A man who apparently without a background (John Kusack) is picked for jury duty on a trial that has national attention, but he is not there to serve justice. He is there to do what is right, depending on how lawyers on either side pays him and his partner (Rachel Weisz).
They try to make a deal with either side of the case, lead by two lawyers (Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman) who want more than anything to win by manipulating the jury. However, the lawyers are trying to do the same thing.
The hardest part of this movie is to believe that lawyers actually spy on protential jurors. It's even harder to believe that they know who has been randomly selected for jury duty, because it's a secret.
The acting is one of the few good points in this movie. The performances from Hackman and Hoffman, as expected, are great. Weiz and Kusack are do a good job. The other actors who play the other jurors, some of which you've seen in minor roles of many other movies, also do fine performances. The only problem with the other jurors is only a small portion have limited character development, but not enough.
"Runaway Jury" is wonderfully edited. There are many quick takes when characters are interacting over the telephone, and they are put together quite well.
Another problem I had was that Hoffman and Hackman's characters only looked at each other, and didn't interact. I wish Hackman was cast in the role of the lawyer assigned to try the case as the plantiff's lawyer. Those two would have done some memorable courtroom scenes as competing lawyers, but it was never meant to be.
If you could suspend your belief, which is hard to do with this movie, then it's passable as a pretty good movie. I would not suggest you buy this one, but you might check it out at your local video rental shop.
Runaway Jury is a suspense thriller with an interesting twist in the end. John Cusack is better than usual in this film, but the rest of the cast didn't fit right with me. Gene Hackman has played too many roles similar to this one, and the director loses Dustin Hoffman very soon into the film. I love Rachel Weisz but the director loses her too. lol
I read somewhere that it was suggested that Hackman and Hoffman should have switched roles. I think that I agree.
Other than the fact that I found this movie to be a little too preachy for my tastes, and the fact that the "twist" ending was rather predictable, I thought this was a pretty good legal drama / thriller. Gene Hackman put in an amazing performance, and Rachel Weisz was excellent as well.
Which way will the jury turn? when a big case comes up on gun laws. Gene hackman character can get the jury to go ever way with her boyfriend in the jury (john cusack). But which side is willing to pay for the side they want to win. wierd ending. good film
in the past i like to read critics like to give, 'sharp movie till the end'..
and i think this is one fit the bill!!
its such a smart, way under-rated, and sharp with a multiple twist coming on!!
for 2 hours long, this movie maintain it with perfection, i dont get bored at all within that 2 hours journey, cause of the twist and thriller get increasing from minute to minute makes it really beautiful!! perfomance.. just WOW.. Hoffman and Hackman catch it all, but Cusack and Weisz also have the same standard in it!
i ignore this movie for a long time, i hope you dont do the same! Highly recomended! ;)
A well-rounded film with a superb cast and a thrilling drama based on a John Grisham novel, Runaway Jury does a great job of mixing in a intricately woven plot with a few doses of action, and topped off with a 'moral abyss' that really changes the perspectives often associated with a film of this genre. A very good watch, I recommend it.
A nice slick courtroom drama / thriller this one has a very strong cast with Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman going at it for the first time ever in the same scene. John Cusak and Rachel Weisz are also key and the film is quite satisfying.
Is the idea that a jury can be bought and manipulated into delivering a verdict such an alien idea, a preposterous premise that undermines western legal ideals? Or is it, in fact, so close to home we don't even want to acknowledge it - the injustice, the bias on which decisions are based actually forming the foundations of law. 'Runaway Jury' is a tense thriller that poses such a question, and one of the most under-rated films I've come across in a while. Many critics argue that the film is devoid of suspense and lacks intelligent debate, but I disagree on both counts; for the first two-thirds, especially the opening act, 'Runaway Jury' mounts a tense plot, employing clever gimmicks and a deceptive narrative that forces the audience to ponder where the story will lead, and the action sequences are delivered in a tight, claustraphobic fashion, if a little generic. Secondly, the films play on moral conscience is as interesting as it is complex; most would believe it immoral to purchase a decision for a corrupt corporation, but what if you was buying the decision that would lead to a true delivery of justice? Is that justified in itself? These questions are thrown with a stomach pounding force, and add needed ambiguity to the a film based heavily on plot. The characters have been called flat and uninspiring, but three of the four are given plenty of dimension to intrigue; as the fixer who always wants his own way, Gene Hackman plays the role with bravado and ease, and Dustin Hoffman as his moral counterpart - who is nevertheless drawn into this underground - is perfectly quiet and convincing. As 'Marlee' Rachel Weisz excels; is she ruthless and money-hungry, a citizen trying to do good, or merely a woman who enjoys toying with men's egos? The actress constructs an invisible barrier of falseness, so we are never quite sure of the character's motives. Sadly, John Cusack's lead character, Nick Easter, lacks any sort of depth; there is nothing wrong with the acting, but as a lead we need something larger, more captivating to lead us through this maze of lies and deceit. The film's major flaw, however is the reveal; the ending isn't as surprising as we would like, and should have been better concealed by the director. Still, 'Runaway Jury' is a decent thriller, holding together intense conversation and dynamic action around a well-written plot, even if it does flounder toward the end. The film isn't just a demonstration of good and evil, but one of games and conscience - it blurs the lines, and makes it harder for the audience to distinguish. Not of the highest class, but energetic and entertaining all the same.
superb legal thriller .. this flick shows on how jury system can be a vital point to change the justice or to uphold it .. similar theme with juror .. but lot more complication on suspense ..
This was good high drama and good cast, just thought the reason of the story was a little weak meaning the reason why this was all happening was a let down but other than that it was ok.
A great thriller about a jury being paid to vote in the way of a gun company, with two jurors who've lost loved ones in shootings refusing to play along. Superb cast and an intense film!
wow this was a good thriller..this had a good plot throughout the movie its has a good cast of characters throughout...i think that gene hackman is exellent in this movie,,,every1 in this movie plays a really good part....the director keeps you on the edge of you seat throguhout the movie because you dont know whats going to happen next i think that rachel weisz is just so hott in this movie..this was a pretty good film
I may be biased against John Cusack because I didn't like this movie very much. It wasn't as bad as The Pelican Brief, but it's not as good as A Time to Kill. . .the story is generic and I feel like John Grisham is just cashing them checks.
Once again.. Only John Grisham could think of something like this. It was very well thought out and carefully planned.. Both the movie and the book were excellent.
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