"True Crime," directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, is a taut thriller that goes to the wire as Steve Everett (Eastwood), a journalist and recovering alcoholic, tries to find out what really happened that fateful day when Frank Beechum (Isaiah Washington) entered a convenience store to buy a bottle of steak sauce and wound up being convicted of murdering the store clerk. It's not a campaign born entirely of compassion, however; Everett has had a checkered career that has taken him to the top of his profession, only to have his own errors of judgment (attributed to the bottle) precipitate a swift decline that has ensconced him in a job at a large paper in the Bay area of Northern California writing personality pieces and sidebar profiles. He's not a man of tremendously high ideals or great conviction, and his moral character is somewhat ambiguous, but he demands one thing from himself and everyone else when it comes to reporting a story: The truth. In that he is adamant, and he pursues it without compromise using the one tool in his personal arsenal that has never (when he is sober) failed him, his "nose" for news, that innate sense that unfailingly leads him to that which he is seeking.At first, "True Crime" could be considered as another movie about capital punishment. Well filmed, with a good rhythm and convincing actors, this movie is the perfect movie to rent. But take a second look at "True Crime" and you won't be disappointed. This movie can be seen one, two or three times, it will still unveil a lot of goodies. One can admire how Clint Eastwood compares with subtlety the destiny of Steve Everett and Frank Beechum by using descriptions of similar situations: for example, the two little girls harassing their fathers with multiple demands at a crucial moment. Let's also observe how Clint uses a clever editing to pass from Beechum's cell to Clint's scenes: cigarettes, paintings (the green pastures) for instance are themes that bind the two destinies. Eastwood still has the nose for the truth in this good script. If you favor capital punishment, you may think it through again after seeing this film.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

True Crime (1999): Dir: Clint Eastwood / Cast: Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, Denis Leary, Michael McKean, Lisa Gay Hamilton: Typical Clint Eastwood thriller where an innocent victim is arrested. Title regards Eastwood as a reporter and the reality he is undertaking. He is a womanizer who is well aware of his lifestyle. A female friend dies in a car accident and a story she was doing prior catches his attention. Isaiah Washington is sentenced to death by lethal injection in 24 hours for the murder of a pregnant woman. Eastwood visits the crime site and comes away believing the guy's innocence. I could have lived without the on screen needle injection. Eastwood makes everything uncertain despite its lackluster visual appeal. He is effective as a man who goes to great lengths to insure the truth. Washington is well cast as the inmate who waits for the clock to tick down. Unfortunately supporting roles are not nearly as interesting. Denis Leary has a dreary role as a co-worker whose wife was involved with Eastwood. Michael McKean plays a corrupt Priest and this will no doubt turn off religious crowds. It doesn't have as much intrigue with the locations as Absolute Power does in the White House and a two way mirror. This is not one of Eastwood's best films as is Absolute Power, but it does contain a strong theme that regards sacrifice and justice that pull through despite its recycled concept. Score: 8 / 10

Due to the death of a fellow news journalist, "Steve Everett" (Clint Eastwood) is given the assignment of completing a human interest story for the local newspaper concerning a convicted murderer who is about to be put to death. However, something doesn't seem right to him and as a result he goes out on a limb to find out more about the crime. Meanwhile, the execution time draws nearer with no evidence to support Steve's hunch. Additionally, Steve is also facing the consequences for his own indiscretions while investigating this story. Now, rather than give the entire story away and risk ruining the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that I thought this was an exciting movie which managed to maintain the suspense until the very end. I liked the performance of Clint Eastwood but I kind of wished there hadn't been as much emphasis on his home life as there was. Even so, I liked the movie and I rate it as above average.

True Crime is directed by Clint Eastwood and is based on Andrew Klavan's 1997 novel of the same name. Eastwood also stars in the film as journalist Steve Everett, who whilst covering the execution of a death row inmate played by Isaiah Washington, discovers that he may actually be innocent.A box office failure for Eastwood that is pretty standard film making all told. The plot we have seen a number of times before, be it a cop/detective or a journalist trying to save a death row prisoner, the song remains the same. Throw in some racial prejudice, bureaucratic nonsense and a flawed hero in waiting (Eastwood's Everett is a skirt chasing alkie who resents authority), and bingo! A by the numbers thriller with absolutely no surprises what so ever. Perhaps more annoying, tho, is that the clunky script and fodder story drags Eastwood's direction down with it. Whilst a man of such ability and integrity really should have known he would be miscast here. There's some fun to be had with James Woods' performance as the newspaper boss trying to keep Everett in check; tho that too is cliché riddled. While the best acting on show comes from Washington, notably during the scenes in prison when visited by wife and child. But this is a misfire of a movie, one that's consigned towards the bottom of the DVD pile of Eastwood completists like me. 4/10