Top Ten Tuesday: Movies About the Wrongfully Accused

To bring another realism to the situation of the WM3, we decided to put together the top 10 movies about the wrongfully accused. Going more off subject matter than cinematic excellence we have come up with these for everyone, enjoy.

10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ is a modern classic, a film that broke so many technological barriers 21 years ago when it was released.   Yet, even today, the animation found in the Robert Zemeckis film is still as adequate as it ever was.   It shows how amazing the direction and the acting by Bob Hoskins were that the two, lead characters have such charisma between one another.   Sorry, but ‘Tango & Cash’ have nothing on ‘Valiant & Rabbit.’   On top of the frivolity and cartoon aspects, the movie also has quite an interesting story about celebrity and the nature of being framed.   Tell me you weren’t just a little freaked out when you first realized Judge Doom was a toon.   ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ is an incredible film.   It’s one of those rare instances of a film 20-years-old or older that actually deserves a sequel and never got one.

9. Double Jeopardy

‘Double Jeopardy’ is a film that takes the pretty standard notion of a woman getting framed for the murder of her husband and turning it on its ear.   In this film, the husband faked his death, the wife already served time for the murder, and, so, she can kill him free and clear without the law touching her.   ‘Double Jeopardy’ came near the end of the whole “women in peril” era of films that came our way near the end of the ’90s, and Ashley Judd was the queen of that film.   This is the best, creating suspense and drama all along the way but still able to throw a few surprises our way here and there.   Tommy Lee Jones somewhat reprises his role of someone hunting down an escaped fugitive, but he gives a great performance, as well.   ‘Double Jeopardy’ is a fine film full of thrills.

8. In the Name of the Father

Based on a true story, ‘In the Name of the Father’ is an incredibally moving motion picture with or without Daniel Day-Lewis churning out one of his signature performances. Â  Here, the amazing actor plays Gerry Conlon, one of the Guildford Four, who were falsely accused of an IRA bombing in 1974 despite having no evidence whatsoever linking them to the organization. Â  The four were held in prison until their eventual release in 1989. Â  What director Jim Sheridan pieces together with his film is a heart-wrenching depiction of the life of the falsely accused prisoner without the political subtext getting in the way. Â  ‘In the Name of the Father’ is a humanist film with dramatic turns and staggering performances by the actors involved. Â  Day-Lewis may lead, but Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite, as Conlon’s father, Giuseppe, who was also falsely imprisoned as one of the Maguire Seven, also give outstanding performances. Â  All three were nominated for Academy Awards as was Sheridan for Best Director and the film for Best Picture of 1993. Â  ‘Schindler’s List’ got all the glory at that year’s Oscars presentation, but ‘In the Name of the Father’ is a film that is not to be missed by any means.

7. The Warriors

“Warriors!   Come out to play-ee-ay!”

Now try to get David Patrick Kelly’s creepy voice and the sound of beer bottles clanking together out of your head. Â  Can’t, can you? Â  That’s because ‘The Warriors’ is such an unforgettable gem of a film, an early effort from director Walter Hill that remains to this day as, arguably, his best. Â  A cultural rewriting of Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel, the film, made 14 years after the novel was first published, embroils us into a world where there are three thugs for every cop. Â  After the peace-seeking leader of the biggest gang in town, Cyrus, is assassinated, the Warriors, a gang from Coney Island, are accused of the deed. Â  Now, they have one night to get fromPelham Bay Park back to their home turf with every other gang in New York out for blood. Â  It’s a hard-edged film that wears status as both cult classic and an intricate look at gang-related lifestyles. Â  ‘The Warriors’ is a film that many have not seen, but everyone should check it out. Â  Now, can you dig it?

6. My Cousin Vinny

Even though we are dealing with some very serious subject matters, it does help to lighten the mood and ‘My Cousin Vinny’ does a great job of doing just that. Joe Pesci plays the lawyer cousin of a wrongfully accused older Danielson Ralph Macchio and his friend. They stand trial for murder with a lawyer who has never represented anyone before.

5. JCVD

If you haven’t seen this movie yet, then you’re probably suffering the same delusion that most of us have before seeing this, related to the fact that surely another film from Jean Claude Van Damme is sub-par. Well, me friend, you are so wrong and you need to remedy this immediately. Yeah, it’s a movie about an action-movie star that’s down on his luck. There’s action involved but isn’t the focus and this psuedo-docudrama featuring Van Damme as himself builds to an amazing climax and features a performance from Van Damme so great you’ll deny it’s really him. Easily, the biggest suurpise sleeper hit from 2008. What are you waiting for, see this movie… and don’t give me the whole “it’s subtitled” excuse! If Scott saw the movie and liked it, you have no excuse.

4. The Shawshank Redemption

In this, the first feature film collaboration between Frank Darabont and Stephen King, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman both deliver stellar performances in one of the best movies of all time… period! This prison drama details the struggle of Andy Dufresne, a man wrongfully accused for the murder of his own wife. He maintains his innocence throughout the film, fighting for his freedom but also working to build freindships and better the lives of others during his time behind bars. Equal parts touching, dramatic, frightening and inspiring, this movie is a MUST SEE. End of discussion!

3. The Fugitive

Harrison Ford walks in on his wife being murdered, but all the evidence points to him being the killer. He gets convicted and sentenced to death but during his transport the bus crashed and he is able to escape to mount his own investigation while trying to avoiding Tommy Lee Jones. This is a great film especially one that deals with the subject matter of being wrongfully accused. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones both give pretty great performances here and you walk away with some pretty memorable scenes.

2. The Green Mile

Tom Hanks, Sam Rockwell, Michael Clarke Duncan, and David Morse star in Stephen King’s ‘The Green Mile’ about a former slave who is on death row for raping and murdering a young girl. While awaiting his execution the guards start to realize that John Coffey is special, and also innocent.

This is one of my favorite adapted Stephen King novels, in fact it took a while for me to believe this was actually a Stephen King piece of work(hey, I was only 16!).

1. Paradise Lost 1 & 2

What other movie could possibly be #1 than a true story documentary about 3 young men who are wrongfully imprisoned for the murders of 3 eight year old boys. So far there are 2 movies in the series of documentaries but a 3rd is on its way in post production. If you havent seen these and really want to get your blood boiling then go out and pick these up.