High Crimes (2002)

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers (WGA):

Joseph Finder (novel)
Yuri Zeltser (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Everything you trust. Everything you know. May be a lie...

Plot:

High powered lawyer Claire Kubik finds her world turned upside down when her husband, who she thought was Tom Kubik...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Marine | Murder | Terrorist | Pool

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ashley Judd	...	Claire Kubik
Morgan Freeman	...	Charles W. Grimes
James Caviezel	...	Tom Kubik / Sgt. Ron Chapman (as Jim Caviezel)
Adam Scott	...	Lt. Terrence Embry
Amanda Peet	...	Jackie
Bruce Davison	...	Brig. Gen. Bill Marks
Tom Bower	...	FBI Agent Mullins
Juan Carlos Hernández	...	Maj. James Hernandez
Michael Gaston	...	Maj. Lucas Waldron
Jude Ciccolella	...	Col. Farrell
Emilio Rivera	...	Salvadoran Man
Michael Shannon	...	Troy Abbott
John Billingsley	...	Lie Detector Coach
Dendrie Taylor	...	Lola
Paula Jai Parker	...	Gracie

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:AA | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificates #38676)

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In early versions of the script, Ashley Judd's character was to be a Harvard law professor.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the hallway after the pre-trial hearing, Charlie Grimes adjusts his tie twice.

Quotes:

Claire Kubik: Lieutenant, I am an attorney. May I please see the charging document?
Lt. Embry: We call it a charge sheet.
Claire Kubik: Fabulous. May I see it?

Movie Connections:

References Kiss the Girls (1997)

Soundtrack:

Stripper Bar Groove

High Suspense

What do you do when life throws you a curve, when you're blind-sided by a situation totally out of the blue, a situation unbelievable and inexplicable that has to do with the past of the person you love most in the whole world? A past of which you've never had so much as a hint or knew existed? It's a situation that is examined by director Carl Franklin in `High Crimes,' a film that is part courtroom drama, part suspense/thriller (with emphasis on the latter), and which illustrates the facility with which the black and white definition of someone's life can in a moment be tainted and overwhelmed by shades of gray. And it becomes, then, a story about courage and commitment, and most importantly, trust and truth, the basic ingredients that make up the mortar that holds our society and our very lives together; and as this film points out, if the mixture of that mortar is not pure, it is a very tentative seal, indeed, that binds us together.

Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) seemingly has the perfect life; she's a successful criminal defense attorney (about to become a partner in the firm), has a beautiful home in the San Francisco Bay area and a wonderful husband, Tom (James Caviezel), with whom she is hoping to have a baby soon, which would make her life complete. Then suddenly, it all comes crashing down around her, when Tom is arrested by the F.B.I. and charged with murder. And, as if that's not bad enough, it's a military case-- Tom is facing a court martial stemming from an incident in 1988 when Tom was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The incident occurred in El Salvador; after the bombing of a restaurant in which three Americans were killed, a detachment of Marines-- Tom's unit-- was sent to a small village in pursuit of the rebel terrorist responsible for the bombing. According to the military intelligence that had been gathered, the villagers there would have information about the perpetrator. But as the interrogations began, things went bad somehow, and some of the villagers ended up dead. And fingers pointed to Tom as the shooter.

Claire, of course, believes that Tom is innocent, and decides to take on the case-- and the military-- herself. She feels confident in her ability to defend him and get to the truth. After all, she has a strong case-- if only she can uncover the identity of the real shooter, then prove it in a court of law that operates within parameters that extend beyond her personal frame of reference.

As can be expected with a film like this, there is much more to it than meets the eye, and director Franklin does a great job of putting his characters (and his audience) through their paces with it. There are a number of forks in the road along the way to the climax, and he puts them all to good use, building the tension and maintaining it right up to the very end. He spends just enough time in the courtroom scenes to make them effective; he does not dwell on them nor linger there. Instead, he keeps most of the story elsewhere, which works well, because that's where the action and the thrills reside. Most importantly, he keeps it all moving right along and keeps you guessing; he never tips his hand too soon, and it makes for some riveting suspense.

Franklin knows how to handle his actors, too, and he gets some first rate performances out of them, especially from Judd and Morgan Freeman, who are great on-screen together (as they were in their previous collaboration, `Kiss the Girls,' in 1997). Judd is charismatic and has a down-to-earth persona she manages to bring to whatever character she is playing that enables the audience to connect with her. Her Claire is professional, but well grounded-- which gives something of a fresh face to the usual portrayal of lawyers in film, and she's entirely convincing, which, of course, adds much to the credibility of the story. As with any good actor, the essence of her character can be found in her eyes, which honestly reflects who this person really is. Judd gives so much more than a by-the-numbers performance, and she gets results accordingly; Claire is very real, and because of that, you care what happens to her.

As Charlie Grimes, the former Marine lawyer (who back in the day had more than some trouble with the system of military justice) now in a less-than-thriving private practice, Morgan Freeman effectively creates a memorable character, bringing that extra something to the part-- as he has in films throughout his career-- with yet another excellent performance. Freeman has a natural quality that comes through so well on screen (as it certainly does here), he always gives his best, and he makes it look so easy while he's doing it. A good job from one of the finest actors around.

Caviezel also does a convincing turn as Tom, as does Adam Scott, as Lt. Terrence Embry, the young attorney assigned by the Marines to Tom's case, and Amanda Peet, as Jackie Grimaldi, Claire's somewhat irresponsible sister.

The supporting cast includes Tom Bower (Agent Mullins), Michael Gaston (Waldron), Juan Carlos Hernandez (Hernandez), Jude Ciccolella (Farrell) and Emilio Rivera (Attacker). A well crafted and delivered thriller that will get and keep you emotionally involved, `High Crimes' is entertaining, but frustrating, as well. It keeps you on the edge of your seat while taunting you with the absolutes of a military tribunal that makes the term `Military justice' seem like an oxymoron; there are times, in fact, when you'll want to yell at the screen and plead for someone or other to use some common sense and acknowledge the proof of what's placed right in front of them. But it's all a part of the ride, and it's a good one; it is, in fact, the magic of the movies. 8/10.