Find Me Guilty

I just saw this last night in Seattle. What drew me in was Sidney Lumet and when it started saying that all courtroom dialog was direct from transcripts of this trial, I sat forward. This turns out to be a classic New York Lumet film with all the trimmings. Vin does some of his best work to date (and I actually like some of his other films. This is not the all in the head of the writer trick - the transcript is the real heart of the film and so the key is truly bring to life the real words. That's not a simple thing. Lumet has the right balance to make it all work. For those that would ignore or wait for the DVD, take a chance and see with an audience. You do not get this kind of film from a great director of Lumet's caliber every day.

Make a jury think you are cute, funny and feel for you emotionally - and it doesn't matter that you are caught dealing coke. Just tell them "I'm not a gangster". They will not look at the pile of evidence or take the witnesses seriously. They will help to pay the hundreds of thousands of tax payers money, forget about the murders and drugs flooding society, and not even even take a considerable amount of time to reach a verdict. I don't understand how you could go from 'Twelve Angry Men', where reason and facts determined the judgement, to a movie like this where jurors make a verdict based on emotional appeal. Disappointed.

I must admit, though I'm a fan of Vin Diesel, I can't exactly call him a good actor. Sure, his movies are entertaining, but... This movie truly surprised me. It's about the trial of 20 New York Italian "gangstas" who get put on trial for various offenses, including conspiracy, robbery, and murder. Jackie, played by Diesel, decides to defend himself in lieu of paying $60,000 to a lawyer who did a good enough job to land him 30 years for coke. Basically the story is drawn from court testimony for the dialogue, and Diesel delivers in scene after scene. As Jackie, he battles against a big time New York lawyer, fighting not only for his own freedom, but for the the reputation of him and his "fellas," a group of charming thugs that he grew up with. The banter had me laughing out loud on many occasions, and I actually forgot I was watching a Vin Diesel movie (this is "The Pacifier"?) A MUST for not only Diesel fans, but anybody who wants a very solid, entertaining, and funny movie.

Before watching the movie, I asked myself, "Vin Diesel mixed up in this kind of movie?" Well yeah, and what a performance he offered. I can't recommend this movie highly enough to anyone who loves courtroom dramas. It is a great effort based on a true, interesting story. The whole thing takes place in a courtroom, from start to finish. This makes it even better. And Sydney Lumet did an brilliant job, as usual. The pace, the acting, the dialogues... Everything came out smoothly. Watch it if you didn't yet, watch it again if you had previously.

The only good thing about this movie is Louie Prima singing "When Your Smilin'" Ron Silver plays a good heavy as the judge but the rest of it so bad. Why even make a movie about this? Are they just trying to tell the truth or are they saying that it's OK to be a gangster? I guess to be a member of a jury in New Jersey (and in California) you have to be dead from the neck up. Also to be a prosecutor in New Jersey, you have to be the same I guess. The truth is that the gangsters were the smart ones in this incident and they never got out of grade school. Avoid this movie like the plague.

It's been a while since I've watched a Sidney Lumet film and it so happens to be the third one (atleast in my memory), a courtroom drama. The other two being 12 Angry men and The Verdict. This may not be as good as the other two but it still is entertaining. It was surprising to see Vin Diesel actually pull it off. He actually makes you believe through out the movie that he actually has some acting skills. Sidney Lumet has worked with pretty much everybody.. Henry Fonda.... Pacino... Paul Newman ... Don Johnson.... and now Vin Diesel... The bottom line is that the movie entertained.. especially when you think u're actually watching a Vin Diesel flick.

I'm a big Cassandra Hepburn fan. She's going to be in two more films "Hollywood Backlots" and in "Even Money". I'm glad to see her coming up. I hope this is a big success. Frankly I just want to see more of her in anything. She's got the makings of a great character actress. For those that have seen this did she have a big part or was this just a quick scene or what was the deal? Did she get to interact with Vin at all? Let me ask you this though about Vin, did his face look totally weird with the make up and all? I mean from the commercials I've seen his face looks like he's wearing some kind of mask. -Mav