The David and Goliath battle between the individual and the state/big business (take your pick) is now a familiar theme in films, so to make another variation on that well-worn theme takes courage. 'Marie' succeeds thanks to a good script, a talented director (Roger Donaldson) and a strong cast in Sissy Spacek, Jeff Daniels and Morgan Freeman. Spacek is a parole board chairman who, when asked to speed a few parolees through by an aide of the state governor, refuses. She is promptly sacked, but fights her case in court, opening up a big can of corrupt officialdom worms. Spacek is excellent and Jeff Daniels makes a convincingly smooth aide. Based, as the film's title suggests, on true events, which adds to the drama, making it compulsively watchable.


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