Lincoln Lawyer (B or 3/4 stars)
In the mood for a good old-fashioned meat & potatoes legal drama/thriller? You know, they kind they churned out in the 1980's & 90's? The kind that will entertain on channels TBS, AMC, or USA in the future? Well, I offer you 'The Lincoln Lawyer' (directed by Brad Furman & based on a popular Michael Connelly novel).
Matthew McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a hot shot defense attorney (gee, why is what familiar? {wink, wink}) who drives around in his Lincoln Town Car & will defend anyone who can pay his commission. When he's called to be the lawyer for multi-millionaire, Luis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) - a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of the assault & attempted rape of a prostitute (Margarita Levieva) - Mick thinks he's hit the jackpot; that is, until some nefarious facts of the case pop up due to the great efforts of his P.I., Frank Levin (William H. Macy). In fact, the case is anything but conventional. And despite firm evidence pointing to Roulet's innocence, assistant District Attorney Ted Minton (Josh Lucas) won't drop the charges. The seemingly straightforward case changes into a deadly game of survival for Haller, his ex-wife (Marisa Tomei), his children, his P.I., his assistant (Pell James), & anyone else affiliated with the defense. WHAT is going on here?
The proverbial sh*t hits the fan in the film's final act. And I really enjoyed watching the once-pompous Mick forced to balance the principles of his job against the greater, moral good. It's not much of a SPOILER for me to say that Louis Roulet is guilty (and not just of the case at hand). Mick can't reveal the truth given confidentiality clauses. Roulet is a sociopath of the highest order. So Mick also knows how dangerous he could be if set free. And it also forces him to contemplate other cases he's had where innocents may have gone to jail. It's up to Mick to prove Louis' non-guilt (for this case), but quietly lay enough circumstantial evidence in the courtroom so as to nail him for his previous crime(s). Tricky. And watching Mick try to finagle this behind the scenes is fairly riveting.
Based on a 400-page novel, you know that various aspects will be cut (character relations, subplots) to make for an engaging, 2 hour film. Such is the case here (from what I hear). But I'll tell you this, 'The Lincoln Lawyer' is one of the few legal drama/thrillers that gets it right. The set-up is stellar. Character relationships are well-defined. Flashbacks are filmed exceedingly well. The most important subplots are touched upon. The pacing is strong (interchanging taut drama with funny spurts). The whodunit mystery piques interest. And when the film turns into a thriller, the segue of tones is handled just right, too.
McConaughey gives Mick a smarmy, cunning, but also vulnerable angle that makes him highly rootable in the end. His 'acting' is very good, here. So I hope he doesn't go & make another Ghosts of Girlfriends Past type of garbage. Marisa Tomei brings some nuance to a serves-little-purpose role. William H. Macy is as stellar as always in the small, but pivotal role as Mick's P.I.. Ryan Phillippe is convincing as a suave, but pretty disturbed human being. And the rest of the cast (including Michael Pena, Bryan Cranston, Frances Fischer, Bob Gunton, Trace Adkins) have their moments, as well.
My only major issue with the film would be that: for as quick & edgy as the first hour is, the middle section lacks some of that early 'drive'; and the last 15 min. or so become a touch far-fetched. Not outlandish, but over-intricate & far-fetched. Certain things happen only because they need to for the slick mystery/thriller component to be resolved. Real lawyers may watch this & say 'that would never happen'. But as it is, the plot twists near the end make sense within the realm of the story. And there are a couple of too-convenient happenings involving a biker gang who befriends Mick, as well. Still, 'The Lincoln Lawyer' succeeds in spite of its flaws, and because it satisfies on an elemental "I just watched a good movie" level. There is intelligence, enticing courtroom scenes, humor, juicy twists, unpredictability, & emotional closure. My theater clapped at the end, & I was almost moved to do so, as well (I almost never do).
Matthew McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a hot shot defense attorney (gee, why is what familiar? {wink, wink}) who drives around in his Lincoln Town Car & will defend anyone who can pay his commission. When he's called to be the lawyer for multi-millionaire, Luis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) - a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of the assault & attempted rape of a prostitute (Margarita Levieva) - Mick thinks he's hit the jackpot; that is, until some nefarious facts of the case pop up due to the great efforts of his P.I., Frank Levin (William H. Macy). In fact, the case is anything but conventional. And despite firm evidence pointing to Roulet's innocence, assistant District Attorney Ted Minton (Josh Lucas) won't drop the charges. The seemingly straightforward case changes into a deadly game of survival for Haller, his ex-wife (Marisa Tomei), his children, his P.I., his assistant (Pell James), & anyone else affiliated with the defense. WHAT is going on here?
The proverbial sh*t hits the fan in the film's final act. And I really enjoyed watching the once-pompous Mick forced to balance the principles of his job against the greater, moral good. It's not much of a SPOILER for me to say that Louis Roulet is guilty (and not just of the case at hand). Mick can't reveal the truth given confidentiality clauses. Roulet is a sociopath of the highest order. So Mick also knows how dangerous he could be if set free. And it also forces him to contemplate other cases he's had where innocents may have gone to jail. It's up to Mick to prove Louis' non-guilt (for this case), but quietly lay enough circumstantial evidence in the courtroom so as to nail him for his previous crime(s). Tricky. And watching Mick try to finagle this behind the scenes is fairly riveting.
Based on a 400-page novel, you know that various aspects will be cut (character relations, subplots) to make for an engaging, 2 hour film. Such is the case here (from what I hear). But I'll tell you this, 'The Lincoln Lawyer' is one of the few legal drama/thrillers that gets it right. The set-up is stellar. Character relationships are well-defined. Flashbacks are filmed exceedingly well. The most important subplots are touched upon. The pacing is strong (interchanging taut drama with funny spurts). The whodunit mystery piques interest. And when the film turns into a thriller, the segue of tones is handled just right, too.
McConaughey gives Mick a smarmy, cunning, but also vulnerable angle that makes him highly rootable in the end. His 'acting' is very good, here. So I hope he doesn't go & make another Ghosts of Girlfriends Past type of garbage. Marisa Tomei brings some nuance to a serves-little-purpose role. William H. Macy is as stellar as always in the small, but pivotal role as Mick's P.I.. Ryan Phillippe is convincing as a suave, but pretty disturbed human being. And the rest of the cast (including Michael Pena, Bryan Cranston, Frances Fischer, Bob Gunton, Trace Adkins) have their moments, as well.
My only major issue with the film would be that: for as quick & edgy as the first hour is, the middle section lacks some of that early 'drive'; and the last 15 min. or so become a touch far-fetched. Not outlandish, but over-intricate & far-fetched. Certain things happen only because they need to for the slick mystery/thriller component to be resolved. Real lawyers may watch this & say 'that would never happen'. But as it is, the plot twists near the end make sense within the realm of the story. And there are a couple of too-convenient happenings involving a biker gang who befriends Mick, as well. Still, 'The Lincoln Lawyer' succeeds in spite of its flaws, and because it satisfies on an elemental "I just watched a good movie" level. There is intelligence, enticing courtroom scenes, humor, juicy twists, unpredictability, & emotional closure. My theater clapped at the end, & I was almost moved to do so, as well (I almost never do).