Title: The Thin Blue Line
Grade: A
Times Viewed: 1
Date Reviewed: 04/25/05
The epitome of documentaries (and I’m sure every documentarian’s wet dream)–the film-maker uncovers a grave injustice in his findings, and is able to do something about it. Errol Morris’s great flick that saved the life of one man on Death Row (who afterwards had the gratitude to sue him in return for “exploiting” him through this movie that barely made back its production money) was apparently one of the first documentaries to realize something that other great journalists (such as Hunter S. Thompson) discovered long ago–the greater truth is often much easier to convey at the expense of “accuracy and honesty” in filming. By completely fictionalizing the flashback of the murder scene, Morris cleverly discredits all the faulty eyewitness’ testimonies, and by adding his stylized impression of certain elements, he ensures viewer’s interest (and also covers his ass by making the flashback obviously faked). Again, those who argue that this is not a “documentary” or “journalism” are missing the point–Morris is trying to convey the truth that a man was wrongfully accussed and sits in jail due to shady testimony and police ineptitude and he does this in the best way he knows how. Damn the conventions and “rules” of documentary filmmaking–the truth is too important for them.
Tags: a+ films, the thin blue line
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