Deadline (2004)

A documentary on Illinois Governor George Ryan, who, with 60 days left in office, makes a decision on the fate of death row prisoners.

Directors:

Katy Chevigny, Kirsten Johnson

Writer:

Charles Olivier

Stars:

Anthony Amsterdam, Jeanne Bishop, Stephen Bright

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Anthony Amsterdam	...	Self - Defense Attorney, Furman v. Georgia
Jeanne Bishop	...	Self - Opposes Death Penalty
Stephen Bright	...	Self - Southern Center for Human Rights
George W. Bush	...	Self (archive footage)
Donald Cabana	...	Self - Former Warden, Parchman Prison
John Chancellor	...	Self (archive footage)
Tom Cross	...	Self - Illinois House Republican Leader
Robert Curley	...	Self - Opposes Death Penalty
Renny Cushing	...	Self - Executive Director, Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation
Gary Gauger	...	Self - Exonerated Death Row Inmate
Cornelia Grumman	...	Self - Chicago Tribune
Lawrence Hayes	...	Self - Convicted of Murder, 1972
Bill Jenkins	...	Self - Opposes Death Penalty
Grayland Johnson	...	Self - Convicted of Murder, 1988
Elaine Jones	...	Self - NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Storyline

A documentary on Illinois Governor George Ryan, who, with 60 days left in office, makes a decision on the fate of death row prisoners.

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Plot Keywords:

title co directed by female | one word title | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

important issue

In 2002, pro-death penalty Illinois Governor George Ryan is at the end of his term. A group of Northwestern student does a class project and exonerates death row inmates. The Chicago Tribune writes about the story and Ryan comes to question the infallibility of the death sentence. Ryan claims 13 are released with 12 executed. The system has become no better than a coin flip. He institutes a clemency board to review all of the convictions. The movie examines the history of the death penalty from its use against minorities, the 1972 Supreme Court case abolishing it, the 1976 case reinstating it and various convicts facing that final walk.

It's a compelling and important issue. It's also a fascinating moment in time for this issue. This has plenty of information. However it's not much more than a TV investigative report. It's very scattered. It needs to concentrate on fewer people. The doc needs to concentrate on that university class and their cases and Governor Ryan. Some of the convicts seem to be presented as innocent but they are just as easily be lying.

Details

Official Sites:

Big Mouth Productions

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Life After Death Row

Filming Locations:

Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Engine, Big Mouth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Color:

Color