Movie Review: 'Lincoln Lawyer' offers a solid plot, superb editing
Plenty of good snow up there, but if you're in the mood for a fine crime thriller you could certainly enjoy "The Lincoln Lawyer," currently playing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City.
The cast is solid, with craggy Matthew McConaughey as criminal lawyer Mickey Heller, who runs his law practice from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client who is working off his legal fees.
While the cast is excellent, what is really great is the photography by Lukas Ettlin and the editing by Jeff McEvoy. You get lots of camera play off the main characters and instead on the reactions of the juries and the judge. This is all cut in a tight time sequence and is much better than any meaningless 3-D stuff. You really get a sense of wheat is happening and how it affects actors. If ever there were people due to receive Oscars for technical work, it is these two.
But for the movie itself, this is a complex crime thriller with enough twists to keep even the most dedicated puzzle solver happy. Marisa Tomei is Margaret McPherson, Heller's ex-wife and mother of his daughter and a prosecuting attorney.
Not a big part but critical in giving an insight into Heller's character. Louis Ross Roulet is the rich kid accused of the murder of a hooker. He's pretty and sullen enough to be rich kid. His parents are not the nicest folk to walk doen Rodeo Lane, the mom in particular more than she seems.
It all goes back to a client Heller had but failed to successfully defend now spending time in the lockup. He's the key to getting Roulet out of one jam and into another. A nice twist.
Heller is a vivid character and Matthew McConaughey brings him off deftly, not as a hunk but sometimes unkempt smart lawyer who knows how the wheels of justice often roll over innocent people. Ted Minton is a stuffy image as the less-than-ethical prosecutor. And Raul Levin is an nicely unkempt private investigator who is murdered for his role in helping Heller.
No meandering around here, just solid plot moving to a clean ending. Pay attention as things can get happily complicated. But be sure and notice the fine camera work and nifty editing.
— Sam Bauman
Characters
— Mickey Haller - criminal defense lawyer
— Margaret McPherson - Haller's ex-wife, prosecuting attorney
— Louis Ross Roulet - the accused
— Ted Minton - prosecutor in Roulet's case
— Jesus Menendez - former client of Haller
— Dwayne Corliss - jailhouse snitch
— Reggie Campo - alleged victim of Roulet
— Martha Renteria - Menendez's alleged murder victim
— Raul Levin - Haller's investigator and colleague in Roulet's case
Cast
— Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller
— Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet
— Marisa Tomei as Margaret McPherson
— William H. Macy as Frank Levin
— Michaela Conlin as Detective Heidi Sobel
— Josh Lucas as Ted Minton
— Laurence Mason as Earl
— Frances Fisher as Mary Windsor
— John Leguizamo as Val Valenzuela
— Michael Peña as Jesus Martinez
— Margarita Levieva as Reggie Campo
— Bob Gunton as Cecil Dobbs
— Katherine Moennig as Gloria
— Reggie Baker as Judge Fullbright
— Mackenzie Aladjem as Hayley Haller
— Bryan Cranston as Detective Lankford
— Michael Paré as Detective Kurlen
— Pell James as Lorna Taylor
Directed by: Brad Furman
Produced by: Sidney Kimmel, Tom Rosenberg, Gary, Lucchesi, Richard Wright, Scott Steindorff
Screenplay by: John Romano
Based on: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Music by: Cliff Martinez, John Frizzell (replacement score not used)
Cinematography: Lukas Ettlin
Editing by: Jeff McEvoy
Running time: 119 minutes