SNMR 1.24: "Presumed Innocent"

The first of this weekend's SNMR double feature is "Presumed Innocent" (1990, R, 127 minutes), starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia, Paul Winfield, John Spencer and Greta Scacchi. The film was directed by Alan J.Pakula.

For a long time, this has been one of my favorite Ford films. I had wanted to see the film after reading the novel in college. I was looking to see how much different the book and film were off. Once again Ford plays the average Joe, whose character is up against seemingly insurmountable challenges, who, with the outcome in doubt, manages to pull through.

From the DVD's dust jacket:

Presumed Innocent is a suspenseful whodunit, a sexy thriller, a powerful courtroom drama and a dazzling vehicle for Harrison Ford. He plays a deputy prosecutor engaged in an obsessive affair with a coworker (Greta Scacchi) who is murdered. Soon after, he's accused of the crime. And his fight to clear his name becomes a whirlpool of lies and hidden passions.
Brian Dennehy, Bonnie Bedelia, Raul Julia and Paul Winfield co-star under the crackling direction of Alan J. Pakula (The Pelican Brief, The Devil's Own). Suspense master Pakula uses Scott Turow's bestseller to examine the American legal system - discovering the sword of justice is double-edged.

From Martin & Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2006, p. 895:

Director Alan J. Pakula's superb version of Scott Turow's critically acclaimed bestseller features Harrison Ford as a prosecuting attorney who finds himself under suspicion when his mistress is murdered. Even if you've read the novel, you'll want to watch this gripping thriller.

This film is riveting all the way through. There are excellent performances given by many actors in this film. I thought Raul Julia was superb in the role of Sandy Stern, Harrison Ford's defense attorney. The script is well written and doesn't stray far from the novel, as I recall, except for one difference that I recall from the ending of the novel and the ending of the film. This drama will satisfy no matter how many times you've seen it. I'll give this film five out of five stars.