Sometimes justice is a crime
1996-05-02
N/A
103 min
Upon taking a new job, young lawyer Rick Hayes is assigned to the clemency case of Cindy Liggett, a woman convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. As Hayes investigates the background for her case, the two begin to form a deep friendship, while all the while the date for her execution draws nearer.
"Rick" (Rob Morrow) is an ambitious young attorney charged with what his bosses hope will be the routinely futile clemency case of "Cindy" (Sharon Stone) who is coming to the end of her wait on death row. Initially, she wants little to do with him, but gradually that relationship not only thaws but thrives as he starts to uncover some flaws that might help. What could have been quite a decent story, here, is really delivered in a by-the-numbers fashion. It is a rather pedestrian mystery that swipes at politics, racism and a general professional cynicism amongst his public service colleagues, but in such a lightweight fashion. Moreover, with the sword of Damocles dangling so perilously, there is a distinct lack of passion here. Stone is inherently limited by her role (being incarcerated) but Morrow is just weak, with a persona that though honest of intent, is really not anywhere near strong enough to carry this above a level of mediocrity that makes it all a bit flat and hollow.
