An interesting film that at first glance seems like just another crime story, but is actually much more complex than that.

It shows us how a man can break under the burden of injustice and hypocrisy.

In the story, we follow Detective Steve Donohue who tries to find the killer, and after he arrests a suspect to whom all the evidence points, but under the pressure of the media, the perpetrator could get away. The story well illustrates what can happen when the rule of law is abandoned and the rule of the mob prevails.

We see how it is possible to persuade and manipulate people to believe something that is not true, and injustice is sometimes so great that people simply break down and take the law into their own hands.

The media is often not interested in facts, but in sensationalism, and this is a very good example of that. The film is well directed and the acting is excellent.

Bill Pullman has excellently portrayed a character who definitely has flaws, but beneath that is someone who just wants people to know the truth. Although his actions are wrong, they unfortunately make sense. This is what makes this film so interesting and complex.

An interesting and complex film that is definitely worth watching.

Pullman does not make a convincing cop; sorry. He is the Leslie Neilson of the 21st century; he belongs in satire and comedy. After a while, Neilson stopped playing dramatic roles and did strictly comedy; Pullman should do the same. The story is a lower case version of The Negotiator, a much better film, starring Samuel Jackson, and with a much bigger budget. This wasn't horrible, but Pullman is no Jackson, and there was not nearly the tension of Negotiator. The supporting cast is not too bad; Loggia does a good job, but it is not enough to save this made for TV film.

"Mistrial" tells of a highly improbably story of a cop caught in the jaws of an imperfect system who goes over the edge and holds a courtroom hostage. Good work by Pullman can't save a mediocre screenplay and ludicrous lagging story with some good acting talent in scripted mannequin roles. Very ordinary low budget made-for-tv yawner.