Lawyers of Orlando

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Description

High profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act.


Stills from Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Click for larger image)

An ambitious reporter takes an extraordinary risk to bring down a corrupt district attorney in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a modern-day remake of Fritz Lang's final feature. On occasion, Shreveport newsman C.J. (Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives) receives confidential tips from assistant D.A. Ella (Amber Tamblyn, Joan of Arcadia), but Ella hesitates to go out with him due to the conflict of interest. It doesn't help that he considers her boss, gubernatorial candidate Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas, whose performance recalls Wall Street's Gordon Gekko), "too smooth," adding, "I'm not sure he's honest," but she eventually yields to C.J.'s charms (hey, it worked for Gabrielle Solis). Little does she realize that he plans to expose Hunter as a fraud--by framing himself for an unsolved murder. C.J. figures if he teams up with cameraman Finley (Joel Moore), he can't lose, but he never stops to consider the consequences if something happens to Finley or the video that proves his innocence. So, the trial proceeds, but once Hunter gets wind of the scheme, he goes after C.J. with all his might. Ella is the only one who can help him, but to do so means to put her career--maybe even her life--on the line. There's a nasty twist at the end of this entertaining, if shallow, courtroom drama, and director/cinematographer Peter Hyams, who previously worked with Douglas on The Star Chamber, sprinkles the suspense with some tension-relieving zingers from Orlando Jones as a cop who suspects something fishy is afoot. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Reviews

Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2010-06-13
Summary: "Pretty Good"

The movie was okay, I like anything with Michael Douglas. The plot was not mysterious enough for me because I had it figured it out half way through the movie. But, entertaining and is on the mark with how actual District Attorneys and their ADA's pursue convictions.

---

Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-06-06
Summary: "I Want My Dollar Back"

That's all it cost me to rent this terrible movie. Some of the worst acting I've ever seen. That Amber gal and Jesse Metcalfe must have nepotism going for them because they have nothing else. I've had a string of bad movie experiences lately but this one annoyed me the most. Even CSI Miami trumps this

---

Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-04-15
Summary: "Thrilling Twists and Turns"

Michael Douglas plays a high profile lawyer and District Attorney, Mark Hunter, who is winning an overwhelming number of murder cases on DNA found on items at the murder scene. Mr. Hunter has an overwhelming record of putting criminals away. A young, handsome upstart journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalf) has a gut feeling that evidence tampering is going on. He is sure that the D.A. is "planting" DNA after the fact to get the perfect record and be a candidate for Governor.

C.J. Frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act. He and his newsroom buddy work together on the project. In the meantime, C.J. becomes romantically involved with the D.A.'s assistant, Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn), but he keeps his plan to "out" the D.A. secret from her. Ella becomes tangled in the mounting evidence of both men and her own life becomes threatened. C.J.'s innocence and the D.A.'s reputation end up in her hands.

"Beyond A Reasonable Doubt" is a very satisfying mystery with thrilling twists and turns.

---

Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-03-17
Summary: "Ouch!"

If you had told me I would some day watch a legal thriller in which Michael Douglas played a corrupt DA and I would hate it, I would never have believed you. That is almost an achievement in and of itself...although maybe it fell short there too, as there is nothing about this movie that is thrilling. I spend half the time wondering how they managed to lure Michael Douglas into this stinker.

---

Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-02-11
Summary: "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt"

What really kept this movie from being a box office hit in my opinion is the cast. Michael Douglas of course is very smooth and a great actor; however Jesse Metcalfe and Amber Tamblyn reminded me of my high school senioir play performance. Their acting skills were lacking. The story line I really liked. After viewing the first 30 minutes of the movie I thought it was so predictable. Then it went in another direction which kept me on the edge of my seat and I'm glad I didn't leave the room because the ending got a head nod from me and my jaw dropped. When you have a great script like this, the casting should have been better. Get actors who are in in the same league with Michael Douglas.