A Murder in the Park

Name: A Murder in the Park
Genre: History, Crime, Documentary, News
Released: June 26, 2015
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 70

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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A Murder In The Park

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Movie Details & Credits

Sundance Selects | Release Date: June 26, 2015 | PG-13

Summary: With his execution just 48 hours away, Anthony Porter’s life was saved by a Northwestern University journalism class. Their re-investigation of the crime for which he was convicted—a double homicide in a Chicago park—led to the discovery of the real killer, Alstory Simon, whose confession exonerated Porter. If it all sounds too good to beWith his execution just 48 hours away, Anthony Porter’s life was saved by a Northwestern University journalism class. Their re-investigation of the crime for which he was convicted—a double homicide in a Chicago park—led to the discovery of the real killer, Alstory Simon, whose confession exonerated Porter. If it all sounds too good to be true, it’s because, as compellingly argued here, Porter actually is guilty, Simon is an innocent man and both are just pawns in a much larger plan.… Expand

Director: Brandon Kimber and Christopher S. Rech

Genre(s): History, Crime, Documentary, News

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Godfrey Cheshire

Jun 26, 2015

Besides being a riveting true-crime story, Shawn Rech and Brandon Kimber’s A Murder in the Park is a film that makes a powerful case that some cherished liberal beliefs aren’t always congruent with the truth; in fact, sometimes they are the exact opposite. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Jun 23, 2015

Directors Shawn Rech and Brandon Kimber piece the story together via fresh interviews, vintage footage, and too many iffy reenactments and close-ups of news stories. But the matter here transcends the artlessness. Read full review

Robert Abele

Jul 2, 2015

Whatever your feelings on capital punishment, A Murder in the Park has a gripping story to tell about, oddly enough, the corrosive effects of storytelling on the justice system when it gets the best of reasoned minds. Read full review

Daniel M. Gold

Jun 25, 2015

The filmmakers have skillfully laid out a complex and murky story of crime and justice that, more than 30 years on, continues to scandalize. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Jun 24, 2015

The facts (including Protess’ eventual resignation) still make this a worthwhile examination of a narrative that actually may have been too good to be true. Read full review

Clayton Dillard

Jun 21, 2015

Its wholly complex and provocative social pleas slip too frequently into the seedy realm of journalistic exploitation. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Jun 24, 2015

As a loaded summary of an important, disquieting chapter in Illinois legal history, A Murder In The Park gets the blood boiling, and suggests a justice system open to manipulation by bad actors. Read full review

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LowbrowCinema

Jul 4, 2015

A MURDER IN THE PARK may not be great art but it is a riveting documentary that will totally piss you off. Watching MURDER, I got so antsy and angry I could have screamed at the injustice, hypocrisy, and self-involvement perpetrated against so many innocent and not so innocent people. MURDERA MURDER IN THE PARK may not be great art but it is a riveting documentary that will totally piss you off. Watching MURDER, I got so antsy and angry I could have screamed at the injustice, hypocrisy, and self-involvement perpetrated against so many innocent and not so innocent people. MURDER plays like a thriller with real villains, some nasty folks, and a few good intentions. This is a film produced to make you angry. To make you realize how imperfect our justice system is and how easy it is to manipulate the whole damn thing. A terrific doc.… Expand

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