When twelve-year old honor student Stephanie Ann Crowe was in the process of being stabbed and murdered in her bedroom in Escondido, California in January 1998, she probably had no idea that this review would be written. Here's how it happened: Despite having numerous reports from Crowe family neighbors of a mysterious and suspicious transient in the vicinity on the night in question, the police assumed because of Stephanie's fourteen-year old brother Michael's claiming to have passed her room without seeing her dead body in the middle of the night and because of his participation in role-playing games that he must be the perpetrator. He and his surviving sister were put in protective custody and each day he was taken, unbeknownst to his parents, to the police station for questioning. The police used psychological brutality in many forms and finally broke Michael down, convincing him to confess. Two of his friends were eventually implicated as conspirators. Michael had to spend many stressful months in prison but was eventually exonerated. As of the time this review is being written, a lawsuit is being pursued and an adult suspect is being charged. This is an excellent depiction of police misconduct. Although the film doesn't mention it, the fact that Michael's mother, portrayed by Ally Sheedy of Brat Pack fame, is Cheryl Crowe might make many viewers think of Sheryl Crow (note the different spelling), the famous singer of such songs as "All I Wanna Do", "Every Day is a Winding Road", "If it Makes you Happy", "Leaving Las Vegas", "Soak up the Sun" and "Strong Enough". However, most viewers will be probably be more interested in the issues that the film raises. All in all, it's an excellent effort.
