Cheap Runaway Jury (Full Screen Edition) (DVD) (John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Rachel Weisz) (Gary Fleder) Price

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Customer Reviews of Runaway Jury (Full Screen Edition)

Not a hint of Grisham anywhere to be found in this movie.
Adaptation to the John Grisham book leaves a bad taste in your mouth because of its bias views towards gun control and its disregard of the book which it come from. The director over produces this film in ways that are really not necessary, and cuts a way from key dramatic scenes a little too early in its wake in order to make the film seem hip. The acting is (like every one has been saying) the only redeeming thing in the movie because it least it shows actors who still care for the craft. Gene Hackman has done this role so many times before but it still as fresh as it was yesterday. Rachel Weisz is compelling as Hackman's thorn on his side, matching his acting chops mano to mano on the screen. She is the only actor in the entire movie that is as strong as he is in her performance. Dustin Hoffman is good as well and he does show that he is still a great actor but his character does not have as much prominence as Hackman and Weisz, and he role is diminish as the movie goes on. The movie would have been a better one if they just stick to the books premise but they did not. What we have here before us a lap sided movie that has great acting but a lousy story that lacks all of the intelligence and the wit of the John Grisham novel.

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Jury Duty WIll Never Be The Same!!
"Runaway Jury," based on John Grisham's thriller, is terrific light entertainment that had me riveted to the screen. How can one go wrong with Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman and John Cuzack as lead actors? The four screenwriters, Brain Koppelman, David Levien, Rick Cleveland and Matthew Chapman skillfully created an intriguing, suspenseful drama from the book. Film director Gary Fleder manages the tension which focuses on juror number 13. And the suspense keeps building to a bang-up climax with an unusual twist. Now this is not a great film that will be viewed as a classic in 10 years. The movie has its hackneyed moments and when they came - I didn't mind at all. This is a 'fun' thriller where one wants to root for the good guys and hiss at the villains.

A disgruntled employee, recently fired from his New Orleans brokerage firm, returned to the office with a semi-automatic weapon and brutally murdered more than a score of his fellow employees. One of the dead victims' wives sues the gun manufacturer and hires progressive attorney Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), to represent her. The gun lobby, fearful of a precedent-setting verdict hires the ruthless, brilliant Jury Consultant Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) to investigate the potential jury pool and handpick the jury. Fitch, a masterful manipulator, wires-up the defense attorney, hides a camera in a briefcase set on the defense table and directs the defense case from a war room where a cast of hit men, investigators and computer technicians assist him. Counselor Rohr has one Jury Consultant, hired at the last moment, and he doesn't seem to have computer access. But Rohr, who believes in his client, his case and the integrity of the jury system is not the slightest bit intimidated by his opponents.

Nick Easter, (John Cusack), wangles his way past Fitch's radar and gets on the jury. And this is where the action really begins. Easter, assisted by his lovely cohort Marlee, (Rachel Weisz), play both the defense and the prosecution, offering, (and threatening) to manipulate the jury for the highest bidder. Exciting stuff...but I won't spoil the plot!

Gene Hackman is such a marvelous villain. He barks orders and orchestrates operations as a general would wage a war. And he's a mean man to cross. Hoffman is a much older "Graduate" figure - still idealistic and fighting the 'establishment.' And Cusack plays his role to perfection. One just doesn't know where, how or when he will make his move. I think this is Grisham's best screen adaptation yet. Not deep - just fun!
JANA

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The strong performance of Rachel Weisz is the only plus here
Derivative thriller that not only does not stay close to the book but also lacks the insight to give a better show. The script has too many problems and the pacing starts and stalls at will in the most starling of moments. The acting is fine with Rachel Weisz stealing the show and doing better than she should have consitering the script is flat and Gene Hackman doing his best work in years. The whole espionage aspect to the film just does not work, and in reality, the case would have been throng out of a real court. The acting is the only plus in this film and that is a miracle because the rest of the film just does not work.

Thanks to Rachel Weisz and Gene Hackman, the movie is just ok but if it had a decent script, it could have been better.