Watch The Amendment

The Amendment is a courtroom drama that provides a gripping look at one of the most controversial issues of our time. It centers around Brooks Douglass (Mike Vogel), a former senator's son, who comes home with his sister Leslie (Taryn Manning) for Christmas. On the night they arrive, their parents are brutally murdered by two men who break into their house. Brooks and Leslie, who are both shot but survive, realize that they are the only witnesses to the crime.

As a former senator's son, Brooks has a high profile in the community and the crime quickly becomes a national news story. The police apprehend the two suspects, but Brooks becomes convinced that the justice system will fail to bring them to justice. A passionate and idealistic defense attorney, Katherin Murphy (Mira Sorvino), agrees to take the case, but she warns Brooks that the legal process is long and arduous, and that there are no guarantees.

Despite these warnings, Brooks becomes obsessed with the need to seek justice for his parents. He spearheads a grassroots campaign to pass a constitutional amendment that would change the way the justice system handles murder cases. The amendment would give victims the right to participate in every step of the legal process, from arrest to sentencing. Brooks believes that this will help to ensure that the killers are brought to justice, and that other families will not have to suffer as his has.

As he works tirelessly to gather support for the amendment, Brooks must also navigate the criminal trial of his parents' killers. The two men, who are played with terrifying intensity by Silas Weir Mitchell and Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, are both pathological liars who have nothing to lose. They try to convince the jury that they are innocent, and that Brooks and Leslie are the real culprits. As the trial progresses, tensions mount and the emotional toll on Brooks and Leslie becomes more and more apparent.

The Amendment is a nuanced and powerful exploration of the intersection between the justice system and the emotional needs of victims. The film is anchored by Mike Vogel's powerful performance as Brooks, who captures both the character's idealism and his growing frustration with the legal system. Taryn Manning is also excellent as Leslie, who struggles to come to terms with the trauma of the crime.

The film does an admirable job of balancing the legal and emotional aspects of the story. The courtroom scenes are tense and engaging, and the film effectively conveys the ways in which a murder trial can become a brutal spectacle. But the film also gives ample room for the characters to explore their psychological and emotional trauma. There are powerful scenes of Brooks and Leslie trying to come to terms with their grief, and the film is unflinching in its portrayal of the toll that such a traumatic event can take.

The Amendment is also notable for its thoughtful examination of the ethical and philosophical questions that are raised by the legal system. The film asks important questions about the role of victims in criminal trials, the limits of the justice system, and the often-unreliable nature of eyewitness testimony. It is a film that will make viewers think deeply about issues that are not often explored in mainstream cinema.

Overall, The Amendment is a well-crafted and compelling film that addresses important issues in a thoughtful and engaging way. It is a powerful exploration of the emotional toll of violent crime, and a nuanced examination of the legal system and its shortcomings. The film is anchored by strong performances from Mike Vogel, Taryn Manning, and Silas Weir Mitchell, and it will leave viewers thinking deeply about the issues that it raises.

The Amendment is a 2018 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.