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Critics Consensus: An implausible but entertaining legal thriller.
Critic Consensus: An implausible but entertaining legal thriller.
All Critics (159) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (43) | DVD (22)
Director Gary Fleder's brisk, assured pacing also makes the implausibilities go down easier.
[T]his film ranks just below The Firm and The Client on the list of John Grisham-inspired thrillers, thumbs up.
A lot of famous faces populate the courtroom in this overplotted and farfetched tale of jury-tampering, but they and the horse they rode in on are all so mired in illogical, head-scratching incoherence, they need lawyers of their own.
As in all his films, there's a sense that honest human emotion bores Fleder, but he gets points for packing the trial with fine character actors, all of them adept at wringing humor and poignancy from cliche.
In spite of its cheesy plot twists, thoroughly second-rate direction, and criminally wasted ensemble, Runaway Jury adds up to a nice little gotcha! courtroom melodrama.
Fleder's direction confirms the impression left by his previous films, Don't Say a Word and Kiss the Girls among them, that he's a hack.
Legal thriller isn't aimed at kids.
One of the most engrossing underrated legal thrillers in years...
...the best cinematic rendering of a Grisham novel ever, which is either saying a quite lot or very little at all, depending upon your view of things Grisham.
The film's action is limited to repeatedly ransacking Cusack's apartment, and the plot is rife with Big-Brother-is-watching paranoia.
The best Grisham adaptation yet, this one is definitely worth a look.
A guilty pleasure for some, a waste of time for most.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. You're constantly engaged as this tale takes different twists and turns to keep you guessing. Highly recommend.
Super Reviewer
Thrilling dramatic thriller, Runaway Jury is a worthwhile film to watch that boasts a great cast of talented actors and a well constructed story. I thought that this was a very entertaining film, one that was gripping from start to finish, and always kept you on the edge of your seat. The mix of thrills, mixed with the courtroom aspect of the story goes well hand in hand, and it makes for an even more compelling picture. Runaway Jury is not perfect, but for the most part, it's a well crafted dramatic thriller that is elevated by its cast, which makes you forget the film's shortcomings. Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman give the film's strongest performances, especially Hackman who is intense in his role, and he really nails the character he portrays. Overall, the film is well done, entertaining, and tells an engaging story that is sure to appeal to viewers that enjoy a good courtroom drama. Although it doesn't break ground in this genre of film, Runaway Jury is yet another perfect example of a well executed drama that has a story set in a courtroom. At times the film could have been refined, but overall, I was very much entertained, especially, like I said before, the performances here are magnetic, and make up for the weaker aspects of the movie. I've only seen one film by director Gary Fleder before this one, and here he delivers a terrific drama that manages to really be entertaining enough despite its flaws, and it's one of those cases where the performances save the film from being a total bore, as the story itself is nothing too elaborate. Runaway Jury has its weak parts, but it's a worthy viewing, and it's a bit underrated as well, it may not be the best courtroom drama, but it's not the worst either.
A decent courtroom thriller based on John Grisham's 1996 novel. Sure the premise stretches plausibility but the overqualified cast (John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman) do a fantastic job giving the proceedings depth and intrigue. Nothing too life changing but enjoyable on a rainy day.
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