A white, racist corrections officer falls in love with the black widow of the man he has recently executed on Death Row. In a strange twist of fate, he unwittingly tries to help her and her fatally wounded son after a hit & run car accident, not realising who she is.

Thornton is detestable, Berry (who won the Academy Award for Best Actress) is wonderful, so between them they bring a good balance of character studies to the screen. A nod also for Heath Ledger in an all-too brief supporting role as the suicidal son of Thornton. Rapper P.Diddy Sean Combs also pulls off a surprisingly good performance as the condemned man.