Monday, October 30, 2006
HABEUS CORPUS
Today's film was the fiery
In the Name of the Father (1993).
It is not on the Best 1176 list but I wanted to see it and it was recommended on my Netflix page. I figure I should give props to them for their improved performance.
This film is a seat grabber.
It is a pure example of what can happen when the law is suspended for terrorists.
In this case, a 7 day suspension of habeus corpus in the UK for anyone suspected of terrorism.
It is about the Guilford Four with Gerry Conlon as the main defendant. The four are actually the 12, members of Conlon's extended family including minors, who were also wrongly convicted.
I do not know its literal truth but I figure it is pretty close.
Whatever the case, there is a convincing case that such an instance of innocent conviction could happen.
Daniel Day-Lewis does his usual A+ work and the scenes with the wonderful Pete Postlethwaite as his Da are just incredible.
Emma Thompson is the tireless defender who gets them off. Well, off just half of their 30 year minimum sentence.
It is timely as we develop our own suspending of laws and loosening of the standards of interrogation.
This is highly reccomended viewing just before these elections!
A 5 out of Netflix5.
