Regardless of their political affiliations, one thing all registered voters can share in common is their loathing of getting a jury summons. I got one before, and thankfully, I wasn't selected, but the jury selection process was an interesting experience nevertheless.
I've seen numerous courtroom dramas, but Runaway Jury approaches the genre from a different angle by focusing on jury tampering. Based on the John Grisham novel, Runaway Jury features an all-star cast (Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, Rachel Weisz) in a highly entertaining, fast-paced, intense thriller, although it takes some creative liberties.
Gene Hackman pulled off one of his most memorable performances since Crimson Tide, and I always enjoy the "colorful" characters in movies based on John Grisham novels. Just don't expect a direct adaptation from the novel.
As mentioned in my blog entry for 12 Rounds, I lived in New Orleans for many years. And of all the movies I've seen that were shot in The Big Easy, Runaway Jury, in particular, really captured the city's charm with scenes in the French Quarter, Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde, and on the St. Charles Streetcars. There's even one scene in the Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana, right in the same food court area where I liked to hang out all the time. Incidentally, one of my high school classmates appeared briefly in the film (look for a redhead waitress in a scene with Gene Hackman).
The justice system is far from perfect, and while Runaway Jury is purely fiction, it is troublesome that people who are entrusted to uphold the law can be detrimentally influenced. If you haven't seen Runaway Jury, it's another must-see film and my top favorite courtroom drama.
Comments
Post a Comment