Runaway Jury - an excellent film that got bad reviews
Published July 04, 2004
Gene Hackman, for me, has reached the level where I'll automatically go to any movie he's in, 'cause I know I'll enjoy it just because of his presence on screen.
The only other actors/actresses I can say this about are Sean Connery, Al Pacino, and Raquel Darrian.
That's some pretty fast company.
The movie also stars Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, and Rachel Weisz, and has a number of eminently recognizable supporting actors playing jurors.
Among them: Hector Elizondo and Jennifer Beals (how far the "Flashdance" mighty have fallen).
Dustin Hoffman's just not very good in this film: his Southern accent (the film is set in New Orleans, from John Grisham's novel of the same name) is simply not believable, labored and weird.
John Cusack, whom I used to not like at all, is getting better as he gets older.
Rachel Weisz is excellent. I see why she's consistently working, and also see why she'll never be a big, big star: her looks are too strong, too powerful.
Nevertheless, she dominates the film along with Hackman.
It's got a nice, twisty ending.
I recommend it highly.
Why the reviews were so dismal is beyond me.
- Runaway Jury - an excellent film that got bad reviews
- Published: July 04, 2004
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- Section: Video
- Writer: bookofjoe
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Comments on this articleComments
Hector Elizando was not in this film. I'm not sure who you had in mind, but it wasn't him.
I thought it was a good film, albeit ridiculously unbelievable, but still good entertainment and suspense.
It was worth it alone to see Hoffman and Hackman together for the first time. That scene in the bathroom *killed* me. "The thing is, I don't give a @#$%."
Hoffman's accent sounded a little too Tootsieish to me. I liked the film but I didn't think there was enough tension between Hoffman and Hackman. I'd give the film a B- if I was grading it.
And Hackman will always remind me of Lex Luther. He's a bit typed, I'm afraid.
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I used to say that about Sean Connery, until I saw League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.