msmstockin This movie though it is based on a tragic event and very hard to watch in parts, it shows something about the human heart which is invaluable. That is, that human beings are capable of immense compassion for other humans beings, which stems from the knowledge that we all share common bonds and deserve such compassion regardless of our life circumstances. A very touching movie to see this lawyer connect with this woman in such a way. This movie has a message well worth seeing. In addition the acting in this movie was very good and Sharon Stone did a superb job as well as Rob Marrow. I would recommend this movie for the above reasons, but be prepared for some shocking material.

sol1218 ****SPOILERS**** Tense and nail biting film about a person convicted of a double murder Cindy Liggett, Sharon Stone, waiting to be executed by the state as time as well as her life slowly ticks away form her.There's absolutely no doubt in Cindy'd crime since she freely admitted to it and is even willing to pay for it with her life. It's her clemency court appointed attorney Rick Hayes, Rob Morrow, who feels that she's getting a raw deal in being sentenced to death when there are extenuating circumstances that would have at least speared her life if made public at Cindy's murder trial. The fact that Cindy was high on crack cocaine together with her boyfriend and accomplice Doug, Don Harvey, should have at least gotten her a life sentence,in the crime not being premeditated, then a one way trip to the state's execution chamber. In fact it was Doug who got off with a life stance who's testimony sent Cindy straight to death row.Sharon Stone in a rare non glamorous role steals the show or movie as the convicted murderess Cindy Liggett who only wants to have the state end it all for her despite her lawyer Rick Hayes doing everything possible to prevent that from happening. Eevn though you know that Cindy is guilty and deserves what's coming to her, a lethal injection, Stone's acting is so electrifying in not wanting to live that you just can't help pulling for her lawyer Rick Hayes to get her off not for Sharon's or Cindy's sake but for the legal and moral augments that Rick makes in her favor!***MAJOR SPOILERS*** Heart-dropping final that has everyone, even those who want Cindy to get it, rooting for Rick to get a stay of execution for Cindy even though it's hard to make a case for her not being executed. Up until the end Rick, who by then was thrown off the case, did everything in his power to save Cindy's life that it even had the pro death penalty Governor,Jack Thompson, almost on his side. And it was in the end that Rick despite his best efforts realized that Cindy was right all along in not wanting to live. And finally accepted what fate had in store for both Cindy and himself: A peace that Cindy never knew in her entire young life that in her paying for her crimes would end up giving her.

rosscinema What did the makers of this film expect? It comes out after a great film like "Dead Man Walking" and the comparisons that were thrown at it were inevitable. Story starts out with a young lawyer named Rick Hayes (Rob Morrow) who with the help of his successful brother John (Peter Gallagher) gets a state appointed job and is given the case of a female death row inmate who is only days away from her execution after 12 years. Hayes goes to the prison to meet Cindy Liggett (Sharon Stone) and what he finds is a very angry and cold person who would rather be executed than get life in prison. Hayes thinks he can make a case with evidence that was not used in her trial but getting Cindy to cooperate is tough. One of the reasons for Hayes working so hard on this case is to prove to his brother that he's a good lawyer and wants to come out of Johns shadow. The film is directed by the terrific Bruce Beresford and technically its a well made film and their is some good use of lighting in certain shots that remind us that some real talent is involved in the making of this picture. But the story just fails and one of the reasons would be of course that it comes out after "Dead Man Walking" is still very fresh in everyones mind. Also, I'm not one of those persons that think that Stone is a bad actress. I think she's very good but can she carry a film all by herself? For the most part, no!. Especially when the film is at a disadvantage like this one when it desperately needed a major box office draw to save it. Stone is very effective when she's not the center of the story. More than just a character actress, but not by much. The character that Stone portrays in this film is also one that is hard to feel anything for. You don't hate her and you don't root for her either. So the viewer is left with a very hollow film and when its over you can't think of one memorable scene. In a film about the death penalty you would think that their would be plenty of very emotional scenes. But when its over, its hard to think of one. The makers of this film really needed to think hard about what they were getting involved with instead of rushing a product into the theaters to try and capitalize on the success of another film. One thing did stand out for me as I watched this. How short is Rob Morrow? Everyone in the film towers over him, including Stone who is no giant. Wasted effort.

dbdumonteil Susan Hayward set her standards so high as far as this kind of performance is concerned that every actress who tries her hand at the death row will fatally be compared to her.Robert Wise 's "I want to live" remains vivid in memory .But Sharon Stone walks out with honors.She's a genuine thespian here,giving up glamour,seduction and sophistication ,but not necessarily her basic instincts which led her to the death sentence.She displays restraint in her gestures and her words,her relationship with other inmates rings true,particularly with the black woman.Her interest in art drawing is credible.Sadly,she's supported neither by the rest of the cast,nor by the plot.Her attentive escort is a rather bland actor,who seems more to go touring round the jail than care for his unfortunate protégée.And what a man!We learn that he is a young man of means whose fortune fluctuates as the years pass by.That's the main flaw:the movie would like to be realistic,it is melodramatic to the core.Outside the lawyer's story,we deal with a black convict,who redeemed himself in jail,who wrote a book,which became a best-seller,and he passed a law degree ,you name it...Alas poor Sharon/Cindy killed a wealthy man's son (and his girlfriend),but she was never given a chance ,being born on the wrong side of town.A glance into her aunt's "house" tells it all.That's too much.There is a successful short scene.Morrow asks the female victim's mother to sign a petition;and although she's an adept of "thou shalt not kill",she refuses.Hardly one minute,but these few words say a lot more than the preachy chatter of the rest of the plot.But the "false " ending -and there's also a ridiculous Indian epilogue- gives the coup de grâce to the movie.