High Crimes (2002) Reviews

• Formulaic story saved by strong performances

  FlickJunkie-22002-08-31

  Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd (`Kiss the Girls') team up again in this courtroom thriller, which is entertaining despite its worn plot and obvious ending. The reason it doesn't descend to a level consistent with the screenplay's unoriginality is the superior acting by the three principal performers. Claire (Ashley Judd) and Tom (James Caviezel) are living an idyllic and romantic married life, trying hard to have a baby. Everything is going swimmingly until one day Tom is arrested and charged with murder and war crimes dating back to his military service and raid in El Salvatore years earlier. It seems Tom's entire identity is a lie and his name is really Ron Chapman, a former Special Forces commando. Claire, who is conveniently a prominent defense lawyer, takes up his case determined to prove he is innocent, choosing to believe his denials despite the fact that everything she knows about him is a fabrication. She hires Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman) to assist her because until he became a broken down alcoholic, he was once one of the top lawyers in the military. The film is paced well and balanced between courtroom drama and other related storylines like constant death threats, a dirty general and a mystery man. It is fairly standard fare, but the presentation is engaging. Morgan Freeman is such a terrific actor, that even a trite script can't keep him down. He is wily and insolent as the washed up lawyer with a few tricks left up his sleeve. Freeman projects an unassuming power in his work, full of dynamism yet highly amiable. His interaction with Judd is wonderful, treating her with avuncular kindness and intellectual respect. Ashley Judd is a fine dramatic actor, who returns to serious drama after an ill advised detour into romantic comedy (`Someone Like You'). Judd is razor sharp in this film, coming across as bright, energetic and passionate. She is tough as nails and doesn't back down to pompous military officers or thugs trying to intimidate her. Jim Caviezel rounds out the cast with a strong performance as the accused. This is a tough character because he is so mysterious and duplicitous. Caviezel delivered a strong portrayal of an enigmatic character in `Angel Eyes', so he had some experience with this type of role. He handles the part well, appearing utterly sincere whether his character is telling the truth or not. Amanda Peet gives her standard performance as Claire's hair brained and sex obsessed sister. Peet is no serious dramatic talent, but she has this character down and comes across as believably ditzy and concerned about her sister despite their obvious sibling rivalry. This film doesn't fool anyone with its surprise ending, but it does deliver good suspense, a tried and true formula and some excellent performances. I rated it a 7/10. It's worth a look for viewers who like mysteries.

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• Did He Do It, Or Didn't He?

  ccthemovieman-12006-10-02

  This was an involving story of a military man accused of murdering civilians 15 years earlier and then going A.W.O.L. The whole story revolves around one question: did he do it or is he innocent? That question keeps the viewer guessing for much of the film and provides some very good suspense. It's another film, however, in which there is a strong anti-U.S. military flavor, so typical in films since the 1960s. Also, once you know the ending, I doubt if this would be a movie you would watch more than once. However, it's definitely worth a look and will entertain you for about two hours. Ashley Judd, Jim Caviezel and Morgan Freeman are three attractive lead actors, all interesting to watch, as usual.

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• Judd And Freeman Makes High Crimes Watchable

