Hopes were high for this Netflix produced drama from German filmmaker Nora Fingscheidt whose 2019 film System Crasher went on to earn her an Oscar nod in the Best International Feature Film category in 2020. Written by Peter Craig, Hillary Seitz and Courtenay Miles, The Unforgivable is based on the 2009 British miniseries Unforgiven written by Sally Wainwright. 
Sandra Bullock stars as a convicted killer trying to rebuild her life after being released from prison, while acclaimed Jewish actor Jon Bernthal  (The Walking Dead, Fury, The Many Saints of Newark) is the handsome work colleague attempting to lend a helping hand as well as  a shoulder to cry on. The film also features a brief, yet arresting turn by multi-Oscar nominated actor Viola Davis (The Help) and Waltons star Richard Thomas.
Twenty years after her conviction for killing the local sheriff as he attempted to evict her and her five year old sister Katherine from their home, Ruth Slater (Bullock) is back in town and is determined to be reunited with her sibling. As she struggles to find work and a purpose in life, Ruth is also caught in a battle with Kathrine’s adoptive parents who are refusing her contact. 
Meanwhile, things get complicated when the sons of the murdered sheriff learn of Ruth’s release from prison and vow to avenge to death of their father. As Ruth continues to demand access to her sister, lawyer John Ingram (Vincent D’Onofrio) agrees to take on her case pro bono despite protests from his wife (Davis).
Nora Fingscheidt presents an uneven and rather dull crime/family drama which feels both dated and slightly baggy. Sadly, while this particular story might have been suited for a mini series, there isn’t really much of a plot here beyond the same old hackneyed ideas. With a twist that one can see coming from a mile off, The Unforgivable unfortunately does very little to build suspense and in the end, even the best names in Hollywood can’t save it. 
Still Bullock gives another faultless performance as a taciturn loner battling against an unjust system, but I would have liked to see more from Bernthal and Davis. Tonally, the film often struggles to replicate the grim bleakness of Wainwright’s original work which was set in Halifax and starred Suranne Jones.
Just as Seattle, where the action takes place, is a long, long way from Halifax both literally and figuratively, The Unforgivable sadly fails to strike the same chord story-wise. Overall this is a robustly acted but sadly weak offering from a director who is demonstrably capable of far greater things.