Review of Find Me Guilty (2006) by Thomas W — 14 Sep 2008

This is a small movie in just about all ways. It takes place almost entirely in four or five different rooms, and primarily in the courtroom. It doesn't have big courtroom-movie moments, it doesn't have gangster-movie moments. It doesn't have big comedy moments or big drama moments. What is has are a collection of strong but realistic characters, in stressful but believable situations, and visible but not overplayed conflicts. It's a movie that doesn't expect itself to be a big movie, and seems content with its place. I like any movie that is willing to believe that I, the viewer, have some intelligence.

Most of the time when a movie takes place primarily in a court room we can expect sermonizing, melodrama, or quickly-tired jokes. Find Me Guilty toes close to the the latter two, but always tightens its reigns just when it might slip into convention.

I think I'm one of the rare people who really does like Vin Diesel (or maybe, it's that I want to like him) but I'm given so few opportunities to really do so. Most of his movies suck. Most of his performances suck, in large part, I think, because he has allowed films to use him like this decade's Jean Claude Van Damme: action star without much else. I think people look at the muscles, the often shaved head, and the deep-as-a-buldozer-engine voice and see a mindless action star. They cast him in mindless action movies, and expect from him mindless action acting. But there have been real flashes in some of the in-between: his performance (especially his final scene) in Saving Private Ryan was extraordinary. He elevated Boiler Room from a decent to very good drama. This is probably his best performance to date. He's funny, he's believable, and he's very likable without trying to be sympathetic.