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“The
Wronged Man” (Lifetime Movie Network)
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 credibility 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.
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