SummaryA suspense-thriller about a high-priced and ruthless jury "consultant" who will stop at nothing to secure a verdict on an explosive trial. [Fox]
SummaryA suspense-thriller about a high-priced and ruthless jury "consultant" who will stop at nothing to secure a verdict on an explosive trial. [Fox]
The already heavy-footed clomp of Grisham's declamatory storytelling style has been given an extra-thick-soled, wing-tipped, liberal-leaning, reality-tampering kick thanks to a screenplay credited to four writers.
A courtroom drama with a compelling story and something peculiar about it, too: For most of its running time, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a rooting interest. The audience isn't quite sure who it's for or against.
Like most John Grisham stories, Runaway Jury takes place mainly in the courtroom. Unlike his other stories thou, this movie follows the behind the scenes of a trial, what goes into selecting a jury, and what happens when someone throws a wrench into your plans. What once was unimaginable, can quickly become possible when millions of dollars are on the line. The cast, well just seeing those names up there should tell you, that they were all top notch. All the main characters had two different sides to them, inside and outside the courtroom and it was great to see who they are on the surface as well as who they really are on the inside. Like all Grisham films it comes down to a verdict, which was the result of information we didn't previously know. Runaway Jury follows the genre John Grisham has created to the letter. If you liked his other films, you'll like this one even more, because of its outstanding cast.
It'll keep you leaned forward in your chair with interest as it simultaneously shovels a unequivocally partisan message down your throat - "Runaway Jury" is a ceaselessly entertaining movie with a very sharp point to make.
Hackman, playing it gleefully amoral, walks away with the film, for what that's worth...which is a video rental for fans of the actors involved. Yes, that's video, not DVD -- four bucks at Blockbuster is more than you ought to be paying.
Runaway Jury isn't original; it apes "12 Angry Men" in every possible way. The movie isn't particularly well acted either. In addition, it can be tedious ta times. What does the movie have going for it? A great script and witty dialogue that save the movie from being a complete and utter disaster of a film.
Runaway Jury is an ok movie. For about 3/4 of it, it is entirely lackluster and making you wonder if it will improve at all. Luckily, it does, as the twist at the end of the film saves this one from being one that you could miss and turns it into one that is certainly worth a look. From the point of the twist being introduced, the film is incredibly engrossing and suspensful. Prior, it is implausible (after the twist is still implausible as well) and, honestly, rather silly. On top of this, I am not a huge fan of John Cusack in general and this one is no exception as his performance is sub-par, however, he is not the one to turn in the worst performance, rather that title goes to Dustin Hoffman. For Hoffman, this one feels entirely mailed in and his Louisiana accent is poor at best and feels very unnatural. Or, at least, I think he was trying for an accent. The only performance worth mentioning in terms of being good is Rachel Weisz' turn. She was really good in this and really was head and shoulders better than everyone else. Overall, this one is nothing more than ok. I guess I am just not a huge fan of Grisham.
La distribution est ici très prestigieuse et tout à fait à la hauteur (et même bien au delà) de ce film à procédures un peu moins chiant que la moyenne (des films de ce genre procédurier).
Cependant, je regrette que le fin mot de l’histoire soit si peu satisfaisant, j’attendais un autre lapin du chapeau, surtout à propos d’un sujet aussi sensible au pays du western…
La réalisation n’est vraiment pas terrible, heureusement le film en lui-même parvient à préserver tout de même un certain rythme et l’engrenage des évènements maintient au moins la curiosité et l’intérêt du spectateur jusqu’au bout.
I wanted to Runaway from this jury.
A very dry lackluster script that had unlimited potential for excitement. Really every character is unassuming and unlikeable and the actors seem to become lost within their stick like roles as random lines are tossed at them.