Trial by Fire

Name: Trial by Fire
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: May 17, 2019
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Anniston Price, Blair Bomar, Carlos Gómez, Chris Coy, Darren Pettie

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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Trial By Fire

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Movie Details & Credits

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: May 17, 2019 | R

Starring: Anniston Price, Blair Bomar, Carlos Gómez, Chris Coy, Darren Pettie, Elle Graham, Emily Meade, Helen Abell, Jack O'Connell, Jade Pettyjohn, Jason Douglas, Jeff Perry, Joshua Mikel, Katie McClellan, Laura Dern, Rhoda Griffis, Tinsley Price, Wayne Pére, William Tokarsky

Summary: Trial by Fire is the true-life Texas story of the unlikely bond between an imprisoned death row inmate (Jack O'Connell) and a mother of two from Houston (Laura Dern) who, though facing staggering odds, fights mightily for his freedom. Cameron Todd Willingham, a poor, uneducated heavy metal devotee with a violent streak and a criminalTrial by Fire is the true-life Texas story of the unlikely bond between an imprisoned death row inmate (Jack O'Connell) and a mother of two from Houston (Laura Dern) who, though facing staggering odds, fights mightily for his freedom. Cameron Todd Willingham, a poor, uneducated heavy metal devotee with a violent streak and a criminal record, is convicted of arson-related triple homicide in 1992. During his 12 years on death row, Elizabeth Gilbert, an improbable ally, uncovers questionable methods and illogical conclusions in his case, and battles with the state to expose suppressed evidence that could save him. Her efforts ultimately fail, and since Willingham’s execution, the disturbing question remains: Did Texas execute an innocent man?… Expand

Director: Edward Zwick

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 127 min

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Critic Reviews

David Edelstein

May 20, 2019

The movie is painstakingly well made and murderously hard to sit through. Read full review

Gary Thompson

May 16, 2019

A tweak toward conventional drama might have added to the movie’s impact, but it’s scrupulous and straightforward. Read full review

Kerry Lengel

May 13, 2019

Even though Trial by Fire is less than a masterpiece, it still came as a gut punch that forced me to examine my own complicated feelings on the issue. In short, it taught me something, and that was a surprise. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

May 13, 2019

The filmmaking here is plain, prosaic and earnest. For some, just getting worked up all over again about capital punishment will be enough, but without flair or fresh insights into its chosen subject, this just seems like spinning more wheels about on oft-discussed subject. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

May 16, 2019

It’s a haunting, heartbreaking story, told by a movie that never quite makes a case for itself to exist. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

May 16, 2019

Expertly acted throughout...the movie’s raw facts are sufficient to rouse viewer indignation. But the material arguably calls for a more proactively provocative approach. Read full review

Ty Burr

May 15, 2019

Powerful stuff, but unpowerfully told. Read full review

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User Reviews

M3guy168

Jul 30, 2019

Just watching the trailer with all the sjw bs saves me the time from watching this dumpster fire

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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