The Thin Blue Line
by Errol Morris
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Actor: David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson, Marshall Touchton, Randall AdamsDirector: Errol Morris
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Cinematographer: Robert Chappell
Writer: Errol Morris
Producer: Brad Fuller
Producer: David Hohmann
Producer: Gary McDonald
Producer: Lindsay Law
Producer: Mark Lipson
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 103 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-07-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of The Thin Blue Line
DVD Review: A Brilliantly Fascinating Documentary...
Summary: 5 Stars
Innocence and guilt are two opposite facets in regards to the consequences of an individual's actions in a specific incident. Usually, guilt and innocence are related to the justice system in the United States and the rest of the world. In the best interest of society this concept should be balanced fairly and justly without any consideration of human emotion or concern, or it could have a dire aftermath for people. The familiar blindfolded statue in the courts throughout the United States that holds a scale in one hand and a sword in the other symbolically demonstrates the fair blindness of true justice. Nonetheless, there are people who end up behind bars while society points them out as guilty despite innocence. The Thin Blue Line tells such a tale of a true incident where justice was put aside and a human decision was based on personal feelings while gains took precedence.
The documentary opens with a couple of shots of Dallas, Texas, where Randall Adams discloses why he came to town. This is also followed by David Harris providing the reason of how and why he came to Dallas as a sixteen year old. Both of them disclose how they met, which seems to be the only version that seems genuine in regards to the beginning of a dreadful police murder. The story goes into great detail to provide the contrasting elements, as Adams tells his version and the police officers on the case reveal their facts. In addition, Harris's version offers the audience a third and slightly different narration of the account of the police murder. Their stories are cleverly incorporated with a reenactment of the crime scene where Adams supposedly shot the police officer.
All of the interviews in the documentary are provided through first person monologues where individual's various importance disclose their connection with the case. These people are suspects, witnesses, judges, police officers, and lawyers. The audience can quietly sit and watch their reactions and facial expressions while they give their testimony. It is an intriguing approach, as Morris lets the audience use the same manipulation of facts by reading meaningless stimuli such as facial expressions and voices regardless of Adams innocence or guilty. Even one of the police officers points out Adams' emotionally blasé behavior in regards to the murder and suggests that he was guilty due to his lack of remorse. Later in the documentary, Adams' defense lawyer points out that an innocent would not show any remorse, because they have nothing to feel sorry about. Thus, in an intelligent way Morris turns the tables on the audience by using first person interviews with the camera.
There is a thorough investigation of what would the state gains to give the ruling guilty to Adams. There are several intriguing facts that are revealed such as the merciless prosecutor Douglas Moulder who has never lost a case, the competitive nature of a judge stating he won against the supreme court, and "the Killer Shrinks." There is also the questioning of the validity of testimonies provided at the court while the defense lawyer has been portrayed as an Eastern educated liberalist to a high seat of the Ku Klux Klan. This is not to mention Davis' criminal background and the reason he was in Dallas. It is a sad mess of injustice that emerges when viewing this film, however, hopefully this film could function as a tool to improve the legal system of this nation.
In an interview with judge Don Metcalfe, he restates how the the final argument by Douglas Moulder emotionally affected him, which stated, "the thin blue line of the police that separated the public from anarchy." It is with a grave sense of irony that this judge makes this statement, as he crossed the line when he heard it. The blind objectivity of justice seems to have heavily leaned on subjective reasoning for a large number of reasons, and it seems like Adams has been caught between personal desires and the legal system. Errol Morris does a fascinating job of directing this film where he captures human subjectivity at the core of humanity and its dire aftermath, which will linger within the viewer for many years to come.
Description of The Thin Blue Line
Academy AwardÂ(r)-winner* Errol Morris broke new ground with the "riveting" (LA Weekly) film that dramatically reenacts the crime scene and investigation of a police officer's murder in Dallas. So powerful and convincing that it helped free an innocent man from prison, The Thin Blue Line is "one of the finest documentary features ever made" (Boxoffice). On November 28, 1976, when drifter Randall Dale Adams was picked up by teenage runaway David Harris, his fate was sealed. That night, a police officer was shot in cold blood. And though all the facts pointed to Harris, a sociopath with a lengthy rap sheet, Adams was convicted of capital murder. Was Adamsguilty? And if not, can Morris unlock the secrets of this baffling case? *2003: Documentary Feature, The Fog of War (with Michael Williams)Bestsellers in DVD
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