Just Cause (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
1986, Florida Everglades: 11 yr. old Joanie Shriver is kidnapped, raped, & murdered near her lower-middle class home in 'Just Cause', directed by Arne Glimcher. Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood) is arrested by Sheriff Tanny Brown (Laurence Fishburne) & Officer JT Wilcox, who proceed to beat Bobby to a pulp; ‘til he confesses to the murder. Bobby is placed on trial, where his defense attorney McNair (Ned Beatty) puts up a shoddy defense, & Bobby is sentenced to death by the electric chair. Fast forward 8 yrs. to 1994 where Bobby hands a letter to his grandma Evangeline (Ruby Dee); asking her to go to Cambridge University to hire Harvard law professor Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery).
It just so happens that Paul is at Harvard attacking capital punishment in a debate. Evangeline hands him Bobby's letter (plea) for help. And after discussing it with his wife (Kate Capshaw) at home, he decides to take the case; though he hasn't practiced in 25 years. Paul takes his wife & young daughter (Scarlett Johansson) with him to Florida so that he can prove Bobby Earl's innocence. After meeting Bobby, learning of his previous Cornell education, & hearing his side of the story (and what Tanny Brown & Wilcox did to him), Paul firmly believes that Bobby was wrongly accused; as some overlooked evidence is uncovered. Mid-way through this investigation, Bobby asks Paul to speak to Blair Sullivan (Ed Harris), a bible-quoting serial killer who's also on death row.
Blair gives Paul some clues that could prove that Blair, himself, is guilty of the crime at hand. But just when Paul (and we) thinks matters will soon be resolved, some disturbing truths pop-up, & the story goes in a different direction. What is not yet revealed? Why is Tanny Brown so hell bent on keeping Bobby behind bars? What's the grudge? Who's telling the truth? It all culminates in a crazy, over-the-top climax where everyone is fighting for their lives, & a host of plot twists surface. That sounds like a dig at the movie. But while I wasn't wild about the ending, I quite enjoyed this melodramatic crime thriller.
'Just Cause' is a great popcorn movie; filmed with enough flair, craft, & energy to please most audiences. It's also well paced at a trim 99 minutes. Probably my favorite component of the film is its moody setting. There's always been something eerie, haunting, & flat-out weird about the swamps (in this case - the hot, damp, Everglades). They are a mysterious place to be. The townsfolk are not your normal townsfolk. The local authorities are not your normal authorities. Everything is sort of ... off. I love that feeling; especially while watching a morally & viscerally scary movie. I also enjoyed the performances. Sean Connery captures our sympathy as the lawman with a conscience. He just had a command over this character that I enjoyed.
Laurence Fishburne is quite foreboding as the unjust police officer; but there's something about him (subtextually) which makes us side with him, as well. His intense performance here combined with his Othello portrayal makes him a top performer for 1995. And Ed Harris gives a wonderfully over-the-top performance as a man not-unlike Hannibal Lector. No one can top Anthony Hopkins' maniacal killer. But Harris' killer is definitely fun, & riveting to watch. As mentioned, things get a little screwy near the end; involving a swamp battle with alligators. The tone of the whole movie was one way (psychological thriller), but the ending gives us something completely different; when the former was just fine as it was. But I digress. I liked the story, the acting, & the overall direction. The cinematography is also note-worthy. And I was extremely entertained by most of the proceedings.
It just so happens that Paul is at Harvard attacking capital punishment in a debate. Evangeline hands him Bobby's letter (plea) for help. And after discussing it with his wife (Kate Capshaw) at home, he decides to take the case; though he hasn't practiced in 25 years. Paul takes his wife & young daughter (Scarlett Johansson) with him to Florida so that he can prove Bobby Earl's innocence. After meeting Bobby, learning of his previous Cornell education, & hearing his side of the story (and what Tanny Brown & Wilcox did to him), Paul firmly believes that Bobby was wrongly accused; as some overlooked evidence is uncovered. Mid-way through this investigation, Bobby asks Paul to speak to Blair Sullivan (Ed Harris), a bible-quoting serial killer who's also on death row.
Blair gives Paul some clues that could prove that Blair, himself, is guilty of the crime at hand. But just when Paul (and we) thinks matters will soon be resolved, some disturbing truths pop-up, & the story goes in a different direction. What is not yet revealed? Why is Tanny Brown so hell bent on keeping Bobby behind bars? What's the grudge? Who's telling the truth? It all culminates in a crazy, over-the-top climax where everyone is fighting for their lives, & a host of plot twists surface. That sounds like a dig at the movie. But while I wasn't wild about the ending, I quite enjoyed this melodramatic crime thriller.
'Just Cause' is a great popcorn movie; filmed with enough flair, craft, & energy to please most audiences. It's also well paced at a trim 99 minutes. Probably my favorite component of the film is its moody setting. There's always been something eerie, haunting, & flat-out weird about the swamps (in this case - the hot, damp, Everglades). They are a mysterious place to be. The townsfolk are not your normal townsfolk. The local authorities are not your normal authorities. Everything is sort of ... off. I love that feeling; especially while watching a morally & viscerally scary movie. I also enjoyed the performances. Sean Connery captures our sympathy as the lawman with a conscience. He just had a command over this character that I enjoyed.
Laurence Fishburne is quite foreboding as the unjust police officer; but there's something about him (subtextually) which makes us side with him, as well. His intense performance here combined with his Othello portrayal makes him a top performer for 1995. And Ed Harris gives a wonderfully over-the-top performance as a man not-unlike Hannibal Lector. No one can top Anthony Hopkins' maniacal killer. But Harris' killer is definitely fun, & riveting to watch. As mentioned, things get a little screwy near the end; involving a swamp battle with alligators. The tone of the whole movie was one way (psychological thriller), but the ending gives us something completely different; when the former was just fine as it was. But I digress. I liked the story, the acting, & the overall direction. The cinematography is also note-worthy. And I was extremely entertained by most of the proceedings.