Deadline

2004 1h 30m EN

🤯

8.8

MASTERPIECE

★8.8TMDB · 4

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 2000, Illinois Gov. George Ryan ordered a moratorium on the death penalty after university students uncovered new evidence proving the innocence of 13 men on death row. This documentary follows the hearings held by a panel Ryan appointed to study the issue and interviews activists, scholars and prisoners, while examining the history of the American death penalty. As Ryan's time in office comes to an end, he must decide what steps to take to reform the judicial system.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Anthony Amsterdam
Self
George W. Bush
Self (archive footage)
John Chancellor
Self (archive footage)
Mamie Till Mobley
Self (archive footage)
Richard Nixon
Self (archive footage)
Bryan Stevenson
Self
Scott Turow
Self
Jeanne Bishop
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kirsten Johnson
Writers: Charles Olivier
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kirsten Johnson, shot by Kirsten Johnson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Carol Dysinger shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Anthony Amsterdam and George W. Bush and John Chancellor carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0390190 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kirsten Johnson directs. Kirsten Johnson behind the camera. Carol Dysinger cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 22 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Kirsten Johnson, shot by Kirsten Johnson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Carol Dysinger shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Anthony Amsterdam and George W. Bush and John Chancellor carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0390190 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.