This is not a documentary, it's a horror story disguised as a documentary. It's a terrifying look at a gross miscarriage of justice, and a chilling reminder of how -- without warning -- our lives can be completely ruined by forces beyond our control. The last scene -- Harris' final interview -- is one of the most frightening things you'll ever hear. "Probably been thousands of innocent people convicted and probably be thousands more. Why? Who knows."

Interesting documentary, but the overexposure of Dateline NBC type programs leaves this feeling too familiar. Philip Glass' music sets this apart, however.

A completely absorbing documentary, chilling stuff. Excellent soundtrack that adds a punch to the film's already stark imagery. The re imagining of the murder scene several times with different ways was fantastic. The factor that really put this ahead was there was no narration at all, it is so well structured and clips right along you don't even notice or need it.

Perfect documentary which is more suspensful than a scripted thriller. The justice system is so screwed up

Wow. Brilliant documentary. Shocking story, good score - a genuinely important film (certainly was for Adams). Agree with willofgala's review that Harris' last interview on the tape recorder was absolutely chilling.

Simply an amazing documentary. The re-enactments, paired with the great Phillip Glass score really made this film great. Knowing that this movie actually got the innocent man out of jail made me appreciate it even more.

Morris did something extremely unique here. Not only did he manage to set an innocent man free, and get a guilty man locked up, he also created arguably the greatest documentary ever. It's hard NOT to watch this twice. Extra points going out to Philip Glass's amazing score.

Morris's collage approach (utilizing interviews, newspaper articles, documents, photographs and reenactments of the crime) effectively conveys the nightmarish quality of an innocent man condemned. Adams was finally released -- several years after this film raised a public outcry.

How can anyone support the death penalty after watching this?

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I really appreciated the socratic aspects of Morris' film making, the way he forces the viewer to supply their own questions and conclusions. There is self deception in my appreciation, his careful selection of information is probably more influential than most arguments, but ultimately his style makes for a more pleasant and thought provoking experience.

Directly saved a life, and for that it may be the single most important film in American history.

That one witness lady watched too many detective noirs, to be sure; but too many westerns seems to have honed Texas' collective axe of vengeance a tad too sharply. The Thin Blue Line could just as easily refer to their apparent need to just periodically execute someone; a drifter, a black, a retard...anyone. A world without capital punishment? Good lord, the anarchy that would ensue!

Very well-made documentary about a pretty common subject/theme, but the camerawork and score set this one apart.

Riveting. That's pretty impressive considering that it's a film about a local crime that occurred years before I was born. In another country, no less. Morris is good. He made me care.

#724

Decent documentary, but nothing special.

The Thin Blue Line exposes a criminal justice system that is rotten inside and out and from the top down. Society, witnesses, police investigators, prosecution, Dallas County DA's office, criminal psychiatrists, judge and jury, the system itself, everyone and everything is either prejudiced, corrupt or dysfunctional enough to allow a very obvious miscarriage of justice to pass at every stage. A remarkable and depressing documentary. The Philip Glass soundtrack gets a little overbearing at times.

Highly important in real life and pretty cinematic considering how much of it is just 'talking heads'. Documentaries are better when they don't have a direct message, IMO, though. Though I love Bowling for Columbine so what do I know...

A very stylised and elegant true crime documentary. For its outcomes beyond the cinema this should get your attention.

My rating is a bit off here because frankly I was a bit bored during the film. Nothing particularly shocked me because I read about these kinds of stories all the time. However, I would not hesitate to recommend this film to anyone. Everybody should see this movie, especially if you've always held an idealized view of the justice system. A piece of history and an important film. I hope they screen this to Criminal Justice students. It should be required.