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

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Customer Reviews of Runaway Jury (Widescreen Edition)

Grisham book made proud By Gene Hackman and Rachel Weisz.
I was invited by a friend from the press to a viewing of the new John Grisham film, Runaway Jury. He knew that I was a fan of the original book, so he invited me to tag along with him while he reviewed the film. Now for starters, The movie is really nothing like the book at all. Some characters have their roles extended while some have theirs diminish. (Dustin Hoffman's role has been greatly extended from the book) and the original argument of the tobacco industry is change to a fight about gun control. While this makes this film the least faithful of all of John Grisham's books turn to movies, it turns out to be the second best of all of them (The Firm of course being the best). Gene Hackman makes the character of Rankin Fitch
His own, bring a sense of menace to his role. While this is Gene's third go around in a John Grisham movie, this is his best turn. He really has a commanding presence, and commands the screen with zeal. Dustin Hoffman is well cast as Wendell Rohr, Hackman's counterpart in the lawsuit. While Dustin's character was not as prominent in the book, his character is giving a nice boost up in the film. Maybe because of the stature of an actor that Dustin Hoffman is but in the long run is really not as commanding a presence as Gene Hackman is in this movie. John Cusack is perfect as Nicholas Easter, making him sort of a every man hero with a purpose but also with a secret that will not be reveled by me (you got to see the movie) And Rachel Weisz is perfection in the flesh as. Marlee. Not only does she captures the character with a sense of coolness, mystery, and complexity but she also holds her own with the great Gene Hackman, and does not lose face in the process. Her performance is as captivating as Hackman, and just as powerful.

While there is more character interaction that court room interaction (unlike the book). You never feel cheated by what is on screen.

Don't expect a faithful connection to the book, but expect a very good movie none the less.

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Jury Rigged
While I wouldn't exactaly call myself a huge fan of author John Grisham's legal thrillers, (I have only read A Time To Kill and The Chamber) I have seen a majority of the filmed adaptations that have been released over the years. For the most part, though, some of them are put together better than others, have been pretty entertaining nonetheless. Runnaway Jury is among the better of the Grisham potboilers.

It's a game of cat and mouse. When the widow of shooting victim sues a gun manufacturer for damages, defense attorney Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman) and his jury consultant(Jeremy Piven), face an uphill climb. It seems the gun manufacturer has hired the best in the business, Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) for their jury consultant. Fitch uses all of the means at his disposal to find the perfect jury, even if, it's not on the up and up. Both the prosecution and defense get more than they bargained for though, when juror Nicholas Easter (John Cusack), and his girlfriend (Rachel Weisz) have an agenda of their own.

Directed by Gary Fleder, the film wouldn't have been as good, with a different cast. The stars elevate the movie to a whole nother level. Hackman, in his third Grisham film, turns in a first rate performance. His scene with Hoffman in the mens room is worth the price of admission ala De Niro/Pacino in Heat. Cusack and Weisz are good too. The actors makes an otherwise maudlin script, at times, so much better. Fleder redeems himself as a director, after the mixed effort, that was Don't Say A Word. Some solid stuff.

Runnaway Jury is a **** star effort that is well worth a look. Recommended

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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.