Just Cause (1995)

A Harvard professor is lured back into the courtroom after twenty-five years to take the case of a young black man condemned to death for the horrific murder of a child.

Director:

Arne Glimcher

Writers:

John Katzenbach (novel), Jeb Stuart (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Capshaw

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	Paul Armstrong
Laurence Fishburne	...	Sheriff Tanny Brown
Kate Capshaw	...	Laurie Prentiss Armstrong
Blair Underwood	...	Bobby Earl
Ed Harris	...	Blair Sullivan
Christopher Murray	...	Detective T.J. Wilcox
Ruby Dee	...	Evangeline
Scarlett Johansson	...	Katie Armstrong
Daniel J. Travanti	...	Warden
Ned Beatty	...	McNair
Liz Torres	...	Delores Rodriguez
Lynne Thigpen	...	Ida Conklin
Taral Hicks	...	Lena Brown
Victor Slezak	...	Sgt. Rogers
Kevin McCarthy	...	Phil Prentiss

Storyline

Bobby Earl (Blair Underwood) is facing the electric chair for the murder of a young girl. Eight years after the crime, he calls in Paul Armstrong (Sir Sean Connery), a professor of law, to help prove his innocence. Armstrong quickly uncovers some overlooked evidence to present to the local police, but they aren't interested, Bobby was their killer.

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Plot Keywords:

child gagged | murder | florida | prison interview | african american | 

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Taglines:

Buried deep in the Florida Everglades is a secret that can save an innocent man or let a killer kill again.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The theatrical trailer of the movie contained a shot of a group of Boy Scouts discovering the severely decayed remains of a human body (presumably Joanie Shriver's) in the Everglades. This scene was omitted from the final cut.

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Goofs

We hear a dial tone on Paul Armstrong's cellular phone.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bobby Earl: Hey, you want my money, you best start throwing some elbow into that, boy. A dollar fifty, that's two bits shy of a car wash.
Kid Washing Car #1: A dollar fifty *each*.
Bobby Earl: Oh man, now you must got me confused with some other idiot.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tracey Fragments (2007)

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Soundtracks

Guantanamera
Written by Julian Orbon, José Fernández Díaz, Hector Angulo and José Martí
Arranged by Pete Seeger
Sung by Delores

User Reviews

Contrived, but somewhat entertaining

Although it borrows heavily from better and better-known films, Just Cause is quite entertaining. Several turns are predictable or hard to believe, but this film also shows some interesting character development with Sean Connery, who seems to be a little too old for this role, but was quite believable as the law teacher, who had to learn some lessons about reality and law as it is practised in reality. Laurence Fishburne and Ed Harris seem to enjoy their performances, which they deliver with much relish, and the atmosphere of the town and the Everglades are also captured nicely. But since the plot, especially the last third or so, is really contrived, and Kate Capshaw is so annoyingly bad and shallow in a key part that usually calls for a more sensitive performance, I can not really recommend this film wholeheartedly without having a guilty conscience. See it only if you have nothing else to watch.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Just Cause

Filming Locations:

Collier County, Florida, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,607,932, 20 February 1995

Gross USA:

$36,853,222

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$36,853,222

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Fountainbridge Films, Lee Rich Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1