Death and Texas (2004)

In the heart of Austin, Texas, the town's beloved football hero, "Barefoot" Bobby Briggs, finds himself on the precipice of an unthinkable fate. Once a legendary running back for the Austin Steers, Bobby is now languishing on death row, convicted for his role in a fatal armed robbery at a downtown convenience store. With the sands of his appeals process quickly slipping through the hourglass, Briggs' future is as bleak as it is foreboding. Five years on, as the Austin Steers once again gallop towards the Superbowl, their chances of glory are crippled by a season-ending injury to their wide receiver. In a twist of fate, the Governor of Texas stirs up controversy by offering Bobby a temporary reprieve from death row. The aim? To salvage the Steers' post-season dreams and even give Bobby the chance to play in the Superbowl. "Death & Texas" is an unflinching, satirical exploration of Bobby Briggs' extraordinary journey, his life hanging in the balance while his football skills remain undeniably potent. Guided by the unwavering anti-death-penalty advocate, Marshall Ledger, Bobby plays his final card: his prodigious prowess on the football field. As the Steers' Superbowl aspirations unfold side-by-side with the dwindling days of Bobby's appeals, the narrative races towards a climax as tense as a Hail Mary pass. With Bobby's execution set for just a day after the big game, the stakes couldn't be higher. This mockumentary style film daringly parodies a legal system striving to justify the execution of its own citizens. Through a series of revealing interviews with key figures in Bobby's life, including lawyers, family, politicians, judges, and prosecutors, as well as the victim's family, "Death & Texas" presents an intimate examination of the trial and its fairness. Peering behind the scenes of pro-football and the Texas correctional system, the film offers a stark glimpse into Bobby's life and the impending doom that looms over him. Amid the humor and political commentary, at the heart of "Death & Texas" is the captivating tale of Barefoot Bobby Briggs, a man balancing on the razor's edge between death and a Superbowl victory.

Death and Texas is a comedy movie featuring Charles Durning and directed by Kevin DiNovis.

Death and Texas is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on DistroTV, Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video.

It is also possible to buy Death and Texas on Amazon Video and Vudu.