High Crimes

2002

High Crimes

Critics Consensus

Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman make this predictable affair watchable.

31%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 133

50%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 38,851
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Movie Info

Defense attorney Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) seems to have the perfect life. She has a high profile job at a big firm, a beautiful home outside San Francisco, and a husband, Tom (James Caviezel of The Thin Red Line), who loves her. Claire's biggest problem appears to be that she wants to have a baby, and she's having trouble getting pregnant. But when the police investigate a routine break-in at her home, they uncover the truth about her husband's identity, and her life is thrown into turmoil. Claire finds out that her husband's name is actually Ron Chapman, and that he's an ex-marine accused of murdering seven innocent civilians in El Salvador during a raid in the late '80s. He admits that he was there, and that he changed his identity to escape prosecution for the crimes, but he insists that he's innocent, and that the massacre was committed by another soldier under the orders of a powerful general (Bruce Davison), who is using Ron as a patsy to cover it up. Claire is eventually convinced that Ron's telling the truth. Faced with defending her husband in an unfamiliar military courtroom, Claire enlists the aid of Charles Grimes (Morgan Freeman), an ex-Army judge advocate with an axe to grind. Stonewalled by the military bureaucracy at every turn, they uncover a web of deception and disappearing witnesses, and they soon find their own lives in danger. High Crimes was adapted from Joseph Finder's novel by the husband and wife screenwriting team of Yuri Zeltser and Cary Bickley. The film was directed by Carl Franklin (One False Move), and co-stars Amanda Peet and Adam Scott. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Cast

Ashley Judd
as Claire Kubik
Morgan Freeman
as Charlie Grimes
Jim Caviezel
as Tom Kubik
Adam Scott
as Lt. Embry
Amanda Peet
as Jackie
Michael Gaston
as Maj. Waldron
Bruce Davison
as Gen. Marks
Tom Bower
as FBI Agent Mullins
Juan Carlos Hernández
as Maj. Hernandez
Jude Ciccolella
as Col. Farrell
Emilio Rivera
as Salvadoran Man
Michael Shannon
as Troy Abbott
John Billingsley
as Oshman
Dendrie Taylor
as Lola
Paula Jai Parker
as Gracie
John Apicella
as Franklin
Dawn Hudson
as La Pierre
Samuel Sheng
as Josh
Florence Regina
as Nurse
Julie Remala
as Mrs. Stenstrom
Kyle T. Heffner
as San Francisco Judge
Joe Mazza
as San Francisco D.A.
Jesse B'Franklin
as Ramona
Terry Wayne
as Bartender
Maureen McVerry
as Female Attorney
Jakob J. Gentry
as Male Attorney No. 1
C. Anthony "Charles" Jackson
as Male Attorney No. 2
Julia Mendoza
as Givens
Ray Hanis Jr.
as Cook
Don Bajema
as Mr. Arguer
Edith Bryson
as Mrs. Arguer
Rusty Mahmood
as Mahmood
Patsy Bob Rust
as Pickup Truck Driver
Don J. Byron
as F.B.I. Agent
Saiba Roberts
as F.B.I. Swat Guy
Adam Segen
as General's Aide
Eddie Santiago
as Guard No. 1
Arlen Escarpeta
as Guard No. 2
Lucas Ford
as Guard No. 3
Andrew Wesely
as Marine
Alex Nesic
as Bailiff
Cynthia Shope
as Court Stenographer
Stephen Jared
as Military Guard No. 1
Randy Mulkey
as Military Guard No. 2
Karen Kahn
as Reporter No. 1
Paul Ghiringhelli
as Reporter No. 2
Elaine Corral Kendall
as Reporter No. 3
Danny Freeman
as Reporter No. 4
Linda Laing
as Reporter No. 5
Lee Whittaker
as Student in San Salvador
Alicia Kepler
as Mother Holding Baby
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Critic Reviews for High Crimes

All Critics (133) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (92)

View All Critic Reviews (133)

Audience Reviews for High Crimes

  • Jul 09, 2011
    Slick but unapologetically manipulative while losing credibility by the minute towards the end. Female lawyers were in high fashion during the <i>Ally McBeal</i> era, and here we get a crafty Ashley Judd sporting a variety of bad Marcia Clark hairdos. Her performance is a good one though, while Amanda Peet seizes the opening provided by Judd's lousy locks as top hottie, and Morgan Freeman steals every scene as a has-been military counsel. I was enjoying myself with a lenient attitude of acceptance, but <i>High Crimes</i> couldn't even behave itself within that loose criteria. Overplayed red herrings, people suddenly appearing to save the day in a different city (and in one case a different country!), and a "surprise" ending that finalizes the exasperation. Too bad because I was ready to give a recommendation at the halfway point, but it lamentably loses a full star from there on.
    Doctor S Super Reviewer
  • Jan 16, 2010
    High Crimes follows the struggle of attorney Claire Kubik, played by Ashley Judd, to exonerate her husband, played by James Caviezel, who has been charged with the murder of innocent people that supposedly happened during a covert operation fifteen years earlier. Jim Caviezel was magnificent and shone in his role here.... could weep tenderly on cue and be the affectionate husband to his wife who desperately wants a child, and be the perfect criminal to the extent of even passing a lie detector test when he was presumed guilty. Claire defends her husband in the court case with the help of another lawyer, Charles Grimes (Morgan Freeman).They played off each other perfectly and Amanda Peet was very watchable in her underwritten role. Despite its flaws, I was entertained and engrossed by the intriguing storyline but the final twist unfortunately became all too evident because the entire movie tried to convince us otherwise.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 03, 2009
    (2002 Director: Carl Franklin) Classic "Who can you really trust?" movie. Ashley Judd stars as a lawyer married to a soldier ((James Caviezel) whom she defends for war crimes he allegedly committed while in the armed forces. A bit mediocre.
    Teresa S Super Reviewer
  • Jun 20, 2009
    Nothing spectacular. Somewhat predictable, but then again the twists werent totally obvious. I loved Jim Caviezel in this, and I am always a fan of Morgan Freeman, and Ashley Judd was good and the rest of the cast supported the film well. Story was interesting and had several twists in it. Simple ending but still good. And again I have to mention how much I though Caviezel shined in this even though he wasnt in a good portion of the movie. He was convincing for me. Good enough thriller, not the best Ive seen but good enough to watch again.
    Sarah . Super Reviewer
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