It's 1955 Florida. Disturbed Korean war hero Emmett Foley (Gary Oldman) has a mental breakdown and starts shooting randomly. It's a case of suicide by police but they keep missing. It's more life insurance money for a non-suicide. He shoots himself but fails to die. Mae (Frances McDormand) is his wife. Earlene (Pamela Reed) is his sister. He is locked up in a mental hospital in Chattahoochee. It's a crowded inhumane place full of abuse and disturbed people. Walker Benson (Dennis Hopper), Morris (M. Emmet Walsh), and Lonny (Matt Craven) are some of his more sane fellow prisoners.
This is based on a real person suffering under the real system. I have never heard of this movie before this. There is some good acting going on here starting with Gary Oldman. The plot does need some beefing up. Mostly, it needs to give more time with Pamela Reed to emphasize the drive to get him released. It would drive the plot a lot better. Emmett is basically an object being kicked around and around. That can feel repetitive. All in all, I love the actors and their work in this despite the limited plot.
This is based on a real person suffering under the real system. I have never heard of this movie before this. There is some good acting going on here starting with Gary Oldman. The plot does need some beefing up. Mostly, it needs to give more time with Pamela Reed to emphasize the drive to get him released. It would drive the plot a lot better. Emmett is basically an object being kicked around and around. That can feel repetitive. All in all, I love the actors and their work in this despite the limited plot.