A psychologically abused teen, unable to settle down, goes to another city and gets himself bumped off by the local law. His distraught parents then spend several years trying to prove the police had no business shooting the boy, who the police said had a gun at the time of his death. Good drama about a pair of parents who were unfit for their role as childraisers, but who cared enough to seek justice for their child's death. Really gives the law a black eye.
6 Reviews
True Crime story
dustinclousher12 December 2021
This was very well written, the acting was done well. It is one that makes you think. The movie is made to show what happened to a young man and his family. It is a true crime drama, there is a repeated chase scene but that is the extent of the action, the goal of the movie was to educate people of a case in 1981 and it does keep you on the edge of your seat with the story.
I Knew Randy Webster
Easygoer1028 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's true. We were both born in Shreveport, LA. I saw Randy coming out of a liquor store in Shreveport on a Friday evening. We said hi to each other. The next thing I knew, I heard he was dead; murdered by the Houston police. His father spent a lot of money trying to prove this. No cops did any time. This country is only getting worse.,
The movie " The Killing of Rany Webster was not a true portrayal
usanormans22 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was actually not a true portrayal of the real facts of the case. To find out most of the true facts, you have to read the law suit that was filed in Houston and appealed to the US 5th Circuit of Appeals. I personally knew Randy, his family and his friends and ended up a brother-in-law to Randy's older brother. Randy was a good kid who was influenced by someone.
The truth is that the Houston police officer Mays hit Randy in the back of the head. Mays knew that Randy had no weapon because Randy exited the van with his hands held high and his fingers spread apart to show that e had no weapon. Randy grabbed the back of his hurt head with his right hand. Randy was on the ground with his hand on his head. At that point, Houston Officer Mays, in cold blooded murder, shot Randy through his hand and then the bullet went into the back of his head which killed Randy. Then the police used what is called a "throw down" which at that time was a common practice within the Houston Police Department.
The law suits can be found at: United States v. Mays, 470 F. Supp. 642 - Dist. Court, SD Texas 1979 Webster v. City of Houston, 689 F. 2d 1220 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1982 Webster v. City of Houston, 735 F. 2d 838 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1984 Webster v. City of Houston, 739 F. 2d 993 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1984
---------------------------------- This was a senseless killing of a 17 years old boy that had no criminal record and was murdered because of cop was mad. Randy definitely should not have broke the law, but for a police officer to shoot a boy that was already down on the ground in extreme pain from Officer Danny Mays that hit him in the back of the head which was presumably the officers firearm, Danny Mays should have been charged with murder.
The result of this senseless murder was that Mays lost a federal law suit. He was charged in Federal Court with violating Randy's civil right, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit" of Happiness. In addition, he could never be a police officer again. There may have been more, but I can not recall. That is basically what I remember as it was many years ago. The movie was much less dramatic that the actual facts. So was the way the court reporter reported within the US 5th Circuit of Appeals.
With this in mind, please watch the movie and think of the aforementioned.
The truth is that the Houston police officer Mays hit Randy in the back of the head. Mays knew that Randy had no weapon because Randy exited the van with his hands held high and his fingers spread apart to show that e had no weapon. Randy grabbed the back of his hurt head with his right hand. Randy was on the ground with his hand on his head. At that point, Houston Officer Mays, in cold blooded murder, shot Randy through his hand and then the bullet went into the back of his head which killed Randy. Then the police used what is called a "throw down" which at that time was a common practice within the Houston Police Department.
The law suits can be found at: United States v. Mays, 470 F. Supp. 642 - Dist. Court, SD Texas 1979 Webster v. City of Houston, 689 F. 2d 1220 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1982 Webster v. City of Houston, 735 F. 2d 838 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1984 Webster v. City of Houston, 739 F. 2d 993 - Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit 1984
---------------------------------- This was a senseless killing of a 17 years old boy that had no criminal record and was murdered because of cop was mad. Randy definitely should not have broke the law, but for a police officer to shoot a boy that was already down on the ground in extreme pain from Officer Danny Mays that hit him in the back of the head which was presumably the officers firearm, Danny Mays should have been charged with murder.
The result of this senseless murder was that Mays lost a federal law suit. He was charged in Federal Court with violating Randy's civil right, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit" of Happiness. In addition, he could never be a police officer again. There may have been more, but I can not recall. That is basically what I remember as it was many years ago. The movie was much less dramatic that the actual facts. So was the way the court reporter reported within the US 5th Circuit of Appeals.
With this in mind, please watch the movie and think of the aforementioned.
Wonderful TV-movie
skad1314 August 1999
It's sort of a scaled-down, TV version of RASHOMON--not on that level, to be sure, but quite well-done on its own standards.
Excellent performances from future man-and-wife Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter, as well as future stars Anthony Edwards ("ER"), Sean Penn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Excellent performances from future man-and-wife Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter, as well as future stars Anthony Edwards ("ER"), Sean Penn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Great acting!
RodrigAndrisan27 September 2021
If I ask "Who is your favorite actress always?", many will answer Meryl Streep. They probably don't even know Jennifer Jason Leigh, whom I consider the best actress alive. I've seen her in many movies and in every role she shines, she has a unique, unusual talent. She was only 19 years old when she made this film, a very small role but what an extraordinary role. It's a very good film, a drama, with a solid cast. Also in a small, hard-to-recognize role, Sean Penn.
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