The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 209 Days to go: 146
Movie #229: Runaway Jury
I’m not a lawyer, but I do watch a lot of Law & Order. That said, I’m probably not qualified to evaluate the legal merits of the gun trial central to Runaway Jury. It seems a little shaky to me, but, again, that’s my completely unprofessional opinion. John Grisham, on the other hand, actually used to be a lawyer, so maybe he knows more than I do. One thing he certainly knows is how to build a tense, gripping legal thriller, be it about a murderous law firm that overcharges its clients, the assassination of a couple of Supreme Court Justices, a snotty kid on the run from the mob, a revenge killing in racially charged Mississippi, a predatory insurance company whose executives think its clients are “stupid stupid stupid,” or the hijacking of a jury trial for profit. The man writes slick, entertaining bestsellers that — for a stretch of the ’90s, in particular — become hugely popular blockbuster films. It’s hardly a character flaw; he has a lot of talent, and I like every single one of those movies of his.
When I was growing up, my mom used to travel occasionally to professional conventions or whatever. My senior year of high school, my mom invited me and my best friend to travel with her on one of these trips, in March when she went to DC. She would be in meetings all day, though, so my friend and I pretty much had the city to ourselves. It was an amazing time, but those are details for another time. Our last day there, however, as we were doing some sightseeing around the Lincoln Memorial and the Mall, we came across a line of police tape blocking our path. Tom Cruise was right there, on the other side of that tape, filming a scene for The Firm. I’m not sure why I don’t own that one, except for the fact that a Gene Hackman who is openly lustful and creepy is not the Gene Hackman for me. On the other hand, manipulatively plotting, villainous Gene Hackman is right up my alley. So I own Runaway Jury.
Hackman plays Rankin Fitch, a jury fixer working for a gun manufacturer being sued by the widow of a man killed in a shooting that used this manufacturer’s criminal-friendly weapon. (Like I said, I make no comment on the legal merits of such a case.) He’s working behind the scenes, feeding advice to defense (or respondent? whatever) counsel Bruce Davison, investigating and intimidating jurors, and promising a win for the gun company. On the other side of the aisle is attorney Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), intentionally spilling mustard on his tie so he doesn’t appear too put together in court. He’s got his own jury consultant in Lawrence Green (Jeremy Piven), who is remarkably not annoying, though he also isn’t up to any of the illegal shenanigans Fitch has going on. And at the heart of it all is Piven’s Serendipity costar John Cusack as Nicholas Easter (and others), juror number nine. He and girlfriend “Marlee” (Rachel Weisz) are fixing this jury for a payoff, but it’s possible cash isn’t their only motivator.
The film is well-structured and well-paced to give Nick and Marlee the maximum amount of mystery and intrigue as to their motives, without getting bogged down in their machinations. Information is alternately leaked and withheld for the purpose of pulling the viewer along and investing them in the scheme, without revealing whether Nick and Marlee are characters to root for or not. It’s a tricky balance, but they achieve it. Plus, Marlee is one seriously tough chick. I find the ending a bit convenient — a bit shoehorned in for the purpose of a feel-good resolution — but other than that the movie works for me. I like it, and that’s really all there is to it.
Plus, I always welcome the chance to see Dylan McDermott singing “Big Rock Candy Mountain.” It’ll probably be in my head the rest of the night.
Viable Option 