Criminal Law
Criminal Law

Movie spotlight

Criminal Law

1989
Movie
114 min
English

Ben Chase is an on-the-rise Boston attorney currently defending a wealthy client in a high-profile murder case. Martin Thiel is the wealthy young man on trial for a particularly brutal murder. The verdict sets Thiel free. Within 24 hours another grizzly and all-too-familiar murder has taken place with striking similarities to the first crime. Chase inexplicably agrees to act as his defense attorney; but this time it will be to gather evidence that will put away his client for good.

Insights

IMDb6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes29%
Director: displaystyleGenres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery

Plot Summary

A defense attorney takes on the case of a wealthy and charismatic client accused of a brutal murder. As the lawyer delves deeper into the case, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of manipulation and deceit, questioning his client's innocence and his own moral compass. The lines between right and wrong blur as the attorney races to uncover the truth before he becomes the next victim.

Critical Reception

Criminal Law received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While the performances of Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon were often praised, the film's convoluted plot and predictable twists were frequently cited as major weaknesses. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating the thriller elements and others finding the narrative unsatisfying.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praiseworthy performances from the lead actors are unfortunately let down by a predictable and convoluted plot.

  • The film attempts to be a smart thriller but ultimately falters due to its weak script and uninspired direction.

  • Despite its potential, 'Criminal Law' devolves into a generic cat-and-mouse game with a disappointing resolution.

Google audience: Audience reception for 'Criminal Law' was largely lukewarm, with many viewers expressing disappointment in the film's predictable narrative and lack of originality. Some acknowledged the strong performances but felt they couldn't salvage the weak story.

Fun Fact

Gary Oldman and Kevin Bacon, who play lawyer and client, would later both appear in 'Mystic River' (2003), though they did not share any scenes in that film.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Boston based neo-noir fails to ignite. Criminal Law is directed by Martin Campbell and written by Mark Kasdan. It stars Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Tess Harper, Karen Young and Joe Don Baker. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography ...