findley (Denis Leary), and not without reason -- Everett has been sleeping with his wife. One day, when another reporter dies in an automobile accident, Findley asks Everett to take over her assignment -- the final interview of condemned murderer Frank Beachum (Isaiah Washington). Everett researches the case before the interview, and finds Beachum was convicted of a robbery and homicide in an Oakland convenience store. But the reporter finds several discrepancies in the story, and a visit to death row only confirms Everett's suspicions that Beachum was not the killer. The reporter begins a hurried search for information that will stay the execution. Plagued by his inner demons, the reporter has 12 hours left to save the life of a man he knows is innocent. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide

Clint Eastwood - Steve Everett
Isaiah Washington - Frank Beachum
Denis Leary - Bob Findley
Lisa Gay Hamilton - Bonnie Beachum
James Woods - Alan Mann

Warner Home Video has competently transferred Clint Eastwood's crime drama to DVD, and also embellished the disc with some interesting special features. Although it is a movie lacking the flair of many of Eastwood's directorial efforts, it is still impressive here in its original widescreen aspect ratio, which is enhanced for 16 x 9 television sets. The totally clean picture is complemented by an excellent Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, which makes the most of the substantial use of music in the film. There are two documentaries on the disc. "The Scene of the Crime" is an above-average behind-the-scenes featurette that includes cast and crew interviews and offers some interesting insight into Eastwood's directing methods. More fascinating still is the second documentary, "True Crime: True Stories," which recounts the experiences of a real-life journalist in his attempts to save a wrongly convicted criminal from execution. The other two extra features on this disc are the original theatrical trailer for True Crime and the promotional video for the Diana Krall song "Why Should I Care?" Warner might have been tempted to put together a relatively minimal DVD package for this deliberately paced thriller, but thankfully this disc has a lot to offer. ~ Patrick Lee, All Movie Guide