The Unforgivable

In a general sense, the title of The Unforgivable pertains to the labels placed on perpetrators of certain violent crimes that tend to supersede any punishments doled out by the criminal justice system.

However, that same description could apply to the screenplay for this character-driven drama, which muddles its exploration of those worthwhile issues through clumsy twists and heavy-handed contrivances.

As the film opens, Ruth (Sandra Bullock) is being released after a long prison stint near her childhood home in Washington. She’s sent to a halfway house in Seattle’s Chinatown. Her incarceration apparently was caused by an incident during which a police officer was killed.

Ruth ultimately wants to be reunited with her younger sister, who was still a small child when they were separated but was long ago adopted by stable parents (Richard Thomas and Linda Emond) who raised her.

She seeks redemption but remains haunted by her past, stuck in a downward spiral of guilt and bitterness that complicates her reintegration. She’s reluctant to trust any outsiders willing to show her some compassion — such as a fish-factory coworker (Jon Bernthal) or a lawyer (Vincent D’Onofrio) who becomes involved against the advice of his wife (Viola Davis) — before knowing her full back story, of course.

“You’re a cop killer everywhere you go,” explains her tough-love parole officer (Rob Morgan). “The sooner you accept it, the better.”

As details are gradually revealed about the crime, its buildup, and its aftermath, does Ruth deserve a second chance? It depends on who you ask.

What starts as an incisive examination of actions and consequences, fractured family bonds, and public perception transitions awkwardly into a low-key thriller in the second half.

The English-language debut for German director Nora Fingscheidt (System Crasher), adapted from a British television series, crafts some powerful moments within its fairly straightforward narrative framework. That’s mostly due to Bullock, whose understated portrayal generates hard-earned sympathy.

However, condensing such expansive material into feature length proves unwieldy. For example, the film lacks deeper insight into its moral complexities, and glosses over fresh wounds that Ruth’s release has opened for the victim’s family.

The Unforgivable withholds specific key details to preserve its final-act revelations, which undermines the intended emotional playoff.

Rated R, 114 minutes.