The Bad Guys Are So Bad!

Rating: 8/10 (9 October 2009)

This film certainly moved me. Angelina Jolie's performance is subtle and painful. This is a well acted drama. Apparently, this is based on true events. I am looking forward to doing a little research on the Los Angeles police department at some future time. Were they really this bad. The whole thing smacks pretty true these days in that power corrupts and the press are often irresponsible. The fact that anyone would buy that a mother wouldn't recognize her own son should be ludicrous. Yet, they wanted a good story and she became duped by them. What follows is a series of events that are so hideous and so sad that they energize the story. One drawback is that at some point the whole issue of suspense sort of dribbles away and when the film is over, there is a bit of a letdown. As full of conflict as the movie was, it could have used just a little more. Still, it is a very interesting movie with very fine performances.