The Jericho Mile

Larry "Rain" Murphy is a convict.  He murdered his father during a fight and is doing his time as quietly as possible.  He keeps a spartan cell, speaks little and has nothing to do with the other inmates.  The only exception to this rule is his friendship with RC, his running mate during exercise time in the yard.

But while RC runs for the exercise, Rain runs to empty his mind of everything, "You run like you're sniffin' glue, you run until there ain't nothin' but runnin'".  When the governor of the prison notes that he's running a mile in under 4 minutes, representatives of the American Olympic committee turn up to check Rain out.  Rain wants nothing to do with it - he knows he can't run outside the prison walls only to come back inside.  But then RC runs afoul of prison dealer Dr. D, and Rain reconsiders the advantages of taking the offer.

Made in 1979, "The Jericho Mile" is an intense tv movie from Michael Mann ("Collateral", "Heat", "Manhunter").  Peter Strauss gives a great performance as Rain - a man with a fatalistic view of life who refuses to compromise no matter what the incentive.  Brian Dennehy also turns up, giving an early, scary performance as Dr. D.  The depiction of prison life feels very accurate (the movie was shot on location at Folsom Prison) but on the downside, the Starsky and Hutch "jive turkey yo' momma can you dig it blood" type dialogue certainly dates it.

The bottom line is that while The Jericho Mile is a great tv movie, it is still a tv movie so don't expect too much.  Having said that, for some great acting and as an early indication of Michael Mann's talent, this is worth tracking down if you get the chance.  A remake is rumoured, though sadly not from Mann - 8/10

"Would I do it again?  Yes!  I did it!  I was convicted!  I deserve to be here!"