The Wronged Man is Unbelievable But True

Julia Ormond and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali star in the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) presentation The Wronged Man. The film, which is based on a true story, tells how one woman fought for years to free a man wrongly accused of rape. This is one of the best original movies LMN has ever featured and its story will impress and touch audiences around the country.

Prissy Gregory (Ormond) was working as a paralegal/secretary for a lawyer in Louisiana when she first heard of the case of Calvin Willis (Ali). Her employer told her it was a case full of injustices and she found that to be true. From that point on Prissy did everything she could to work to have Willis exonerated.

It was not until years later when DNA testing became possible that Willis was finally set free from prison. He had served twenty-two years. During that time his children had grown up and his father had died.

This movie recounts the emotional, mental and physical anguish it took for Prissy Gregory to achieve her goal. She had a compulsion to work on Willis' case and it took its toll on her and her family. Still she persisted even when everyone told her to stop, and even when Willis' anger flared up against her.

Ormond is excellent in the role of Prissy. She has an earthiness about her that has heretofore not been seen, and she speaks with a flat southern accent that falls naturally from her lips. This is not the Ormond who flitted through "Sabrina" but rather a woman who has immersed herself in a role.

Ali is equally good. He manages to convey both the spirit and the anguish of this wrongly convicted man. Willis knows he is innocent and just can't understand why everyone else doesn't accept that. He went through a lot of pain during these twenty-two years and Ali brings life to each and every emotion.

We hear it over and over again that truth is stranger than fiction. If "The Wronged Man" were not a true story it would be unbelievable. And even knowing it is true still strains the credubility of our individual minds.

For a film that packs a wallop you must watch The Wronged Man. It airs on the Lifetime Movie Network on Sunday, January 17 at 8PM, with a repeat performance on Monday, January 18 at 8PM.

Jackie K. Cooper - www.jackiekcooper.com

 

 

 

Comments

[binq56]

03:31 PM on 01/21/2010

Might have watched if Julia Ormond's southern accent hadn't been so bad. As a southerner­, I just wish people would not try if they can't do it. It only makes them seem like bad actors.

[Jackie K. Cooper]

04:14 PM on 01/21/2010

Hey I'm as southern as you can get - born in South Carolina and live in Georgia - and I thought she pulled it off.

[binq56]

04:25 PM on 01/21/2010

To each his own.

[dropdead007]

07:45 PM on 01/23/2010

With all due respect how about focusing on the storyline rather than the accent which is not so bad. My husband is a southern Gentleman and so i hear his family speak all the time and i don't think she did such a bad job. I'm african and 99% of the movies made featuring Africans never has authetic Africans playing those roles yet i watch and focus more on the message. I thought this was a great movie but find it sad that it actually happened to someone. The silver lining is that there are wonderful people in this world willing to sacrifice for others. BRAVO PRISSY GREGORY. Hats off to you!!!!! God bless you always.

[redhillsrd]

02:13 PM on 01/21/2010

yea for Lifetime channel...­1. a movie about a guy on the good side (albeit a victim) 2. focusing on injustice, vs their usual male as a villian. The more important part of this story, is why these injustices with the police and the "system" always happen to a man / woman of color. I never see them freeing a white guy / gal after 20 years of wronged jailing. But I'm glad this story has a happy ending...o­ne can imagine who else is locked up incorrectl­y by the "system".

[pyrometer]

03:55 PM on 01/20/2010

Gee, I wouldn't have minded to see this but the article was posted AFTER the showings!
Since I don't regularly watch Lifetime a longer leadtime heads up would be appreciate­d.

[Jackie K. Cooper]

05:15 PM on 01/20/2010

I submitted this last week but it didn't run until today. I am trying to find out through Lifetime when and if "The Wronged Man" will be repeated. It is worth seeing. Stay tuned.

[Jackie K. Cooper]

07:47 PM on 01/20/2010

Here's the latest informatio­n - "The Wronged Man" will air again February 4 at 8PM on the Lifetime Movie Network.