Pierrepoint – The Last Hangman (2005/Genius/IFC)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: B-
Timothy
Spall gives a strong performance as the executioner who starts to have a
conscious about what he does for a living in Adrian Shergold’s drama Pierrepoint – The Last Hangman (2005)
and though historically he was not the absolute last, the title implies that he
ended the reign of them enough that he might as well have been symbolically by
sending his resignation.
The title
may seem to give away the story, but the Jeff Pope/Bob Mills screenplay is much
smarter, more nuanced and richer than that, making this a character study of
the man, England, the legal system, human nature and making us question right
and wrong in how far any society goes to bring order. This film seems to rightly say too far as far
as doing damage that cannot be undone, like the death penalty. However, it is far from preachy and can be
very intense as we see (indirectly) many of the hangings take place. Fortunately, it makes sense and except for a
few false notes, the film is being ignored for being about something, which
means you should see it ASAP.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image looks pretty good in detail and depth,
despite some stylizing, shot competently by Director of Photography Danny Cohen
(Longford) and feels like the period
as much as it looks it. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix has healthy ambience surrounds with some moments where they
really kick in. The combination is a
plus. Extras include deleted scenes and
director’s commentary.
- Nicholas Sheffo
