The Lincoln Lawyer
Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars ***1/2
The trailers for Lincoln Lawyer did not appeal to me at first but after seeing that it had a 80% Rotten Tomatoes rating which is rare, I gave it a shot and I am glad I did. Matthew McConaughey is in top form playing the street smart lawyer Mick Haller which is a wise departure from his recent stints in romantic comedy that normally had him playing up to his bareback beach bum image.
Mick Haller is hired by Beverly Hills brat Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) to defend him in an assault case. Roulet could afford the top of the top lawyers but why did he choose Mick?
Ryan Phillippe, who rose to fame as a teen idol with such films as Cruel Intentions and I Know What You Did Last Summer, has a pretty boy face but there is something almost sinister about him and that works for him in this movie.
Also present is the always likable Marisa Tomei as Matthew's baby mama and a prosecutor. The two have an amicable relationship and she is sometimes his designated driver but the deal breaker for them is that she puts criminals behind bars and puts them on the streets.
The strong supporting cast also included William H. Macy (has he ever acted in a bad movie?), John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Michael Pena, and Frances Fisher. I particularly like Matthew's relationship with his driver played by Laurence Mason.
The movie is driven by intelligent characters and smart dialogue. In an age where so many movies underestimate the IQ of its audience and inserting cliches and explosions to hold our attention, The Lincoln Lawyer engages us with an intriguing plot.
The court scene is one of my favorites of film where we as the audience have learned the truth but the illustration of how sneaky lawyers paint the picture of what "allegedly" happened. This is genius in making us realize how verdict that may not necessarily be right but is the just verdict as a result of the evidence presented to them.
While the flashy Limitless was number one at the box office due in part to its slick advertising with a Kanye West song placement to appeal to a younger crowd, I hope that by word of mouth The Lincoln Lawyer retains an audience.
Watch online instantly at:
Also present is the always likable Marisa Tomei as Matthew's baby mama and a prosecutor. The two have an amicable relationship and she is sometimes his designated driver but the deal breaker for them is that she puts criminals behind bars and puts them on the streets.
The strong supporting cast also included William H. Macy (has he ever acted in a bad movie?), John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Michael Pena, and Frances Fisher. I particularly like Matthew's relationship with his driver played by Laurence Mason.
The movie is driven by intelligent characters and smart dialogue. In an age where so many movies underestimate the IQ of its audience and inserting cliches and explosions to hold our attention, The Lincoln Lawyer engages us with an intriguing plot.
The court scene is one of my favorites of film where we as the audience have learned the truth but the illustration of how sneaky lawyers paint the picture of what "allegedly" happened. This is genius in making us realize how verdict that may not necessarily be right but is the just verdict as a result of the evidence presented to them.
While the flashy Limitless was number one at the box office due in part to its slick advertising with a Kanye West song placement to appeal to a younger crowd, I hope that by word of mouth The Lincoln Lawyer retains an audience.
Watch online instantly at:
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