The Thin Blue Line
Composite Score: 83.7
Featuring: Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson, Marshall Touchton, Dale Holt, Sam Kittrell, Edith James, Dennis White, Don Metcalfe, Emily Miller, and R.L. Miller
Director: Errol Morris
Writer: Errol Morris
Genres: Documentary, Crime, Mystery
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Box Office: $1.21 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
The Thin Blue Line is a documentary about the trial and conviction of Randall Adams for the murder of police officer Robert Wood. The documentary focuses on the inconsistencies of the evidence and the witnesses’ stories that were used to convict Adams in the 1976 case. Through interviews with police investigators, lawyers, and witnesses and through dramatic reenactments the film endeavors to show how misguided the case truly was, simply because prosecutors and the police force wanted to secure the death penalty punishment for the case. Widely considered one of the greatest documentaries of all time, it accomplished its goal so well that Adams was released from prison after the film gained traction, and he went on to work as a staunch anti-death penalty activist for the rest of his life.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
I can honestly think of very little reason why someone shouldn’t watch this film. Perhaps if you actually are one of the interviewees, it’s probably okay for you to skip this because you lived it. Otherwise, this film ends up being a discouraging (but incredibly necessary) reminder of the flaws in the U.S. criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving police officers, both as perpetrators and as victims. I guess, with everything in the news in the past couple of years, you might already know this to be true and don’t need to immediately watch a documentary to remind you of this fact, but it’d still be good to have on your watchlist going forward.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
This is legitimately one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Not only did it accomplish its goal of proving the miscarriage of justice in this case, it also calls into question plenty of convictions in high-profile cases and the general legitimacy of the police as well, all while being incredibly entertaining at the same time. The dramatic reenactments serve as both added evidence and comical showcases of the inconsistencies of the many stories that went into the evening in question. This is a legal documentary that plays like a legal drama, all through a series of interviews, strung together into a cohesive narrative by Errol Morris.
The legacy of The Thin Blue Line and its high entertainment value and continued relevance to conversations in modern society make it one of the best documentaries ever and one of the Greatest Films of All Time. Even people uncomfortable with the film’s subject matter should still give it a shot because of how well it was made and continues to hold up. It is currently available to stream on the Criterion Channel or with ads on Tubi or to rent on most streaming services if you need to give it a watch.
