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Movie: The Onion Field

Film of a Joseph Wambaugh based on the murder of a policeman in an onion field outside of L.A.  The true story is notable for two things:  1) The partner of the murdered cop, under threat, gives up his gun.  After this, protocol for cops was changed--cops are not to give up their guns.  2) The appeals dragged on and on. the killers eventually received life imprisonment.  Neither was ever paroled.  Both died in prison in 2012.

James Woods was great as the psychotic killer.

First half of the movie was terrific; second half was a yawner.  Appeal court hearings that drag on and on are not compelling.

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