Oh, forget the negative reviews. People can't turn their brains off. This 90s legal thriller is a gripping and entertaining experience. Delving more into mystery than courtroom drama, the film held my attention right up until the end.
The movie is greatly helped by strong lead performances from Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne. Connery, a dependable heavyweight, seems to only get cooler with age, and Fishburne holds his own alongside the old pro. They're very effective together, and really elevate the proceedings. I love both of them a lot, and seeing them together onscreen was really cool. Ed Harris is also here, in a cool supporting role as a psychotic serial killer, and he's very charismatic.
People complain that the movie devolves into a standard thriller by the third act. This is true, it does abandon its psychological end when the required plot twist occurs, but it's a fine twist. I personally liked the overblown climax, which is basically two action sequences. A car chase, and a long climax in a forest culminating in a violent final fight, which were both pretty cool and entertaining.
Yes, the issue of the police racism and brutality was kind of ignored, and not handled very well, but that's my only main complaint. Even if you do see the plot twist coming or guess it immediately, it's still fun to watch the story play out.
I maintain my opinion that this is one of the best thrillers out there, let alone the 90s era. I can't explain my love for it, but I don't have to.
The movie is greatly helped by strong lead performances from Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne. Connery, a dependable heavyweight, seems to only get cooler with age, and Fishburne holds his own alongside the old pro. They're very effective together, and really elevate the proceedings. I love both of them a lot, and seeing them together onscreen was really cool. Ed Harris is also here, in a cool supporting role as a psychotic serial killer, and he's very charismatic.
People complain that the movie devolves into a standard thriller by the third act. This is true, it does abandon its psychological end when the required plot twist occurs, but it's a fine twist. I personally liked the overblown climax, which is basically two action sequences. A car chase, and a long climax in a forest culminating in a violent final fight, which were both pretty cool and entertaining.
Yes, the issue of the police racism and brutality was kind of ignored, and not handled very well, but that's my only main complaint. Even if you do see the plot twist coming or guess it immediately, it's still fun to watch the story play out.
I maintain my opinion that this is one of the best thrillers out there, let alone the 90s era. I can't explain my love for it, but I don't have to.