David AllsoppThe Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
April 6th 2011 02:47
Directed by Brad Furman.
The first thought I had after watching ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ was “where has Matthew McConaughey been?”, but upon further reflection a more accurate question would be “where has this version of Matthew McConaughey been?”.
Just from the trailer for the film I could tell this would be a performance and a movie worth watching, and I’m very pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. McConaughey gives the kind of performance we haven’t seen from him in a long time. Instead of just coasting through romantic comedies and playing a caricatured version of himself, he has gone back to the kind of great performance we may have forgotten he could deliver.
McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a Los Angeles Defence Attorney whose office is the Lincoln Town Car he is chauffeured around in. Haller’s newest client is Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe), the pretty-boy son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor (Frances Fisher), and Roulet has been charged with the brutal beating and attempted murder of a prostitute. What at first looks to be a straight-forward case soon gets more complicated as Haller and his investigator Frank Levin (William H. Macy) uncover lies and deception. Roulet now seems to be far from the innocent man he proclaims to be, and Haller finds himself in a desperate game to save both his career and his life.
Adapted from the novel by Michael Connolly, ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ is an intelligent and thrilling story where all the pieces fit. As previously stated, McConaughey really owns this film. William H. Macy – one of the most reliable actors around - is always great, and has a lot of fun in a colourful role. Marissa Tomei projects genuine warmth and conviction as Haller’s ex-wife (who is also a prosecutor), and her rapport with McConaughey adds a lot to the film. Phillipe uses his charm to create a formidable opponent that is utterly convincing and superbly cast. In fact the whole film is well cast, with actors like Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Peña and Bryan Cranston among the others who round out the cast.
An intelligent crime / courtroom drama full of plot twists, winning performances, and just perhaps the re-awakening of a star’s true power.
Four attorney-client privileged bananas out of five.
The first thought I had after watching ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ was “where has Matthew McConaughey been?”, but upon further reflection a more accurate question would be “where has this version of Matthew McConaughey been?”.
Just from the trailer for the film I could tell this would be a performance and a movie worth watching, and I’m very pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. McConaughey gives the kind of performance we haven’t seen from him in a long time. Instead of just coasting through romantic comedies and playing a caricatured version of himself, he has gone back to the kind of great performance we may have forgotten he could deliver.
McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a Los Angeles Defence Attorney whose office is the Lincoln Town Car he is chauffeured around in. Haller’s newest client is Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe), the pretty-boy son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor (Frances Fisher), and Roulet has been charged with the brutal beating and attempted murder of a prostitute. What at first looks to be a straight-forward case soon gets more complicated as Haller and his investigator Frank Levin (William H. Macy) uncover lies and deception. Roulet now seems to be far from the innocent man he proclaims to be, and Haller finds himself in a desperate game to save both his career and his life.
Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillipe in 'The Lincoln Lawyer'.
Adapted from the novel by Michael Connolly, ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ is an intelligent and thrilling story where all the pieces fit. As previously stated, McConaughey really owns this film. William H. Macy – one of the most reliable actors around - is always great, and has a lot of fun in a colourful role. Marissa Tomei projects genuine warmth and conviction as Haller’s ex-wife (who is also a prosecutor), and her rapport with McConaughey adds a lot to the film. Phillipe uses his charm to create a formidable opponent that is utterly convincing and superbly cast. In fact the whole film is well cast, with actors like Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Peña and Bryan Cranston among the others who round out the cast.
An intelligent crime / courtroom drama full of plot twists, winning performances, and just perhaps the re-awakening of a star’s true power.
Four attorney-client privileged bananas out of five.
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