Jagged Edge

1985

Jagged Edge

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 29

58%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,524
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Jagged Edge Photos

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Movie Info

When his wife is brutally murdered, San Francisco newspaper mogul Jeff Bridges is the prime suspect. High-priced defense lawyer Glenn Close takes the case, falling in love with Bridges in the process. Totally convinced of his innocence, Close earns Bridges an acquittal by producing surprise character witness Leigh Taylor-Young. Unfortunately, Close has allowed her heart to rule her head under the worst possible circumstances, as the film's slasher-movie finale proves. Though it starts with style and assurance, The Jagged Edge quickly descends into a mass of inconsistencies, cavernous plot holes, and neanderthal behavior on the part of the "smartest" characters. Only Robert Loggia, as a no-nonsense private eye, emerges from this melange without egg on his face.

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Cast

Glenn Close
as Teddy Barnes
Jeff Bridges
as Jack Forrester
Peter Coyote
as Thomas Krasny
Robert Loggia
as Sam Ransom
John Dehner
as Judge Carrigan
Karen Austin
as Julie Jensen
Guy Boyd
as Matthew Barnes
Marshall Colt
as Bobby Slade
Louis Giambalvo
as Fabrizi
Ben Hammer
as Dr. Goldman
Lance Henriksen
as Frank Martin
Sanford Jensen
as Scott Talbot
David Austin
as Policeman
James Karen
as Andrew Hardesty
Leigh Taylor-Young
as Virginia Howell
William Allen Young
as Greg Arnold
Lynn Stalmaster
Maria Mayenzet
as Page Forrester
Woody Eney
as Austin Lofton
Al Ruscio
as Carl Siegal
Sharon Hanian
as Assistant District Attorney
Sarah Cunningham
as Judge
Ann Walker
as Mrs. Barnes' Secretary
James Winker
as Ted Fitzpatrick
Bruce French
as Richard Duffin
Brandon Call
as David Barnes
Christina Hutter
as Jenny Barnes
John Furlong
as Butler
Karen Wonnell
as Stablehand
Phyllis Applegate
as Mrs. Stiles
John Clark
as Dr. Holloway
David Wiley
as Court Clerk
Sharon Madden
as City Editor
Jay Crimp
as Mrs. Barnes's Assistant
Mike Mitchell
as Bailiff
Diane Erickson
as Eileen Avery
Michael Dorn
as Dan Hislan
Walter Brooke
as Duane Bendix
Bill Gratton
as Jury Foreman
Joyce Shank
as TV Interviewer
Dean Webber
as Newscaster
John X. Heart
as Reporter
Brenda Huggins
as Reporter
Richard Marion
as Reporter
Edwina Moore
as Reporter
Sue Rihr
as Reporter
Suzanne Lodge
as Reporter
Judith Siegfried
as Reporter
Sally Train
as Reporter
Abigail Van Alyn
as Reporter
Terry Wills
as Reporter
Biff Yeager
as Reporter
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Critic Reviews for Jagged Edge

All Critics (29) | Top Critics (7)

  • The biggest fault of Jagged Edge is that whatever suspense it manages to generate in its climactic scenes is achieved artificially, through tricky editing and manipulative ''danger'' music.

    Jun 12, 2013 | Full Review…

    Jay Boyar

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • A well-crafted, hardboiled mystery.

    Feb 11, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The wholesome cast completely obliterates the unstated perversities that have been this genre's reason for being.

    Feb 11, 2008 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • These days it is almost unheard of for a movie to keep you guessing until the last frame, but this one does, partly because Marquand plays it so beautifully straight.

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The screenplay, by Joe Eszterhas, does what it can to throw up a smokescreen, but the audience will probably be well ahead of the story's final resolution.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • Like many entries into the genre, Jagged Edge works best when it's watched with a minimum of analysis.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (29)

Audience Reviews for Jagged Edge

  • Jul 22, 2012
    A suspenseful thriller/drama, Jagged Edge didn't blow me away but it kept me guessing until the end and it's worth watching if you enjoy murder mysteries.
    Joey S Super Reviewer
  • Apr 26, 2009
    Glen Close plays an unethical, client-fucking attorney who defends a newspaper mogul accused of stabbing his wife, then begins to suspect her client after he seduces - after she seduces -after they seduce each other. Soooo dreadfully Eszterhaz predictable. Saw the end coming 2/3 of the way through. (Which is probably way later than most people -I'm slow.) Fun Fact: Glen Close actually looks semi-female in this pic. Which is essential for the film to have any credibility, otherwise, who would believe Jeff Bridges would dip his wick in THAT???
    Pamela D Super Reviewer
  • Jun 15, 2007
    A great, tense and violent thriller as a laywer defends a man accused of killing his wife.....and starts to fall for him herself.
    Dean K Super Reviewer
  • Apr 01, 2007
    The whole selling point of this film at the time was it's "shock" ending. Which is so unbelievably predictable, a 2 year old could guess it. A waste of time.
    xGary X Super Reviewer
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