Review of Presumed Innocent (1990) by Kylie P — 06 Jan 2009

A very good mystery/thriller with a hummer of a twist that most viewers probably wouldn't see coming because the story is told so completely and with just such a slant that reasonable doubt plagues the mind until the conclusion of the film. It's also a finely told story, with a complete and satisfying series of events given full dimension and closure.

The performances were very good in this film, particularly by Bedelia and by Julia as supporting players who showed ranges of emotion without betraying motives or secrets they might harbor--and, for the record, the poignant theme of this film is that no character is exempt from moral degradation. Even the most upstanding character has a dark side or set of impulses that can't exactly be considered on the up and up or explained, except in the quest for personal gain. The performance that was less than convincing was Ford's. In this movie, he had to walk a fine line between bland, by-the-book attorney and someone deeply repressed and motivated to have a passionate and adulterous affair that bordered on obsession, as the movie implies. He's the central figure, the heart of the mystery, and morally ambiguous, and yet his performance felt a little two-dimensional, a little flat, almost as if he was bored by the whole thing and at least until his character started to face real consequences. Even then, he played the character almost like a robot, except one scene in which he breaks down in tears at the thought of Carolyn being dead as his wife looks on with confusion and unsettled disappointment, and that scene felt a little forced.

The editing also betrayed some continuity issues. When the movie opens, it's evident that the filmmakers were filming in and around Detroit. and also from the Canadian side in Windsor, Ontario, for the Renaissance Center was in one of the opening frames. Later on, they were in Brian Dennehy's office, possibly after he loses his election bid , and the sky-level view of city behind his widely windowed new office is clearly the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago, which is easily recognizable if you've ever been up in the Sears Tower. Also, the pacing of this movie was a little slow and lagging, particularly in the middle third. Still, the film offers a good yarn with an unsuspected twist and is highly recommendable.