Heavens Fall

This is a sturdy but unspectacular dramatization of the notorious 1931 “Scottsboro Boys” trial, which ended with nine black men being sentenced to death for raping two white women in Alabama. Timothy Hutton supplies a thoroughly professional albeit conventional portrayal of the Jewish lawyer from New York who unsuccessfully defends the negroes. The best supporting performances come from Leelee Sobieski, as the victim Hutton’s character discredits, and David Strathairn, as the presiding judge.

Shelf Talk: Winner of the Best Feature Film award at the 2006 Hollywood Film Festival, Heavens Fall hasn’t had any exposure outside the film-fest circuit. Terry Green’s earnest period drama is based on the same true-life case that inspired To Kill a Mockingbird, so you can tie it to that classic to get more turns than might ordinarily be expected.