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Runaway Jury - A Review October 28, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 127 minutes
This film, directed by Gary Fleder (Imposter, Don't Say A Word, Kiss The Girls), with screenplay by Brian Koppelman (Knockaround Guys, The Rounders) is based on the book by noted author John Grisham. It stars:
Rankin Fitch is the man - you need a trial decided before it happens, you call him. He has ways of manipulating anyone that is considered for or sits on a jury. His team is brought in to insure that a court trial against a gun manufacturer turns out the way the manufacturer wants it to turn out. Wendell Rohr is the prosecuting attorney, trying to get the gun industry to be held accountable for their manufacture, marketing and selling of cheap assault weapons. Durwood Cable is the defense attorney, who seems unsure how to proceed with Fitch around. Nicholas is a young impatient man with things do other than sit on a jury - or is he? And Marlee - what's her game - trying to steal the jury away from Rankin Fitch? Uh oh, trouble is on the way.
This film features two of Hollywoods biggest names and best actors. Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman have never acted in the same movie until now and they don't disappoint when they come up to bat. It was fun just to sit back and watch these two masters of their craft at work. Unfortunately the story itself doesn't live up to their standards of acting excellence. Once the curtain falls there are several important threads that are just left hanging, or in the worst cases simply ignored as having any impact on the ending of the trial. It's strange and very distracting. Cusack and Weisz both do credible jobs in their roles but are simply overshadowed by Mssrs. Hackman and Hoffman. Bruce McGill once again does a nice job in a lesser role as the judge - I really enjoy this actor's work.
Visually, this film is fairly well put together. Colors range from well saturated to a dark restricted palette to somewhat washed out images at times. Close ups and courtroom shots show generally good detail although some longer shots show some soft focus at times.
Aurally, theres not too much going on in the surrounds except for ambient noise until the few action sequences begin and then the surround channels do kick in. Dialog is well done (being a dialog-driven film, this is a good thing) with clarity throughout the film and little or no distractions like chestiness or overly enhanced levels.
I really wanted to like this movie a lot. It had all the makings of a truly superior drama and with Hackman, Hoffman and company, how could it miss? Well, it didn't on some levels and that's its saving grace, because it did fall flat on the level of plot and continuity of the storylines. Is it worth a watch? Absolutely, if for no other reason than to see two of the all-time best at the height of their games, and for capable support from the cast around them. It's too bad the writing didn't keep up its end.
I give Runaway Jury a "qualified" :3: out of :5:.
David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
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MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 127 minutes
This film, directed by Gary Fleder (Imposter, Don't Say A Word, Kiss The Girls), with screenplay by Brian Koppelman (Knockaround Guys, The Rounders) is based on the book by noted author John Grisham. It stars:
- Gene Hackman - Enemy Of The State, Crimson Tide, Unforgiven, Hoosiers, Superman - as Rankin Fitch
Dustin Hoffman - Wag The Dog, Outbreak, Hook, Rain Man, Tootsie - as Wendell Rohr
John Cusack - Identity, Serendipity, Con Air, The Grifters - as Nicholas Easter
Rachel Weisz - Enemy At The Gates, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Chain Reaction - as Marlee
Bruce Davison - X-Men, X2, Spies Like Us - as Durwood Cable
Bruce McGill - The Sum Of All Fears, 61*, My Cousin Vinnie, Animal House - as Judge Harkin
Rankin Fitch is the man - you need a trial decided before it happens, you call him. He has ways of manipulating anyone that is considered for or sits on a jury. His team is brought in to insure that a court trial against a gun manufacturer turns out the way the manufacturer wants it to turn out. Wendell Rohr is the prosecuting attorney, trying to get the gun industry to be held accountable for their manufacture, marketing and selling of cheap assault weapons. Durwood Cable is the defense attorney, who seems unsure how to proceed with Fitch around. Nicholas is a young impatient man with things do other than sit on a jury - or is he? And Marlee - what's her game - trying to steal the jury away from Rankin Fitch? Uh oh, trouble is on the way.
This film features two of Hollywoods biggest names and best actors. Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman have never acted in the same movie until now and they don't disappoint when they come up to bat. It was fun just to sit back and watch these two masters of their craft at work. Unfortunately the story itself doesn't live up to their standards of acting excellence. Once the curtain falls there are several important threads that are just left hanging, or in the worst cases simply ignored as having any impact on the ending of the trial. It's strange and very distracting. Cusack and Weisz both do credible jobs in their roles but are simply overshadowed by Mssrs. Hackman and Hoffman. Bruce McGill once again does a nice job in a lesser role as the judge - I really enjoy this actor's work.
Visually, this film is fairly well put together. Colors range from well saturated to a dark restricted palette to somewhat washed out images at times. Close ups and courtroom shots show generally good detail although some longer shots show some soft focus at times.
Aurally, theres not too much going on in the surrounds except for ambient noise until the few action sequences begin and then the surround channels do kick in. Dialog is well done (being a dialog-driven film, this is a good thing) with clarity throughout the film and little or no distractions like chestiness or overly enhanced levels.
I really wanted to like this movie a lot. It had all the makings of a truly superior drama and with Hackman, Hoffman and company, how could it miss? Well, it didn't on some levels and that's its saving grace, because it did fall flat on the level of plot and continuity of the storylines. Is it worth a watch? Absolutely, if for no other reason than to see two of the all-time best at the height of their games, and for capable support from the cast around them. It's too bad the writing didn't keep up its end.
I give Runaway Jury a "qualified" :3: out of :5:.
David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker
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