Who Killed Atlanta’s Children?

The case of the Atlanta child murders–29 young blacks killed and one black man convicted of two of the murders–was grisly, compelling and pertinent. So why isn’t the tale of two Spin journalists, who later wrote a story implicating white racists in the crimes, a potent TV movie? Because Charles Robert Carner, the writer-director, blithely shuffles fact and innuendo. Because his idea of cinematic action is to have people walk briskly and talk loudly while the camera jitters like a hophead cadging a handout. Because Gregory Hines and Jim Belushi, as the Spin sleuths, are too good cop-bad cop. And because the white suspects are yokels who’d make John Rocker sound like John Gielgud. Your Honor, please, can we have a little order in this courtroom drama?

–By Richard Corliss