Fatally flawed, could have been brilliant but wasn't

Rating: 3/10 (24 January 2009)

In watching movies I have a couple of basic rules. The one rule in that list that pertains to this movie is: "The actions and decisions of sane or flawed characters in a movie must make some sense in a real way". In this movie they do not.
Here are two questions that I'll ask and you tell me the honest answer. Question 1: Would you keep a secret hidden that although embarrassing would make the difference between a 4 year prison term and possible life in prison? Question 2: If you were studying law and had information that could radically change the outcome of a trial would you withhold it?
My guess is that 99.9% of people would say no to both questions. In this movie, the other choice was made for both.
This alone destroys the credibility of the film's premise, but there is much more. Here's another question: If you had a love affair with a much older women while you were 16, would you eventually take your daughter to her grave site and recite every gory detail, promising her a "big surprise" before doing so?
I could go on but you get the point. The basic premise of the movie IMHO is brilliant, that is, "how could so many people do such inhumane things to other human beings while thousands of others knew but did nothing". The gigantic problem with the movie is the question was pondered while multiple characters in the movie did implausible things.
This movie could have been brilliant; sadly it is anything but.