Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writer (WGA):

Doug Magee (written by)

Release Date:

9 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Raymond Eames, a small-time drug dealer, has been sentenced to death for the shooting death of a policeman...

Plot Keywords:

Time Magazine

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Paul Marish, Photographer
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Hannah McGrath
Robert Carradine	...	Police Sgt. Jerry Brown
Andre Braugher	...	Dan Weston, Time Magazine Reporter
Arliss Howard	...	Raymond Eames
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Barnes	...	Gov. Dean
Rex Benson	...	Buddy Eames, Raymond's Father
Harold Bergman	...	Judge Landis
Ginger Burgett	...	Jean Watley
Traber Burns	...	Ron Felders
Patrick Cherry	...	Donnie, Crazy Death Row Inmate
Antoni Corone	...	Mike Knighton, Ex-cop / D.A.'s Assistant
Jay Glick	...	Prison chaplain
Marietta Haley	...	TV Reporter
Danny Hanemann	...	Doug McGrath, Jackie McGrath's Brother
John Glenn Harding	...	Waiter
Tom Kouchalakos	...	Burke
Ann Kymberlie	...	Clerk
Michael Leopard	...	Guard #1
Marc Macaulay	...	Supt. Stanton
Shawn McAllister	...	Dr. Milliken
Mark McCracken	...	Nathanson
Greg Paul Meyers	...	Jackie McGrath, Murder Victim
Kathy Neff	...	Doreen Rusher
Tom Nowicki	...	Steve March (Eames trial prosecuting attorney / District Attorney)
Michael O'Smith	...	Police Chief
John Polce	...	Executioner
Kevin Quigley	...	Floyd Tatum
James Lea Raupp	...	Electrician
Ric Reitz	...	Aide #1
Tracy Roberts	...	'Betty' the Barmaid
Tom Schuster	...	Jake Rusher, Ex-cop who commits suicide
Robert Small	...	Aide #2
Lou Walker	...	Blohm, Owner Blohm's Bait & Tackle at Gilden Georgia
Mattie Wolf	...	Mrs. Landis
Steve Zurk	...	Guard in charge

Runtime:

Argentina:104 min | Australia:101 min | Germany:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Mount Dora, Florida, USA

Company:

Alan Barnette Productions

Trivia:

An HBO original, this film was part of the pay cable channel's effort to gain TV-movie credibility in the early 90's.

Take a hard look

There are clunky parts to this film, and the film is not flawless. This film obviously, in the vein of The Green Mile and Dead Man Walking, carries a staunch anti-death penalty political view. Those who agree with such a standpoint will rate it far higher than the sum of the parts. For the pro-death penalty crowd, this film undoubtedly is seen as left-leaning liberal crap. While fictitious, the story nonetheless resonates with too many real-life counterparts. The prevailing strength of this film is the social reality that resonate throughout. Undoubtedly, this film's ratings on IMDB will be hurt by political views alone. I invite - no, plead - with all of those like-minded individuals to see the unique possibilities that this film implies. This is one of the disturbing films, like the movie Kids, that should be seen at least once by us all.