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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

"Runaway Jury" Takes Us for a Ride
Christian Prosser, Corner Post Staff

Ever doze off during a movie? With a plot that keeps you guessing and a cast that makes it happen, "Runaway Jury," has got you from the first scene. We're not talking your typical summer "non-stop thrill-ride." This is more of a quality film that doesn't rely on cheap thrills, but more on a carefully constructed plot, and dialogue that ties it together perfectly.

We open with Dylan McDermott, a broker who is gunned down by a disgruntled day-trader. In the aftermath of his murder, his widow files a lawsuit against the gun manufacturer that the gun was made easily available to the shooter. In the process of jury selection, Nick Easter (John Cusack, "Grosse Pointe Blank,") is chosen for jury duty. Gene Hackman ("Royal Tennenbaums,") plays Rankin Fitch, a jury selection expert on the side of the gun company with a team of researchers digging up dirt on every juror. Fitch soon finds that Easter is more than just a juror, but despite his best efforts, Easter still makes it on to the jury. Dustin Hoffman ("Moonlight Mile") is on the other side of the proverbial fence as the sly southern prosecuting attorney Wendell Rohr. Lastly, Rachel Weisz ("Confidense,") comes into play as Marley, Easter's partner who has her own little duels with Fitch.

Based on the John Grisham book and adopted for the screen by skilled writer Brian Koppelman ("Rounders,)" and well-directed by Gary Fleder ("Don't Say a Word,"). The cast itself naturally shines. Cusack does a good job as the manipulative juror, but doesn't get much chance to dazzle the audience with dialogue. Weisz however, shines in her engagements with Fitch and Rohr. Hackman, per usual, gives a great performance and has some good snippets with his underlings who, themselves have some good commentary while staking out jurors. Hoffman also does an excellent job as the prosecutor desperately trying to hold onto his morals.

On the down side, John Cusack is underplayed in one of the lead rolls. Dustin Hoffman stretches the limits of his character getting a little bit hyperactive, and occasionally slipping on the southern accent. The plot also relies a little too heavily on the stereotype of former Marine juror, who comes off more as a member of the Hitler Youth.

In the end, it would've been difficult for this movie to turn out bad with the stellar cast, and the plot originally supplied by John Grisham. Nicely done, could've been better, but I still wouldn't miss it.

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