Review of The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) by Lewis E — 23 May 2014

A very, very good crime/legal drama. The story about a slick successful but shady criminal defence attorney's moral integrity finally being put to the test is interesting while the director's seamless transition into flashbacks coupled with great pacing meant no moments ever felt boring or unnecessary. As a law student, I appreciated how they accentuated the legal battle through in depth court scenes without becoming tiresome. There is a reasonable amount of technical legal jargon and each conversation seems vital to understanding the events so enjoyment requires that close attention is paid to it throughout. 'Lincoln Lawyer' further shows how McConaughey is da man. Whose da man? He's da man. While not his best performance, he manages to capture well all the various tones of the film and integrate them into one interesting, morally confused character, definitely demonstrating why he is currently one of the most in demand actors. The courtroom case plays out nicely one step at a time, purposefully leaving you in the dark wondering how McConaughey is going to escape from his legally problematic situation whilst keeping whatever moral principles he still has intact. The revelation isn't as smart or dramatic as one might hope but it made sense.

All this and more places this amongst the finer films I have had the pleasure of viewing over the last year or so....and it didn't put me off being a lawyer which is good.