The Lincoln Lawyer
Posted by Hannah Buchdahl aka Mainstream Chick on March 17, 2011
The Lincoln Lawyer didn’t blow me away. But it did hold my interest for two hours and featured the best performance from Matthew McConaughey in a long, long while (and yes – his shirt does come off, albeit briefly).
McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a slick, charismatic defense lawyer whose “office” is the backseat of a chauffer-driven Lincoln town car, license plate: NTGUILTY. Haller’s fickle moral compass is pushed to the limit when he takes the case of a spoiled Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) accused of attempted murder.
The movie is actually better than the trailer would suggest and features a strong supporting cast. It includes Marisa Tomei as an assistant DA who also happens to be Haller’s ex-wife; William H. Macy as Haller’s best friend and private investigator; Josh Lucas as a nerdy prosecutor; and Shea Wigham as a jailhouse snitch (and absolute scene-stealer!).
The Lincoln Lawyer is a solid courtroom/legal drama and psychological thriller that delivers a compelling story without taking itself too seriously. The relationship between Haller and his ex is a bit underdeveloped, but I suspect that a lot of additional footage was left on the cutting room floor. The movie is based on a novel by Michael Connelly so perhaps the answers lie within the pages of the book. I may have to check it out!
My verdict: The Lincoln Lawyer is a satisfying flick and a refreshing alternative to the slew of sci-fi dramas hitting the box office this month.
And oh yeah… welcome back, Matthew McConaughey!
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