The tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas for killing his three children after scientific evidence and expert testimony that bolstered his claims of innocence were suppressed.
Before I delve too deep into this review I want to obliquely state that I will try to evict my personal political beliefs in favor of a cold read of this movie. Trust me when I say that I am in no way projecting my own ideas into my interpretation of the movie. I will add, however, that living in Texas, I know full well the culture of politics that swirls around controversial topics like the death penalty and governor Rick Perry. I have lived a good chunk of my life with Perry as governor and will offer little to no commentary as I believe the movie does all the talking.
“Trial by Fire” opens with a horrendous scene: a slightly beat-up house sets ablaze. One mulleted man escapes the house, fighting desperately to get back inside and screaming about his babies. Thus the inciting incident for this entire film: the death of Cameron Todd Willingham’s three children in a house fire and his subsequent death penalty. In the movie, we clearly see his trial poorly represented and are greeted with mounts of evidence proving he’s innocent of the charges. Elizabeth Gilbert (the playwright, not the “Eat, Pray, Love” one) picks up the pieces of his case helping to assemble the evidence of his wrongful conviction before it’s too late.
“Trial by Fire” explores three things: the corrupt judicial system surrounding a case like Todd’s, the redemption Todd’s character finds in prison, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s attempts to reconcile her efforts with the cruelty displayed by the State. The narrative slides from one large section exploring one then into a new section piece by piece. Gilbert doesn’t enter the story until almost halfway through so we’re greeted with a methodical practice of storytelling, paying attention to every scene in detail. I appreciate the precise emotional storytelling but at two hours and seven minutes, it’s hard not to assume the movie could’ve done away with a few scenes. Instead, these extra scenes play more of a pedagogical role than a narrative one at times.
I think it’s fair to say Edward Zwick hates the death penalty. The almost lecture quality to many of the scenes feels ripped out of context from a John Oliver deep dive (of which there is one and he adds levity to a dark situation.) Todd’s cellmate helps him retain a sense of normal living only to be ripped away from them when his death is set. The prisoners all clang their cups and yell for him to “hold his head high” as he marches to the death chamber. Scenes before this character bemoan the fate of being a black man in the scene who accidentally shot a store clerk. Todd agrees: if only they were rich they never would’ve got the death penalty. The delivery of these lines only serves as an obtuse lesson in criminal justice and if you thought the movie would stop there you’d be extremely mistaken.
The film finds its brief moments of joy through its redemptive story arc of Todd’s growth in prison. Much in the vein of “The Shawshank Redemption” or “The Green Mile”: “prison is only a prison if you let it be” according to this movie. Instead of languishing in his death row cell, Todd Willingham slowly dedicates himself to reading, writing, observing his surroundings. His last couple of scenes in the prison demonstrate the significant difference then from when he entered. His adversarial guard who once beat him calls him a friend and cries when he discovers Todd’s death date has been set. His vocabulary improves. His intelligence improves. He even matures as he observes the people around him. Still, a cell is a cell. His delusions of seeing his daughter both unnerve and mollify the audience. The conversations he never got.
Overall, the film’s literate in its camerawork and editing. The house burning sequence at the beginning incorporated too many CGI flames to truly sell the effect and while I can appreciate saving budget money, I would also argue the filmmaker shot it in a way that leaned too heavily on the computer effects, cheapening their value. Don’t let that distract you. This movie, which contains a justice story and an investigation story, really performs more like an acting vehicle for everyone involved. Jack O’Connell especially outperforms everyone, given his character’s changes. Laura Dern brings her steely determination to the real-life woman. Everyone succeeds in elevating this movie above its depressing source material.
The film ends on a sad note. One which, were I to tell you, might heighten the experience of watching the movie. The movie seems aimed to show the discrepancies involved in death row investigations, capital punishment trials, and subsequent appeals. It lays bare a corrupt (real) trial and translates that into human anguish taking time to deliver a profound emotional impact. I came close to crying at the end but didn’t quite hit my mark. There’s truth in the movie. I’m familiar with it. Governor Rick Perry could have prevented the execution, the movie posits but fails to do so. If you think I’m triangulating on a political position the movie ends with two things: One, a caption explaining that forensic scientists agree with a reinterpretation of court evidence exonerating Todd and Two, a news clip of Rick Perry at a debate stating how proud he is the Texas judicial system metes out justice in the fairest way possible. He says he doesn’t lose sleep at night because innocent men don’t get executed. Edward Zwick just spent two hours proving otherwise.
Watch this movie if you discover it with your parents on some DVR menu. Maybe you like Laura Dern or criminal investigations. Still, be advised: you’re deep-diving into an unfair capital punishment sentence. It may challenge you to rethink your beliefs or it may shock you but it will not bore you.
Now available on Digital HD and on DVD August 13th
