CAST: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, John Leguizamo,Ryan Phillippe, Michaela Conlin, William H. Macy, Margarita Levieva, Katherine Moennig, Michael Paré, Michael Peña; DIRECTOR: Brad Furman; WRITER: Michael Connelly, John Romano; GENRE: Drama; RUNNING TIME: 119 min.
Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 18 and above.
Criminal Lawyer Mickey Haller (Matthew Mclonaughney) is the defense counsel of Louis Roulet (Ryan Philippe), a son of a rich family in Los Angeles who is charged of assaulting a woman prostitute. Haller asks his friend, a private invetigator Frank Levin (William Macy) to help him in the investigation for the merit of the case. As a lawyer, Haller expects Louis to cooperate primarily by confessing the whole truth to enable him to better prepare for his defense argument. Whilst Louis admits he was at the scene with the woman, he consistently denies doing the crime. The problem is Louis cannot tell everything because his narration includes that he passed out when someone attacked him from behind disabling him to recall what happened next. As the case progresses, Haller starts to doubt the credibility of his client because of more discoveries in the investigation of Levin. Unfortunately, even before Haller arrives at the conclusion, circumstances already claim the life of his friend Levin. Haller is convinced that Louis is the real culprit but as a lawyer his job is to defend his client. Realizing the deceiving attributes of Louis, Haller knows his former wife Maggie Mcpherson (Marissa Tomel) and 7-year old daughter can be the next target after his friend Frank.
“Lincoln Lawyer” offers the usual investigative story. However, it unusually focuses on the struggles of a lawyer about the truth, ethics of law profession and personal concerns instead of the crime. The director does a good job in the treatment of unconventional theme of a simple investigative crime story. It builds up interest as film progresses towards climax and conclusion. The acting particularly that of Mclonaughney and Philippe are commendable. The lines are well-delivered and so are the facial expressions. The frequent close-up shots of faces and items (i.e crime evidences, car plate number, hand gestures, sex scenes) encourages the viewers to look through the details and gets closer to the characters of the film. Other than the use of close-up camera angle, there is not much to say about the cinematography. The settings are also limited. Somehow, the viewers may wonder why discussion over sensitive matters of the case is done at public places like park. And why a lawyer like Haller seems to be holding "office" inside his car. But the lights and sounds are good compliments of the film.
Every profession has corresponding ethics to observe and doing so gives dignity to the work. In the case of law profession especially when at the side of defense it is the duty of a lawyer to prove the innocence of the client. The film "Lincoln Lawyer" shows how a lawyer struggles to succeed
in defending a guilty person. But he also makes sure that he is not off the hook and chain of future similar crimes by the same persion should stop. At the end of the day crime should pay and justice must be served. For the most part, the film speaks about dignity at work, concerns for friends, and respect and caring for love ones. But the film also has the tendency to be insensitive on woman prostitutes and the media person who received money out of bribery.
