Sins of the Father (TV Movie 2002) Poster

(2002 TV Movie)

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6/10
Black and white of Birmingham.
michaelRokeefe17 February 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Powerful drama driven TV fare. A fact based story about the bombing of an Afro-American Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. The blast took the lives of four little girls. Tom Cherry(Tom Sizemore) battles with his own conscious and values when he has to decide to turn in his bigot father, Bobby Frank Cherry(Richard Jenkins)for involvement. The elder Cherry hid from his past dealings with Alabama Klansmen by moving to Texas. Tom, as a child was an eye witness to terror; and just could not continue to hide his dark secret from the light of justice. His aging father was finally arrested with little resistance.

Sizemore has played some quirky characters in the past, but this character is straight forward and riveting. Ving Rhames is steadfast in the role of best friend of Tom. Good wins in the end and justice is belated but done. This eye opener is good family watching and a fine teaching tool.
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6/10
Wrestling with demons .............
merklekranz12 January 2010
Tom Sizemore gives a powerful performance as the son of a KKK racist, Richard Jenkins. The most difficult thing to believe in "Sins of the Father" is that Tom would actually return after many years to his abusive monster of a father. The movie depicts in flashbacks the 1963 Birmingham Alabama church bombing that killed four little girls. In the present day, Tom is at first in denial of his father's taking part in the crime, but with the tenacious F.B.I. investigation, doubts about his father's innocence begin to surface. The character development and acting by all involved is first rate, and the historical flashbacks feel correct. - MERK
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9/10
Justice is Served!
mac_21_9458925 January 2002
All I can say about this movie... powerful! Tom Cherry (Tom Sizemore) is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He must decide wether or not to turn in his racist father, who bombed an Afro-American church in the 1960's that killed 4 innocent little girls, to authorities. Sizemore and Ving Rhaymes give superb performances. The FX network has mastered the first Original Movie that can actually rival those of HBO and Showtime.

You will definately be gripped by this movie!

My vote... 9/10
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Excellent Telefilm
bertieclem31 May 2003
Well made telefilm with strong performances from Tom Sizemore, Richard Jenkins and Brenda Bazinet. The subject matter (Birmingham Church bombing of 1963 that killed four girls) has been told before, but this movie works because Sizemore plays the grown son of Bobby Cherry, the last remaining bomber alive who was still free of justice, and the movie flashes back to when Sizemore was a small child experiencing racism first hand. In the present, haunted by the memories of the day, he decides the only thing he can do to stop the generational perpetuation of racism is to turn his father in and put him away for good. Pielmeier's writing is exemplary and Dornhelm's directing sets the table for compelling drama. A very well made film despite Ving Rhames' over the top performance.
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10/10
Alabama Burning
ladenblak24 June 2005
Powerful and moving. The struggle between father and son, right and wrong and the definition of true and lasting friendship are the catalysts of this compelling film. Ving Rhames is phenomenal (as always). Tom Sizemore portrays a son who, as a child, witnessed the racially motivated terroristic acts of his father. He is torn by the bond that should exist between a father and son and that thin line of loyalty he feels is owed, even though he knows it is wrong. Ving Rhames portrays Sizemore's best friend. He literally steals the show with his powerful on screen presence. The subtle exchanges as these two men, one who knows what his father has done, and the other who knows he knows, are riveting and truly thought provoking. Justice, in the end, brings us some sense of closure and joy, but they are tainted by the years of silent secrets that came before.
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9/10
realistic performance
characterbear12 November 2003
I spent ten years living in Alabama. Consequently, I came to understand the southern mindset. Tom Sizemore did an excellent job portraying a southerner in the midst of a moral dilemma. Not only does Sizemore's character reach out to a member of the American-African race, he reaches into his memories and beliefs. Many people are still under the impression that all southerners do not befriend anyone not of their race. That is not the case. They embrace people of all races and religions...and do not idly stand by to watch them suffer needlessly. Yes, the Klan still exists, but its power is greatly diminished in this enlightened age. Mr. Sizemore's performance made the average modern southern man come to life. Kudos to Tom on an excellent performance!
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