Clint Eastwood returns to starring and directing with this story of an investigative reporter on the case of a death row inmate. Eastwood manages to transcend the familiarity of the screenplay by drawing strong performances from a great cast, including himself.

In a change of pace from those ass-kicking heroes he's played in the past, this time Clint plays a very flawed reporter named Steve Everett--an alcoholic womanizer seeking redemption. He may or may not have found it in the convicted murderer Frank Beachum, beautifully played by Isaiah Washington.

Eastwood takes his time with this story instead of making the glossed-over actioneer most other directors would have. The film also offers great performances from blink-and-you'll-miss-them stars James Woods and Denis Leary.

If True Crime has a downfall, it's the obvious screenplay by Larry Gross, Paul Brickman, and Stephen Schiff (based on the novel by Andrew Klavan). Still, the film is compelling all the way to the end--working mainly because of Eastwood's strength.