The Thin Blue Line Documentary, anyone see?

I saw this documentary in my film class the other day. For those who dont know, its basically about the wrongful conviction of former death row inmate Randall Adams. Its about how the Dallas Texas court system rushed to judgement, and with lack of evidence convicted an innocent man, and until this film was made, Randall Adams remained imprisoned.
This film made me more aware of the unfortunate amount of innocence put in jail, or in jail and on death row every year. Most importantly it reminded me of the Texas court system, were lawyers have fallen asleep while defending clients, and the shameless Governor Bush who allowed more to die thru execution, more then any other Governor in State history, without asking for facts or dna testing to prove guilt.
Does anyone want to comment on this documentary, The Thin Blue Line?. The Texas courts ,Bush as Governor during the highest rate of executions or Randall Adams? Thanks everyone

I hate to be a Devil's advocate but are governors required or encouraged to ask for a dna test or so?

He claims to have invented the style of doc in which the person talks to the camera. Don't miss his newer doc called Mr. Death about a man who makes electric chairs and thinks the holocaust didn't happen. It's hilarious and fascinating. Thin Blue Line shows that art can make a difference. This example has been followed by others who have been able to prove convicts innocent of the crimes they were imprisoned for. I believe there's even a law group that makes this an annual assignment.

at the time it was released he was still on death row. this film freed an innocent man.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I loved it, and I like a lot of Errol Morris' work. My fave is Gates of Heaven, about pet cemeteries.

I do remember that Randall Adams, who was freed because of the documentary, ended up suing Morris later.

bizarre. Morris truly saved his life.

There was a misunderstanding over the rights. Morris felt that Randall had signed over the complete rights to the story, not just film rights but also publishing rights. They could not resolve their differences without going to court to get it established that Randall had the right to write and sell his own book even if it competed with a book that Morris had planned. In Randall's book, he says specifically that he was and is extremely grateful to Morris but, after all, he feels he could not have been expected to sign away his entire life story, the only thing he had to make a living with when he was finally released from prison. It isn't like the two men hate each other now or anything -- it's a contract dispute. Money contaminates everything.

THis may have been my favorite documentary prior to seeing Bowling for Columbine. I knew people just like the killer Dale Harris (if I'm recalling his name correctly) and his crappy little friends. And the Philip Glass score wasn't half bad either.

I've always been scared of Texas "justice." They just find someone at random and imprison them for the crime of the day -- a very scary place to encounter the law.

He's a genius. He's the most important documentary film-maker of this generation...in addition to re-kindling a lagging art form, he actually saved a man's life with his film. BTW- Dr.Death is haunting, but it's really hard to beat the naked exuberance of "Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control". My wife and I are friends with one of the subjects of this film- Ray Mendez. The film did not go into all of the incredible details of Ray's life (he's a world authority on ants, designed dozens of the finest zoo/museum exhibits in the country (including Disney's Animal Kingdom), but the one area Morris focused on perfectly captured his essence.

I've got "Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control" coming next from Netflix. Love Errol Morris.