  Desertman842012-09-18

  High Crimes is a thriller film starring Ashley Judd,Morgan Freeman and James Caviezel. It co-stars Amanda Peet and Adam Scott.The screenplay by the husband and wife screen writing team of Yuri Zeltser and Cary Bickley is based on a novel by Joseph Finder.It was directed by Carl Franklin. Defense attorney Claire Kubik seems to have the perfect life. She has a high profile job at a big firm, a beautiful home outside San Francisco, and a husband, Tom, who loves her. Claire's biggest problem appears to be that she wants to have a baby, and she's having trouble getting pregnant. But when the police investigate a routine break-in at her home, they uncover the truth about her husband's identity, and her life is thrown into turmoil. Claire finds out that her husband's name is actually Ron Chapman, and that he's an ex-marine accused of murdering seven innocent civilians in El Salvador during a raid in the late '80s. He admits that he was there, and that he changed his identity to escape prosecution for the crimes, but he insists that he's innocent, and that the massacre was committed by another soldier under the orders of a powerful general, who is using Ron as a patsy to cover it up. Claire is eventually convinced that Ron's telling the truth. Faced with defending her husband in an unfamiliar military courtroom, Claire enlists the aid of Charles Grimes, an ex-Army judge advocate with an ax to grind. Stonewalled by the military bureaucracy at every turn, they uncover a web of deception and disappearing witnesses, and they soon find their own lives in danger. The movie starts out as taut and intriguing story but seems to get more clichéd and predictable as it goes on.It has its fair share of decent courtroom scenes but the legal tussles are far better than the emotional ones.But nevertheless,it becomes fun and entertaining due to the performances of Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman.

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• An Enjoyable night at the movies!

  Robert_duder2002-05-05

  I had little expectations for this film but I was pleasantly surprised when I was sitting in the middle of it. The film is yes perhaps predictable and we've seen it all before but something about it is full of high energy and scares and thrills and it's the perfect night at the movies. Ashley Judd plays a high profile attorney who's life is turned upside down when her carpenter husband is arrested for murder years earlier while in the army. The twist is she didn't know he was ever in the army and everything from her husbands name to where he was during the murder is all new to her. Still she manages to trust him as best she can and offers to help the young, naive army attorney who has been assigned to her husbands case. To help them both with this heavy case that could bring the death penalty to her beloved husband they hire former Army Lawyer Charlie Grimes (played by Morgan Freeman.) Freeman is...well he's Morgan Freeman he doesn't really have to BE anything...but as usual he churns out a wonderful performance as the alcoholic lawyer who was discharged for dishonourable conduct. The case unfolds like a perfect mystery as the team of three along with Judd's sister played by Amanda Peet (who turns out can actually act...who knew) tries to find the truth behind the military cover up that ended up with the deaths of nine innocent civilians. All the pieces fit together and you're following the film on the edge of your seat and rooting for Judd's character. Everyone in this film plays a part and they play it just wonderfully. This movie is a real nail biter, with plenty of cheap scares and drama. Morgan Freeman, who during the course of the movie goes from recovered Alcoholic to re-newed Alcoholic is interesting enough to hold the whole movie but he doesn't have to. Unfortunately as with some good things...there is always a downside. The ending is a cheap, ridiculous thrill that is more of a let down than anything. After collecting all these facts that add up perfectly in everyone's mind including the audience, every single one of those facts are forgotten and tossed aside in order for a ridiculous supposed "surprise ending" which is not a shock or surprise or even a "oh my" ending. Such an enormous let down for such a fantastic film. Why they thought they had to end it like this is ridiculous. However...in saying that don't let that stop you from checking out this movie because it's well worth your ten bucks at the theatre, you won't be disappointed. I give this film a strong 8.5/10 but easily...without the ending could be taken as a 10/10 movie.

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• Of course. I wouldn't lie about it.

  lastliberal2007-06-22

  I show absolutely no hesitation in recommending any movie with Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar baby, The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en), and this is no exception. The fact that I am an Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy, Kiss the Girls) fan makes this a double pleasure. Let's just ignore the fact that this film is a cliché, and sit back and enjoy it. It has enough actors that we love that there is something you will enjoy. Besides Judd and Freeman, it has Jesus (James Caviezel) as the husband who is hiding his past, Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards) as the slutty sister, and it is directed by Carl Franklin (Out of Time, Devil with the Blue Dress). Anyone who has watched more than a dozen movies can easily predict what comes next as the film unfolds, maybe even the ending, although that is the most illogical part for me, so it's not going to tax your brain. It's just another good opportunity to see Judd and Freeman. That's enough for me.

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