Presumed Guilty (1991)

Due to a clerical mix-up (his police file has been confused with another McLaughlin) Bobby McLaughlin (Brendan Fraser) is wrongfully accused of a murder he didn’t commit. Despite his pleas of innocence not even his father (Martin Sheen) believes him. With a minor crime already on his record, and an incompetent defense attorney, Bobby is convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. But a suppressed lie detector test that could have freed him convinces his father that Bobby is indeed innocent. Now he begins a fierce struggle to free his son from prison. "Presumed Guilty" is a chilling indictment of a faulty judicial system and an inspirational tale of love and reconciliation between father and son.

A Passionate Father and a Son Falsely Accused

This is a gripping story of a family taken to the edge by mistaken identity. Martin Sheen plays a father whose son is falsely accused of murder. Sheen is frustrated by what he sees as his son's lack of direction and partying. Torn between anger and his obvious love for his son, Sheen portrays the exasperation of so many fathers whose sons have still not found direction in their lives. It is the age-old story of a young man struggling to find his own way, while his father just wants him to be like him. Why can't he just settle down and take at job where his father works? But the story takes a dramatic turn when the son is accused of murder. At first anguished with doubt, Sheen finds himself fighting for his son, taking the law into his own hands, to prove his son's innocence. The acting by both Sheen and the son is incredible and so true to real life. The son is equally believable and engaging, played by Brendan Fraser. If you are a Sheen fan, you already know the passion and intensity of this very gifted actor! So make your popcorn before the movie starts, because you definitely won't want to hit the pause button on this movie! September 9, 2008

Presumed Guilty without a second thought

Presumed Guilty is a pretty decent movie about one man's relationship with his father, and how adversity brought them closer together. Based on a true story, its basically about the core elements of a family trying to stay strong while their son is in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Brendan Fraser plays Robert, a high school drop out, who at the age of twenty buys crack and drinks his life away on a lousy salarly from his pizza delivery job. Martin Sheen plays the foster father, who doesn't believe his adopted son is any good, but wants to love him nevertheless.

Their relationship comes to a head when a boy is murdered the particular night Brendan comes back home wasted. The only eye witness to the murder is a fifteen yr old boy, who swears Brendan was the one doing the killing. Although Brendan is clean, his card is accidently pulled from the police archives as someone elses with the same name. Just slightly different spelling. No one believes Brendan, not even his father until Brendan is convicted for the crime and sentanced to fifteen years at Sing Sing. Enraged, Martin Sheen tries to get Brendan out, but the damage has been done.

Martin goes to the police, but the homicide detective that sentanced Brendan refuses to admit the mistake even though he knows he was wrong. Not even the presiding Judge or sentancing Lawyer will admit their fatal mistake. Not until Martin pulls in his cop friend from out of the precint will anyone even begin to listen to him. So begins a five year Campaign to free his son, one that cements their father-son relationship and causes them to discover a friendship they never believed could or would exist. Five years later, (and now twenty-five, buff and gorgeous) Brendan finally is given another trial. He is declared innocent and let out.

Rather long and drawn out, the picture gets fuzzy and the sound quality is pretty bad. Presumed Guilty is also one of Brendan's first movies, so its not the best of his works, also the accent he tries to do falters at times, and comes off more of a lisp than anything else. He's still sexy though, that will never change.

Martin Sheen is pretty good also, his scenes are done with a such finesse that when he cries one can actually feel the heartbreak he's trying to convey. A truly remarkable actor.
For both these actors and true fans of Brendan I recommmand this movie, however if you're just a casual Fraser fan i'd look elseware for one of his better movies. July 8, 2005

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