TV REVIEW : ‘Eye’ a True Story of Justice Compromised

Those arguing against capital punishment frequently point out cases in which the condemned are later found to be innocent. Sunday’s ABC movie, “In the Blink of an Eye,” is about one such case.

It is based on the story of Sonia Jacobs, who served five years on death row and, after her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, spent another 11 years behind bars for the killing of two police officers, finally going free when evidence pointing to her innocence came to light.

It’s a compelling story of justice compromised, justice served and abiding friendship. It should be a much more compelling film, particularly since the evidence that freed Sonia came too late for her boyfriend, Jesse Tafero, who was convicted with her and also had maintained his innocence. He was executed in 1990 by an electrocution so horribly botched it made national headlines.

Although Jacobs had lawyers in her corner for many years, the person most responsible for her release was a former childhood friend, filmmaker Micki Dickoff, who directed and produced “In the Blink of an Eye.” Dickoff labored for two years on her friend’s behalf.

What might have better been told as documentary is rendered flat and lifeless in this dramatization, written by Rama Laurie Stagner and Dan Witt, despite the appeal of the two solid leads, Mimi Rogers as Sonia and Veronica Hamel as Micki.

With characters painted as one-dimensional heroes and villains, the outrage rings hollow. And Sonia’s saint-like patience and eloquence, and Micki’s heroic crusade, are offered up whole cloth, making emotional investment in them difficult.

* “In the Blink of an Eye” airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC (Channels 7 and 3).