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The verdict is in on Runaway Jury. The jury has voted this movie one of the best dramas of the fall.
Based on the novel by John Grisham, Runaway Jury opens with a wam, bam, boom and a bang.
After a young widow in New Orleans files a civil suit against a commanding corporate association - which she holds accountable for her husband's murder -she starts a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
Though this case may be won before the plaintiff gives his opening arguments, the film is based exclusively on the choosing, handling, and eventually, the attempted tampering with the jury.
Wendall Rohr (Dustin Hoffman of Contact), a courtly Southern lawyer with an ethical center and a genuine passion, will be representing the widow.
His opponent, Durwood Cable (Bruce Davison of X2: X-men United) is the attorney representing the gun company.
But Cable is just the front man. Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman of Behind Enemy Lines) is one of the highest paid jury consultants in the country. He is gifted and brutal.
Fitch's command center is set up in an old French Quarter warehouse. He and his team watch potential jurors. If a juror has a secret, Fitch will find it and use it against them to win his case.
Soon Fitch and Rohr come to the realization that they are not the only people out to win the jury.
Marlee, (Rachel Weisz of About a Boy) with the help of one of the jurors, John Easter (John Cusack of Identity) wants $10 million to pull the jury in either Fitch's or Rohr's favor.
Yawn, yawn, yawn! When the movie first started that's what I felt like. But as it progressed I started to wake up.
I do have to say though, that the previews said there was a surprise ending. Well there was no surprise ending. At least there wasn't one that knocked me out of my seat.
Acting...well, what can I say? It was probably some of the best dramatic acting I've seen from a group of actors this year.
Hackman is a multi-talented actor. He can go from making you leave the theatre laughing to making a serious drama.
Cusack gave a stellar performance as a manipulative juror playing his fellow court buddies and, like Hackman, he is another one of those multi-talented actors.
However, Hoffman seems to be the type of actor who should stick to dramatic movies. He reminded me of his Rain Man days.
Lookout Kidman, move over Thurman, hello Weisz! She seems to be movin' up on the popularity food chain. Her performance in Runaway Jury is what blew me out of my seat.
Davison gave an okay performance for him. He's given better performances in sci-fi flicks and X-men movies.
John Grisham's writing must have been kick ass, to make this a great movie that I liked, and I've never read a Grisham book before.
Catch the Runaway Jury before it escapes the big screen.
Rating - ****
* Don't waste your money! ** Wait for the video. *** Give it a few weeks then go see it. **** What are you waiting for? Go see it! ***** Go see it again & again!
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