Insanity in the First Degree

Author(s): Matt
Location: Illinois

“Insanity in the First Degree”

Directed By: Todd Field
Written By: Alan Ball
Produced By: Clint Eastwood and David Cronenberg
Edited By: Ronald Sanders
Original Score By: Clint Eastwood

Principal Cast:

Jim Caviezel as Fred Tyler
Susan Sarandon as Evelyn Grant
George Clooney as James Grant
Shia La Bouef as Sean Grant
Evan Rachel Wood ad Kim Sexton
Reese Witherspoon as Debra Samson-Tyler
Tim Robbins as Andrew Finch
Donald Sutherland as Douglas Tate
Amanda Peet as Mrs. Amanda Annerino
Denis Leary as Detective William Syler

Tagline: "Insane or not, what's done is done

Synopsis: In an All-American, Chicago suburb, a community was full of upper-middle class families. One such family, the Grants were especially respectable. The father (Clooney) was a lawyer. The mother (Sarandon) was a real estate agent, and a proud housewife. The son (La Bouef) was an intelligent and active student, on his way to Duke University . The Grant's lives, as well as the lives of their neighbors, were about to be turned upside down.

On a bright summer day, a new face (Caviezel) was spotted amongst the close and connected neighborhood. It was the face of a man, dirty and miserable. For days, the man would walk down the street on which the Grants lived. After this walk, the stranger would spend time sitting on an over-sized rock that sat decoratively on the busiest street in the community. At this spot, the man would be seen talking. However, nobody else was around him.

Sean Grant, the son, was involved with a girl, Kim Sexton (Wood) that lived across the street from where the strange man always sat. While visiting his girlfriend, Sean couldn't help but notice the man, who continued to talk to himself. Sean concluded that the stranger was just lonely, and needed somebody to talk to. Always trying to help his neighbors and community cope with their problems, Sean planned to talk to the man within a few days. Still, Kim didn't approve of the plan. On a Wednesday afternoon, Sean left his house on foot and headed for the rock, where he had hoped to meet the lonely man. He never returned home.

Later on, that Wednesday night, Evelyn Grant called to police and reported her son's apparent disappearance. She was told to relax and wait until morning to take any action. After all, her son was 18 and could be at a number of different places. Once Sean still didn't come home, his parents requested that a detective come out to their home. Detective William Syler was put on the disappearance case, and questioned various members of the community. Kim, Sean's girlfriend, was the most helpful. She had told Syler that her boyfriend was going to talk to the stranger, in order to offer some help. This was the detective's first lead.

After the stranger wasn't seen for a couple of days, the man's role in the missing boy's case seemed likely and plausible. Detective Syler began looking throughout the neighborhood, and entered a forest preserve that contained a park and a trail. As he continued to walk down the trail, he came across a man, who was sitting in the grass, talking to himself. Detective Syler asked the man if he knew a boy named Sean. The man stopped talking, and just looked at a patch of high grass. Sean's body was found within that grass, and he was beaten to death. The stranger was taken to the police station, questioned, and identified as Fred Tyler. It was quite obvious that Tyler was responsible for the death of Sean, but his motive was less apparent. He claimed insanity.

At the request of the Grants, a court hearing was scheduled. Mrs. Grant refused to let the man who murdered her son get a lesser punishment because of the insanity claim. Mr. Grant, who was too emotional and vengeful, could not represent his son and the police department. Instead, he asked his partner, Andrew Finch (Robbins) to take the case. The court case, which lasted for months, was presided upon by Judge Tate (Sutherland). Mrs. Amanda Annerino (Peet), one of Sean's teachers, and Debra Samson-Tyler (Witherspoon), the suspect's ex-wife, were among those who took the stand. Mrs. Annerino talked about the responsible and caring Sean, and how he had such a bright future. Debra, alleged that Tyler really wasn't insane, just depressed because their marriage didn't work out. She blamed him for the separation.

In the end, Fred Tyler was found guilty for the murder of Sean Grant. His claims of insanity were not proven true, and so, he was sentenced to life in prison. He continued to sit alone in his cell, talking to himself.

What the press would say:

Insanity in the First Degree is the first of its kind. It challenges the court and the idea of insanity. Todd Field directs his finest work yet, in a setting that he has grown comfortable with during the last couple of years. His skills are more apparent than ever, since he effortlessly transfers from a normal setting to a court room drama. Still, without a great script, Insanity in the First Degree would have had no chance. Alan Ball writes his best screenplay; besting even American Beauty. Clint Eastwood who has scored such great films as his own Mystic River , once again creates an atmosphere that contains various emotions. Ronald Sanders, who edited A History of Violence, does his job just as well with this film. The icing on the cake is all of the beautiful and, at times, understated performances. Jim Caviezel is perfect as the strange man. He never lets that audience fully understand whether or not he is insane. Caviezel is better here than in his previous work, The Passion of the Christ, for which he was snubbed of an Oscar nomination. He should not be denied a nomination again. Susan Sarandon is at the top of her game. She is great as the grieving mother, who isn't just going to sit back and let her son's murder be forgotten or forgiven. Sarandon gives a remarkable performance. George Clooney, who recently won an Oscar for Syriana, tops that performance by a mile. He is great as the depressed father, who can't even bear to do his job and represent his son throughout the court case. Shia La Beouf and Evan Rachel Wood are both beyond their years in acting ability. Wood has grown from Thirteen to now, and it should be said that this is her best job. La Beouf is completely believable in his role and the loss of his character is truly tragic. Denis Leary is the break-through film star of the year. After earning an Emmy Nomination for his leading role on Rescue Me, Leary proves that he can rule the silver screen. His work as Detective William Syler is worthy of an Oscar nomination. Reese Witherspoon and Amanda Peet are also worth mentioning, since they make the court room scenes a lot more tense and real. Kudos to the whole cast, for giving amazing performances, in the best film of the year.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director: Todd Field
Best Original Screenplay: Alan Ball
Best Actor: Jim Caviezel
Best Actress: Susan Sarandon
Best Supporting Actor: Denis Leary
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney
Best Supporting Actress: Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actress: Evan Rachel Wood
Best Editing
Best Original Score
Best Cinematography