Watch An Innocent Man

An Innocent Man is a crime thriller film directed by Peter Yates and released in 1989. This movie stars Tom Selleck as Jimmie Rainwood, a happily married airline mechanic who gets wrongfully accused of drug trafficking and ends up serving a harsh prison sentence despite his innocence. The film takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the criminal justice system, exploring the devastating impact of wrongful accusations, corrupt cops, and prison violence. The story begins with Rainwood leading a simple life, happily married to his wife Kate played by Laila Robins. Their life is turned upside down when police officers, led by Detective Brannigan played by David Rasche, raid their home and arrest Rainwood for drug trafficking. Despite pleading his innocence, Rainwood is wrongly convicted and sent to prison.

In prison, Rainwood undergoes a transformation, going from a law-abiding, hard-working man to a hardened criminal. He quickly learns that the people he thought were his allies are actually his enemies, and those he thought were his enemies are his only hope for survival. Rainwood soon finds himself caught up in the prison's brutal hierarchy, with inmates and guards vying for power and control.

The movie's unique perspective on the justice system, and its inner workings relayed through the eyes of an average man is what sets it apart from the usual crime thrillers. Rainwood's story highlights the corruption that exists within the criminal justice system, and how easily ordinary people can be caught up in it, with their lives destroyed by a single false accusation.

Selleck's portrayal of Rainwood is excellent. He adeptly portrays Rainwood's shift from a naïve and hopeful man to a hardened criminal. Selleck's performance is one of the main factors that keep the audience engaged with the story throughout the length of the movie.

The supporting cast, especially F. Murray Abraham, who plays Rainwood's prison friend, Virgil Cane, gives powerful performances. Abraham's portrayal of Cane is memorable, showing the harsh life of a prison veteran, who knows the ins and outs of the system, yet retains a sense of honor.

Laila Robins, who plays Rainwood's wife Kate, makes the audience feel her pain and desperation. Her portrayal is deeply rooted in reality, conveying the emotions of a woman who has lost everything she held dear.

The film's score, composed by Howard Shore, is subtle and atmospheric, adding to the film's moody and tense atmosphere. The cinematography by Billy Williams is also noteworthy, with scenes in the prison being particularly impressive. The lighting and camerawork make the prison scenes look authentic, giving the audience an unfiltered view of prison life.

Overall, An Innocent Man is a gripping and thought-provoking film that explores the flaws within the criminal justice system. It's a movie that highlights the importance of trust, perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit, which maintains hope even in the darkest moments.

An Innocent Man is a 1989 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 39.