"Mistrial" was an HBO movie that was aired on cable late in 1996. Bill Pullman and Robert Loggia reunited for this film after both starring in "Independence Day" the same year. Pullman plays a police detective who busts a criminal played by Jon Seda on a murder charge. The case goes to trial but Seda's character is found innocent. Enraged by the verdict, Pullman's character holds the jury members at gunpoint and forces them to reexamine the case until they get the verdict right. This is a very well-acted film and gives Pullman one of his few leading roles (unless you count "Serpent and the Rainbow"). Loggia also gives good supporting work as Pullman's captain and concerned friend. Jon Seda is also effective in his role as the slimy killer (who the story lets you know is guilty but alas with society and its red tape still gets found innocent of the charge). What Pullman's character does is wrong but the film definitely lets you empathize with his motives. It points out an interesting question: Does it take committing an act of violence to get our courts to prosecute someone else also guilty of an act of violence?
Review of Mistrial
Mistrial
(1996 TV Movie)
Bill Pullman Excellent In A Rare Leading Role
27 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers