Critic Reviews

The film is an example of social activism at its best; it's not only enlightening, but it's an engrossing story that a smart television audience should embrace.

Potent docudocu by Katy Chevigny and Kirsten Johnson makes a strong case against capital punishment by pointing up the fallibility of the justice system, while offering an inspiring portrait of one politico who actually seems guided foremost by conscience.

A sober, even low-key documentary about how the American death penalty system is broken and probably can’t be fixed.

A prime example of advocacy journalism--a form often criticized but perfectly honorable. Most importantly, it gives you a chance to ruminate on some crucial questions of human error, justice and life-and-death.

There is no rage here or Michael Moore-like bluster. Instead, Deadline is a straightforward, compassionate look at a volatile subject.

So potent, it could change the mind of even the most staunch defender of capital punishment.

At 92 minutes this could hardly be considered a definitive statement, yet its combination of high drama and carefully articulated principle delivers quite a punch.

What Deadline lacks in heft it makes up for in common sense.

Not as dynamic as it should be, given the punch of the story it tells, but it makes its points.

Rarely has the argument against the death penalty been made so articulately, or so poignantly.