I can’t remember which review or comment steered me away from this film at first, but I actually thought it turned out to be quite entertaining and suspenseful. It comes from a crime novel by Michael Connelly, whose books are usually quite good, about a lawyer in L.A. (played by Matthew McConaughey) who is working low-level cases out of his Lincoln town car when he happens upon a high-profile case and client.
It’s been a long time since Matthew McConaughey has had a decent role like this … not since “A Time to Kill” (1996) and perhaps “Contact” (1997). Kudos to him for getting back on the radar screen and away from all the rom-com fluff. It’s also good to see Marisa Tomei and William H. Macy in supporting roles in this.
The movie rolls with pace and has some good plot twists along the way with suspenseful court-room drama. It portrays the seedier side of the justice system and the deals that are cut long before the verdict. For a snowy afternoon, it held my attention from beginning to end.
