Trial by Fire | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

The actress (Dern) brings her trademark intelligence and tenacity to the character, and the film also features strong supporting performances.

Sadly, this cinematic retelling of a truly appalling story is too often hamstrung by its predictability and overreliance on the audience's outrage at Willingham's plight.

Powerful stuff, but unpowerfully told, in part because the energies in "Trial by Fire" are split between proving Todd Willingham's innocence and building an argument against the death penalty no matter what the verdict.

Excellent performances by Laura Dern and Jack O'Connell lend credence to this message movie.

Despite its clumsy first-act emphasis on exposition and excessive length, the story is important and Dern deserves a nomination for almost single-handedly saving the film with her committed and engaging performance.