Directed by Arne Glimcher Starring: Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Capshaw, Blair Underwood, Ed Harris, Kevin McCarthy, Daniel Travanti, Ruby Dee, Christpher Murray, Lynne Thigpen, Ned Beatty, Scarlett Johansson. Synopsis: A well respected Harvard law professor is asked by a condemned killer on death row in Florida to take up his case based on his innocence and conviction steeped in racial prejudice. This is a good one. Really good, to paraphrase William Shatner. The story is compelling, pulling in so many different issues and dealing well with all of them: our legal system, the death penalty, the issues of class and race in punishment or criminals, and our good old fascination with psychopathic killers. Most of us, especially those of us with some experience in the criminal justice system, will find something here of interest, and it is all dealt with realistically. Not only that, but the film continually takes you somewhere that you didn't expect it to...I just love it when that happens.
Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery Family Business) is a well known law professor who is respected for his anti-death penalty views, but it has been years since he has been in the court room. He leads a comfortable life in Massachusetts with his former prosecutor wife (Kate Capshaw A Girl Thing). He's contacted out of the blue by the grandmother (Ruby Dee) of an Ivy League educated man on death row in Florida named Bobby Earle (Blair Underwood Malibu's Most Wanted) It seems that Bobby Earle has been sent to death row largely as a result of racial prejudice, his being a forced confession in the murder of a young white girl named Joanie Shriver.
Reluctantly and largely at the urging of his wife, Paul decides to take the case and is soon in Florida representing Bobby Earle and finding strong indication that the true murderer or Joanie Shriver is actually a resident of death row along with Bobby Earle, infamous serial killer Blair Sullivan (Ed Harris An Eye For An Eye).
Paul is not seen as the welcoming hero in Bobby Earle's hometown as he investigates the case, and the town's African American Chief of Police, Taney Brown (Laurence Fishburne Deep Cover) is among the least hospitable, which is the first indication that things might not be what they seem at first glance.
You all know that I will never be the spoiler, but I think any of you who have seen this excellent flick would agree with me when I tell you that there are several twists in this tale and, frankly, I doubt most of you will see them comng. I know I sure didn't. But, anyone can make a movie with a twist.
Whether or not the twist works is another story, it depends on the quality of the story and, of course, the acting. Here, the story is incredible and the acting is top shelf across the board. When you have actors the quality of Ned Beatty, Kevin McCarthy, and Lynne Thigpen doing one scene in your flick, you most likely have top tier actors as your major characters. Connery is excellent, but you knew that so I won't waste your time with that. This was the flick that convinced me that Fishburne was truly an extremely talented actor and Ed Harris is simply unbelievably good in his role as a psyhcopathic, Scripture quoting serial killer.
And, if that is not enough, Blair Underwood literally transforms on film before our eyes, if that is not great acting, what is? Those of you looking at this flick for the first time even though its an oldie, keep an eye peeled for a very young Scarlett Johansson as Connery's daughter.
I'd challenge you to watch Just Cause and not admit it is a powerful film. In fact, I double dare you.
One of my faves, of course.
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