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RUNAWAY JURY
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars:
John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Bruce Davison, Bruce
McGill, Jeremy Piven, Nick Searcy
Director: Gary Fleder
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Surround, Spanish Dolby Surround
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Features: See Review
Length: 127 Minutes
Release Date: February 17, 2004
"Thirty
years in the trenches have taught me this…EVERYONE has a secret they don't
want you to find."
Film
***1/2
Having just viewed
the dreadful In the Cut, it was good
feeling to watch a movie that knows how to actually deliver suspense instead of
just being a cheap tease of one, and Runaway
Jury is just such a movie.
The novels by John
Grisham make for good suspense readings. When transferred to the silver screen,
the intense legal thrillers hold up sometimes if not all the time. I'm pleased
to note that Runaway Jury is one of
the better Grisham movie adaptations. With the privilege of having a top flight
star studded cast to back it up, the movie serves not only as a richly plotted
thriller, but it even offers as a trip into a certain area regarding the legal
system that has never been as revealing…that of jury consulting, or should we
say…jury tampering.
Set in New Orleans,
the movie centers on a very high profile court case involving a grieving wife's
lawsuit against a major gun manufacturer, following the fatal shooting of her
husband, a city stock broker who was murdered in an office massacre. The weapon
involved in the murder was easily obtained by the culprit. Representing the
widow is the justice seeking Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), while the defense
has obtained that of Durwood Cable (Bruce Davison).
Though the two
lawyers are on top of their game, they are barely even controlling the
maneuvering of the case. That duty is in the hands of cold-blooded jury
consultant Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman). Fitch, a veteran of the legal system who
could very much be considered a one man surveillance system, has been hired by
the head of the gun manufacturer to put together a jury that would seem very
much favored by the defended company. In a most fascinating sequence, Fitch
observes through a monitor the faces of the very people he will select for jury
duty, and simultaneously gains access to dirty little secrets concerning each of
the twelve candidates.
Of the people
summoned to provide civic duty, the one that seems the most reluctant is Nick
Easter (John Cusack). Nick, an employee at a video game store, attempts to talk
his way out of jury duty during deliberation by explaining to the judge that he
has to participate in a Madden game tournament. After the judge responds by
explaining the importance of his civil duties, a bewildered Fitch is pressured
to accept him.
It's quite
difficult to explain the plot details of Runaway
Jury without giving away some crucial details, so needless to say I won't
reveal much more about the plot development. As the twists and turns develop, a
woman calling herself Marlee (Rachel Weisz) turns up. She approaches both the
defense and prosecution with an offer for the verdict, in the form of ten
million dollars. It goes without saying that both sides are baffled by the
offer, but the ruthless Fitch is insulted by it, and initiates a personal game
of cat and mouse with the mysterious woman.
Enjoying a thriller
like Runaway Jury may require an
instance or two of suspension of disbelief. Like most Grisham stories, this is
essentially a legal thriller in an over the top mode. At the same time, Jury
escalates into a fireball of a suspense thriller and gets better and better with
every additional scene. And there is a certain plot revelation near the end of
the story that won't exactly blow your socks off, but nevertheless comes across
as a most convincing and satisfying conclusion.
Prior to watching
the movie, I had completely ignored the fact that Gene Hackman and Dustin
Hoffman were appearing in their first movie together. Though the two have known
each ever since getting into the business, they've never acted opposite another,
and Runaway Jury has the two facing
off in a wonderfully written confrontation. Watching it, you get the sense that
they are having a blast working off one another, especially Hackman, who's
completely having a blast playing such a scoundrel.
As part of my
summation, I will tell you this; Runaway
Jury is pure and simple all of the good ingredients of a successful suspense
thriller. Terrifically acted by the cast, and tightly directed by Gary Fleder (Don't
Say a Word), this is one of the better thrilling entertainments of the past
year.
BONUS TRIVIA:
That's Dylan McDermott, of Wonderland
and TV's The Practice, in the riveting
opening segment of the movie.
Video ****
Fox prevails yet
again with another stunning transfer of a disc. The anamorphic widescreen
presentation is superb in the way it enhances the unique feel and look of the
New Orleans setting. Image quality is that of the utmost sharpness and clarity,
and colors are as natural as always. It goes without saying that any sort of
picture flaws are a hundred percent spared.
Audio
***1/2
The sharp 5.1 mix
proves that Fox can master a movie of any genre. The movie does have its
occasional jolts of action and suspense, as in the opening as well as a few
scenes later in the movie involving vicious attacks on the protagonists. In
addition, music and dialogue are handled with absolute flawlessness, and the
presentation is given a good level of dynamic range.
Features
****
Fox has handled
this disc with their usual sense of excellence. Included is a full length
commentary by director Gary Fleder and scene specific commentary by Gene Hackman
and Dustin Hoffman. Also featured are deleted scenes with commentary, 5
featurettes (Acting, making-of, cinematography, production design and editing).
There's even a short piece called "Off the Cut" with Hackman and
Hoffman going over what went into developing their big scene. Lastly, there's a
trailer for the upcoming Denzel Washington release, Man
on Fire.
Summary: