Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Richard Gere | ... | Martin Vail | |
Laura Linney | ... | Janet Venable | |
John Mahoney | ... | Shaughnessy | |
Alfre Woodard | ... | Shoat | |
Frances McDormand | ... | Molly | |
Edward Norton | ... | Aaron / Roy | |
Terry O'Quinn | ... | Yancy | |
Andre Braugher | ... | Goodman | |
Steven Bauer | ... | Pinero | |
Joe Spano | ... | Stenner | |
Tony Plana | ... | Martinez | |
Stanley Anderson | ... | Rushman | |
Maura Tierney | ... | Naomi | |
Jon Seda | ... | Alex | |
Reg Rogers | ... | Connerman |
When a young man, Aaron, is charged with the horrific murder of Archbishop Rushman, hot-shot Chicago lawyer Martin Vail takes on his defense at no charge. Aaron was a homeless street kid before he was taken in by the Archbishop. He's shy and speaks with a stammer. Vail is convinced that Aaron is innocent but after discovering a video that shows Aaron may have had good reason to want the Archbishop dead, he begins to question that conclusion. When Aaron lashes out at the psychologist examining him another personality, Roy, is revealed. With the trial already underway, Vail cannot change Aaron plea and so has to find a way to introduce his client's condition. Aaron has something of a surprise for him as well. Written by garykmcd
Into big city Chicago political corruption and moral decay comes an ingeniously deceptive sociopath from nearby backwoods Kentucky who we see at the opening as an altar boy singing in an all boy church choir that's performing for the city's elite at a social fundraiser for charity. Like another Gregory Hoblit film (Fracture), you have to accept a certain amount of implausibilities. Like the murder itself, for instance, around which the film evolves. But also like Fracture, this is another (earlier) and surprisingly good take on lawyers and prosecutors (Richard Gere and Lara Linney) and the elusive perfect crime. As well, is the part played by Edward Norton. He's got that backwoods hardscrabble menace down about as well as anyone since those Georgia hillbillies in Deliverance.