Shootdown (1988)

On September 1, 1983, Korean Airlines Flight 007 on route from New York to Seoul flying over prohibited Soviet airspace was shot down by a Soviet interceptor aircraft. Unsatisfied with the information provided by both the Soviets and the U.S. government, the mother (Angela Lansbury) of one of the victims is determined to find out what really happened. Directed by Michael Pressman (DOCTOR DETROIT). During the 12 year (1984-1996) run of MURDER SHE WROTE, Angela Lansbury did many telefilms which allowed her more varied roles than the popular TV sleuth she portrayed. This project about a grieving mother (based on Nan Oldham) trying to find closure over the death of her son was one such effort. As long as the movie concentrates on the KAL 007 tragedy and the mother's efforts to bring light and accountability, the narrative remains compelling. Alas, too much time is spent with an unnecessarily long exposition and frequent cliched domestic scenes that deflate any attempt at a quality drama. The film espouses unsubstantiated conspiracy theories (though the belief that it was just an unfortunate "accident" seems highly unlikely) that have no real basis in fact yet presents it as truth with no disclaimers. With John Cullum and Molly Hagan.