Primal Fear (1996)
Part Mind Game, Part Courtroom Antics
A fast paced film with Richard Gere in the kind of role he does best (an arrogant lawyer) and with Edward Norton in a startling performance as a potential criminal worth the admission alone. That there are familiar tricks and tropes and a subplot of almost no significance might be expected--it's not a great film by any measure--but it's packaged well and never flags.
There are some secondary characters who don't quite click into the film, mainly the opposing lawyer played by Laura Linney, who can be really good. The law office sidekick (Andre Braugher) is thin, the psychologist (Frances McDormand) is strong enough but has a canned role, and the tough and predictably evil politician (John Mahoney) all keep the film in the box. These are talented people, so maybe we can shift to the direction by Gregory Hoblit, as able as it is, failing to make the movie first rate, depending on surface effects and following a plot line that is just a variant on other plot lines. In fact, Hoblit's creds to this point are a few high quality television episodes, and there is a feel of an overblown NYPD Blue or something to this movie.
But there remains one main twist, pulled off brilliantly, brilliantly, by Norton, Gere in tow. It's a completely enjoyable trip, if your expectations are in line.
Part Mind Game, Part Courtroom Antics
A fast paced film with Richard Gere in the kind of role he does best (an arrogant lawyer) and with Edward Norton in a startling performance as a potential criminal worth the admission alone. That there are familiar tricks and tropes and a subplot of almost no significance might be expected--it's not a great film by any measure--but it's packaged well and never flags.
There are some secondary characters who don't quite click into the film, mainly the opposing lawyer played by Laura Linney, who can be really good. The law office sidekick (Andre Braugher) is thin, the psychologist (Frances McDormand) is strong enough but has a canned role, and the tough and predictably evil politician (John Mahoney) all keep the film in the box. These are talented people, so maybe we can shift to the direction by Gregory Hoblit, as able as it is, failing to make the movie first rate, depending on surface effects and following a plot line that is just a variant on other plot lines. In fact, Hoblit's creds to this point are a few high quality television episodes, and there is a feel of an overblown NYPD Blue or something to this movie.
But there remains one main twist, pulled off brilliantly, brilliantly, by Norton, Gere in tow. It's a completely enjoyable trip, if your expectations are in line.