Hung
Jury on this one...
I
don't remember ever being this torn over
reviewing a movie. There are so many things I
like about 'Runaway Jury', but there is one
thing that cannot be ignored. In the end, my
rating reflects that the good outweighed the
glaringly bad... but on another day and in
another mood, I may easily have given this film
a negative review.
'Runaway Jury' has a gorgeous little premise.
John Cusack plays a mysterious man selected for
jury duty in a New Orleans trial against a
national gun manufacturer. The trial is brought
to court by the widow of a slain man who was
executed in a mass shooting. Eleven were killed
and five more were severely injured. The woman
is suing the gun manufacturer for their
liability in selling the gun used in the killing
spree. Her attorney is played with tons of
energy and flavor by Dustin Hoffman. On the
other side of the courtroom sits Gene Hackman,
who plays the big-shot 'hired gun' (pun
intended) of the defendants. However, neither of
the lawyers yet know that they have very little
to do with the final verdict. You see, that
verdict is for sale. The price is $10 million.
The bribers are Rachel Weisz and Cusak himself,
as the most influential member of the jury. They
offer to sway the verdict to the highest bidder.
The premise is intriguing, the dialogue snaps
with wit and intelligence, the cinematography is
deftly moody, and the acting is splendid from
Hackman, Hoffman, Cusak and Weisz. I also
appreciated the pace with which the film bounces
along. It is well edited and never gets boring
at all. BUT!!! The problem with the entire film
lies in the plot contrivances and the total &
utter implausibility of the trial itself. There
are at least ten blatant reasons that the judge
would declare this a mistrial. Jurors are bribed
and drugged, houses are searched, apartments are
burned down, the sequestering breaks down,
outbursts occur in the courtroom... But the
Judge never does anything about it!!! There were
so many occasions that made me roll my eyes in
sheer disbelief... it almost became laughable.
However, somehow this movie ended so supremely
well and entertained me to no end, that I had to
forgive all the flaws that usually I detest so
intensely. I really appreciated all the things I
mentioned earlier and I loved the political
message of the film. The ending is the kind that
will make you want to pump your fist with
satisfaction and it masks all the contrivances
it took to get there. In this particular film,
the end justifies the means.
I am going to give a solid recommendation with
one caveat... that you be prepared to suspend
your disbelief to no end. Other than those
holes, this is a brilliantly crafted courtroom
thriller/heist. The good significantly outweighs
the bad.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
John
Cusack and Rachel Weisz elevate this John
Grisham adaptation into an interesting courtroom
thriller. As TC notes, the film is awfully
contrived along its journey but the resolution
is satisfying. "The Runaway Jury" is a solid
film that requires the viewer to just suspend
intellect and enjoy the show.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
