Some people would kill for love.
Rusty Sabich is a deputy prosecutor engaged in an obsessive affair with a coworker who is murdered. Soon after, he's accused of the crime. And his fight to clear his name becomes a whirlpool of lies and hidden passions.
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Character
Classical in form, grave, earnest and contemporary.
- classical in formformally daring
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- contemporarynostalgic
- rawmeticulous
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“Did the verdict get it right?”
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“Is Harrison Ford the best thing in Presumed Innocent?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- kevin2019on TMDB · Jan 20268/10
"Presumed Innocent" is an incredible pedigree of film on every level which opens by painting a portrait of the main protagonist Rusty Sabich, although the picture which slowly emerges is a far from perfect one. His marriage isn't all it could be or appears to be and his past is blighted by an obsessive and torrid love affair with co-worker Carolyn Polhemus. He suddenly finds himself on trial for her murder and all these unsavoury and unseemly past misdemeanours gradually and inevitably rise to the surface once more to create a fresh strain on his already fragile marriage. This is one of the many strengths of this film and it is perfectly balanced alongside the more investigatory aspects to produce a splendid film capable of some marvellously enigneered revelations which keep you completely hooked until the very end.
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Jul 20198/10
Love - it's a killer. Presumed Innocent is directed by Alan J. Pakula, who also co-adapts for the screen with Frank Pierson from the Scott Turow novel. It stars Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Bonnie Bedelia, Raúl Juliá, Paul Winfield, John Spencer and Greta Scacchi. Music is scored by John Williams and Richard Wolf, and cinematography is by Gordon Willis. Prosecuting attorney Rusty Sabich (Ford) suddenly finds himself a murder suspect after his one time lover, Carolyn Polhemus (Scacchi), is found raped and murdered in her home. As the evidence piles up against him, and his marriage comes under further strain, Rusty hires top lawyer Sandy Stern (Juliá) to represent him when the case goes to trial. Battling the system that he knows inside out, Rusty finds that there's a big can of worms about to be opened. A tip top court room mystery drama that we could do with seeing more of these days. Expertly strung together by the director of All the Presidents Men and Sophie's Choice, Presumed Innocent isn't just a by the numbers legal who done it? The makers get in deep with the political machinations of a district attorney's office, the intricate steps of a police investigation, and of course
Read the whole review on TMDB - JPV852on TMDB · Aug 2020
Pretty good mystery-legal-drama features fine performances, especially from Ford and Raul Julia, though does rely a lot on coincidences (lucky draw to get that judge) but still finely directed and liked John Williams's score. **3.75/5**
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Cast
- Harrison FordRusty Sabich
- Brian DennehyRaymond Horgan
- Raúl JuliáSandy Stern
- Bonnie BedeliaBarbara Sabich
- Paul WinfieldJudge Larren Lyttle
- Greta ScacchiCarolyn Polhemus
- John SpencerDetective Dan Lipranzer
- Joe GrifasiTommy Molto
- Tom MardirosianNico Della Guardia
- Anna Maria HorsfordEugenia
Crew
- Alan J. PakulaDirector
- Frank PiersonScreenplay
- Alan J. PakulaScreenplay
- Scott TurowNovel
- Gordon WillisDirector of Photography
- John WilliamsOriginal Music Composer
- Evan A. LottmanEditor
- Sydney PollackProducer
- Mark RosenbergProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
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Gone Baby Gone 200775% alikeBoth grave, classical in form, earnest.
The Jinx 201578% alikeTelevision · Both grave, earnest, classical in form.
The Staircase 200477% alikeTelevision · Both grave, earnest, classical in form.
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