AN INNOCENT MAN
US, 1989, 113 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, F.Murray Abraham, Laila Robbins, David Rasche.
Directed by Peter Yates.
An Innocent Man is a star vehicle for Tom Selleck. He portrays an airlines mechanic who, by mistake, is identified as a drug dealer and is imprisoned. The prison sequences are particularly grim - also showing the effect on the hero, even to goading him into killing another prisoner. This aspect has a shocking impact.
The villains of the piece are two policemen, one played by David Rasche, as a smiling, callous villain. Also in the cast is F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus, Name of the Rose), an under used actor who makes a welcome appearance.
The film is directed by Peter Yates, a versatile director who has made a number of thrillers including Eyewitness, Suspect, The House on Carroll Street.
1. Interesting thriller? Portrait of an innocent man?
2. The California settings, the city, the prison? Action sequences, stunt work? Musical score?
3. The title, reference to Jimmy, the ironies of his innocence?
4. Jimmy at work, Tom Selleck's presence and style, cool and laconic, strong with the touch of tenderness? His reputation, kindness? Katie and her exams? The night of the attack, ordinary evening, his being shot, hospitalised? The impact of his predicament? In jail, on bail, the visits to the lawyer and the seeming hopelessness? The lack of evidence, the word of the police? The court and the witnesses, interrogations? The six-year sentence? His reaction, Katie's reaction?
5. On the bus to prison, the entrance procedures, search and strip, etcetera? The walk through the cell blocks? The rules, the guards? Robbie and his saying he knew he his way around, warning Jimmy? In the yard, Robbie being killed? The encounter with Virgil? The hostile and mocking black group? The fat man and his warnings? Everybody giving Jimmy advice? Urging him to fight, urging him to kill? His being bashed, not resisting? Not telling the warder? Going into solitary? His growing bitterness, change? The filing of the glass into a knife? Virgil organising the killing? His decision to kill, the execution of the black man, the effect on him? 90 days in solitary? His being accepted, hardened, the basketball games, card games, talking to Virgil and Malcolm?
6. Katie and her pursuit of the case, typing letters and appeals? Her faithful visits to Jimmy? Interviews with Fitzgerald? The threats of Parnell and his partner?
7. The passing of time, three years in the prison? The parole board, his rehearsal, success? Discussions with Virgil and the farewell? Getting out? Jimmy being different, Katie and the ride, at home, Parnell and his partner arriving and their power over them? Threats and self-assurance?
8. The decision to go against the police, working together? Katie's visit to Virgil? Malcolm and his help? Going to Fitzgerald and discussing the issues with him? His help?
9. Their surveillance of the police, watching their drug deals, their plans? Robbing them, the phone call? The rendezvous? Parnell holding Malcolm, killing him? Fitzgerald and the siege? Jimmy and the chase? The fight, not slitting Parnell's throat? Katie's relief?
10. Parnell and his partner, their personalities, the drug busts, their reputation for good and bad, stealing the drugs, selling them? Their mistakes? Callous, the wrong address, the brutality with Jimmy, planting the drugs? Their cover, their court appearances and their callousness? In league with the drug boss, taking the drugs on the false tip? The false witness at the court case and Jimmy and Malcolm using him? His performance and misleading them? Their dilemma about the drugs? Finally being caught, the chase, the death, Parnell being taken? In prison - and the prisoners looking at him - his future?
11. The ending - the experience for Jimmy and Katie? The theme of victims, the wrong man? Justice, the courts, the police and their trustworthiness? Evidence?
12. The prison themes: brutality, environment, codes, the various gangs, meals, the yard, shower blocks, the cells and their ugliness? Rules, survival? Hardening and change? Tough? Virgil, his background, worldly wise? His survival in prison - his friendship with Jimmy, the revenge?
13. Where did audience sympathies lie? The reaction to the change with Jimmy and his killing the black man? Understanding?
