Primal Fear

Director:Gregory Hoblit
Screenplay:Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman
Starring:Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton

John's Review

Primal Fear stars Richard Gere as Martin Vail, a Chicago defense lawyer whose profile is almost as high as his price tag. Between interviews he actually manages to defend a client or two, but an explosive case comes along which could give him an opportunity for both. The archbishop of Chicago has been found brutally murdered, and 19-year-old Aaron Stampler (Academy Award Nominee Norton) found fleeing the scene covered in blood. It looks like an open and shut case, but Martin begins to believe that his shy client might actually be innocent. As he goes to trial against prosecutor Janet Venable (Linney), his one-time lover, Martin begins to uncover connections between the slain archbishop and prominent political figures, including State's Attorney John Shaughnessy (Mahoney).

Normally I really like court room dramas, but this one seems to try too hard. It's the little things like the useless relationship between Vail and Venable. This really does not do anything for the story and it certainly doesn't make us like either character anymore than we would have. Gere is good as an arrogant media hound defense attorney, not much of a stretch for him. Linney plays a pretty piss-poor prosecutor, who chain smokes. Everyone else in the film is pretty mediocre, except for one. That would be Edward Norton.

Edward Norton gives the stand-out performance. He is the sole reason to rent this film. His southern naive portrayel of the seemingly wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time is so well portrayed that by the time the plot twist is thrown in, you actually find yourself believing him. And yes, this film does have a nice plot twist. But, unfortunately, he does not necessarily save the film. He does bring it up a few notches though.

Overall, I would say if you like good drama's with a court room appeal with a plot twist thrown in (one more reason to wish vast ammounts of bad criticism upon Joe Eszterhas), then you'll probably enjoy this film for what it's worth. There are better thrillers out there (Silence of Lambs and perhaps The Firm), there are also better court room dramas (Witness for the Prosecution and Presumed Innocent), and even better films with plot twists (Usual Suspects and Total Recall), but for overall effect this film tries for too much.

Grade: C
 

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