In 1955, Korean War veteran Emmett Foley had a breakdown and shot up his neighbourhood, apparently in the hopes that the police would kill him and his wife would get insurance money. Instead, the police captured him and he ended up being committed to a mental institution with deplorable conditions where the inmates were routinely mistreated. I realize that this is supposedly based on a true story (I always wonder how accurate a movie is when it's "based" on a true story. How many liberties are taken in the telling?) and yet, this somehow seemed stale to me. It was predictable; it lacked power. Mental institutions of that day were horrible places. 1948's "The Snake Pit" (although set a bit earlier) packs a better punch than this, quite frankly, if you want an account of what conditions were like - even though it wasn't "based on a true story."

Gary Oldman's performance as Emmett was a good one. He was clearly the highlight of the movie. There are a lot of other familiar faces in this, but it's Oldman's movie. I appreciated his take on Emmett - who was really quite clear-headed in most respects. Once he's incarcerated, Emmett becomes an advocate for the prisoners being abused, writing letters to their families to tell them what's happening, and, with the help of his sister (played by Pamela Reed) getting state officials involved in the case. That's where the movie really let me down. It just fizzled out. The Governor learns about the situation and establishes a committee that Emmett testifies in front of - and then it's over. Just the captions telling us about some reforms that were made to the system. Surely it wasn't that easy? One piece of testimony in front of a committee and the problem is solved? It was just too easy. I was left thinking that there should have been more - not wanting more in a positive sense, but thinking that there should have been more as in "that's it?" Oldman gets points for a good performance. The movie itself disappoints.

It's 1955 Florida. Disturbed Korean war hero Emmett Foley (Gary Oldman) has a mental breakdown and starts shooting randomly. It's a case of suicide by police but they keep missing. It's more life insurance money for a non-suicide. He shoots himself but fails to die. Mae (Frances McDormand) is his wife. Earlene (Pamela Reed) is his sister. He is locked up in a mental hospital in Chattahoochee. It's a crowded inhumane place full of abuse and disturbed people. Walker Benson (Dennis Hopper),Morris (M. Emmet Walsh),and Lonny (Matt Craven) are some of his more sane fellow prisoners.

This is based on a real person suffering under the real system. I have never heard of this movie before this. There is some good acting going on here starting with Gary Oldman. The plot does need some beefing up. Mostly, it needs to give more time with Pamela Reed to emphasize the drive to get him released. It would drive the plot a lot better. Emmett is basically an object being kicked around and around. That can feel repetitive. All in all, I love the actors and their work in this despite the limited plot.

Valentine's Day, 1955. Traumatized Korean War veteran Emmett Foley (Gary Oldman) decides to get out his gun and raise a ruckus in his Florida neighbourhood, hoping to get shot and killed by the police so that the amount of insurance that his family collects will be at its maximum. Things don't work out as planned, though: he's sent to an insane asylum, where patients are regularly brutalized by an uncaring staff. He's incensed at what he sees and raises a stink, as does his crusading sister Earlene (Pamela Reed). He not only wants to be released, he wants to expose the insensitivity of this disgusting place.

Knowing this was "inspired by" a true story does give the film a bit of impact, and it's directed with a flair for the dramatic and the ugly by Mick Jackson. However, things don't take emotional hold quite as often as they should. There are fine scenes, to be sure, but Jackson and company cram a lot of narrative into a relatively short time frame and don't give us enough detail about or much insight into the characters. The film opens right away with Emmetts' breakdown. Some viewers may appreciate this attempt to get down to business quickly, but others will be left wanting more. Emmett and his fellow patients are reasonably sympathetic, and their nemeses are effectively unappealing, including Ned Beatty as administrator Dr. Harwood.

The main reason to watch is yet another fine performance by the talented Oldman, who's compelling even though he doesn't have too much to work with. Neither does Dennis Hopper, in the co-starring part of patient Walker Benson. Reed is fantastic as the sister and you do end up rooting for her when she stands up to Harwood. Frances McDormand is superb as Emmetts' wife Mae, with one memorable scene of Mae giving Emmett some very unwelcome news. The rest of the supporting cast is largely wasted, especially M. Emmet Walsh, in the nothing role of Morris.

The audience should feel a sense of triumph at the end, but the finale is underwhelming and over much too quickly, which doesn't help matters. In general, this manages to be watchable, but it's actually just too short a film.

In conclusion, the obvious phoniness of Oldmans' beard is too much of a distraction.

Seven out of 10.