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The Thin Blue Line (1988)

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Average Rating: 8.7/10
Reviews Counted: 11
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 0

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Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

Not many filmmakers can claim to have freed a convicted murderer from jail, but Errol Morris accomplished that feat with his stunning documentary about Randall Dale Adams. Morris, whose brilliant previous features Vernon, Florida and Gates of Heaven had focused on less substantial subjects, learned of Adams' plight when the director was in Texas in preparation for a film about a psychiatrist who testified in murder trials. In November 1976, after his car broke down on a road outside Dallas,

Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.

Documentary, Special Interest

Directed By: Errol Morris

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1988 Wide

On DVD: Jul 26, 2005

HBO Video

The Thin Blue Line Trailer & Photos

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Critic Reviews for The Thin Blue Line

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (0) | DVD (4)

Arguably no other film of the 1980s, fiction or non-fiction, was as significant in blurring the boundaries between what's reel and real and in demonstrating the remarkable impact a movie could have.

December 22, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Errol Morris' breakout documentary is immaculate.

February 13, 2006 Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A hallmark documentary, and one of the finest films of the 1980s.

September 14, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

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Brent Simon

Now Playing Magazine Source: Now Playing Magazine

Accomplished but detached; you're pulled in, but you couldn't be blamed for resisting.

July 8, 2004 Comment

Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS) Source: F5 (Wichita, KS)

Furthering its genre irregularity, it employs no narration to guide the viewer, and each shot is carefully static and composed. Its central scene, even, is a fabricated element in what is largely a non-fiction film.

February 11, 2003 Full Review Source: Not Coming to a Theater Near You

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Rumsey Taylor

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

... sets a new standard

April 17, 2001 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

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Audience Reviews for The Thin Blue Line

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A disturbing look at a judicial system infected with chaos and corruption, specifically in the true story of an innocent man named Randall Adams who is sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Instead of feeling the need to put his own stamp on the story, director Errol Morris, like he did in "Gates

March 11, 2012

Dan Schultz

Super Reviewer

A very slow calculated documentary that goes over and over a crime as if the audience are the investigators. I found it really repetitive, but some people may like that, so I'll say it's so-so.

September 6, 2010