Inspired by a real-life story (and officially based on a book by Peter Maas), "Marie" stars a typically delightful Sissy Spacek as Marie Ragghianti (pronounced ra-JOHN-tee), a divorced mother of three. After getting herself an education, she goes to work in the office of the Tennessee governor (Don Hood, "Absence of Malice"). From there, she is given the fast track to becoming chairwoman of the parole board. Then her eyes are opened to the rampant corruption in her office, which includes the selling of clemency to various lowlife criminals who don't deserve it. Marie, being a fundamentally *good* person, is not going to keep quiet about this, continuing to try to do her job well, and of course gets into deep trouble with the powers-that-be.
While not really a great film, the material does make for solid entertainment that holds ones' attention. While one is never in doubt as to the outcome, director Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out", "Dante's Peak", etc.) generates sufficient tension from the isolated suspense sequences, relates the story quite capably, and gets very fine performances out of a cast featuring quite a few familiar faces: Jeff Daniels, Keith Szarabajka ("The Dark Knight"), Morgan Freeman, Lisa Banes ("Gone Girl"), Trey Wilson ("Raising Arizona"), John Cullum ('Northern Exposure'), Graham Beckel ("L. A. Confidential"), Macon McCalman ("Dead & Buried"), Collin Wilcox ("To Kill a Mockingbird"), Clarence Felder ("The Hidden"), Leon Rippy ("The Patriot"), and Timothy Carhart ("Thelma & Louise"). There is particular value here in seeing Fred (Dalton) Thompson, making his film debut and playing himself, Maries' defense attorney. Right from the start, he showed that strong screen presence that served him well in his respectable acting career and his later venture into politics.
"Marie" is definitely well made; although the Francis Lai score tends to be over-dramatic, making up for that is the excellent widescreen photography by Chris Menges. But Sissy really is the glue that holds the story together: Marie is not meant to be portrayed as some "perfect" individual, but she had the strength of character and desire to be truthful that makes her a protagonist worth a viewers' rooting interest. And the villains here truly are deplorable scum, making the inevitable conclusion a pretty satisfying one.
Brief text before the closing credits reveals the fate of a few of the key players.
Seven out of 10.
While not really a great film, the material does make for solid entertainment that holds ones' attention. While one is never in doubt as to the outcome, director Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out", "Dante's Peak", etc.) generates sufficient tension from the isolated suspense sequences, relates the story quite capably, and gets very fine performances out of a cast featuring quite a few familiar faces: Jeff Daniels, Keith Szarabajka ("The Dark Knight"), Morgan Freeman, Lisa Banes ("Gone Girl"), Trey Wilson ("Raising Arizona"), John Cullum ('Northern Exposure'), Graham Beckel ("L. A. Confidential"), Macon McCalman ("Dead & Buried"), Collin Wilcox ("To Kill a Mockingbird"), Clarence Felder ("The Hidden"), Leon Rippy ("The Patriot"), and Timothy Carhart ("Thelma & Louise"). There is particular value here in seeing Fred (Dalton) Thompson, making his film debut and playing himself, Maries' defense attorney. Right from the start, he showed that strong screen presence that served him well in his respectable acting career and his later venture into politics.
"Marie" is definitely well made; although the Francis Lai score tends to be over-dramatic, making up for that is the excellent widescreen photography by Chris Menges. But Sissy really is the glue that holds the story together: Marie is not meant to be portrayed as some "perfect" individual, but she had the strength of character and desire to be truthful that makes her a protagonist worth a viewers' rooting interest. And the villains here truly are deplorable scum, making the inevitable conclusion a pretty satisfying one.
Brief text before the closing credits reveals the fate of a few of the key players.
Seven out of 10.