FIND ME GUILTY (2006)

Directed by Sidney Lumet. Starring Vin Diesel, Ron Silver, Annabella Sciorra, Peter Dinklage.Drama/Comedy/Historical. 

Synopsis: The true story of the trial involving reputed mobster Giacomo Norsicio and nineteen other codefendants in the one of the longest criminal trials in U.S. history, with Norsicio representing himself throughout the two year trial.  

As someone who was on both sides of the criminal law as a prosecutor and defense attorney in past years, I often take court room dramas with a grain of salt, it is impossible to accurately recreate the drawn out, often boring courtroom procedure that makes the moments of tension and excitement so memorable in a movie. Most times, the directors really do not even try to create an accurate representation of the actual trial, opting instead for a purely theatrical (meaning "made up") version of actual events. (See North Country)  

Find Me Guilty does not do this, using dialogue from the actual trial of Giacomo (Jack) Norscio and nineteen codefendants in the longest running criminal trial in U.S. federal court history. The film is set in the 1980's and Jack (Vin Diesel) and his codefendants are faced with a multitude of charges under the RICO (Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations) Act. Jack, against the advice of everyone, chooses to represent himself.  

Having seen first hand the results of non-lawyers representing themselves in criminal trials, I expected this film to be a lot of laughs and it was, even moreso than I thought. The bulk of the story takes place inside the courtroom, where Jack jovially, if times crudely, does a wonderful job of getting the jury to empathize and like him. He relies somewhat on the advice of one of the lawyers (Peter Dinklage) for his codefendants, members of the Luchese crime family of New York.

Presiding over the trial is a judge (Ron Silver) with the patience of Job who, nevertheless, tires of Jack's antics in court...but comes to show respect for Jack by the end of the trial. The film moves quickly, smartly focusing on Jack's sincere desire not to implicate any of his fellow codefendants, who he shamelessly refers to as his family, as well as his unbelievable court room sayings. Believe me, you will be laughing very hard at some of the things that come out of Jack's mouth when he is questioning witnesses or interacting with the judge. I know its a cliche, but you wouldn't believe it in a million years unless someone told you it was true.

Diesel is masterful in this movie, easily the best thing I have ever seen him do. He shows a range of character and depth that I hadn't seen in him since his supporting role in Boiler Room, and you will root for him all the way, no matter how much distaste you have for crime in general or the Mafia in particular. Ron Silver was as close to the real thing as a judge in demeanor as I've seen in the movies in a long time, if ever. He reminded me of several judges I stood before and obviously, did the research to give a very accurate portrayal. Peter Dinklage is also a standout as the lead defense lawyer who counsels Jack on the side and, again, gives a realistic portrayal of a criminal attorney, a profession that, except for maybe police officers, is the most inaccurately portrayed profession in cinema.

Annabella Sciorra (The Sopranos) takes her turn as Jack's wife and blows everyone off the screen for the few minutes she is on it. She is gritty, sultry, tough and sweet at the same time, the epitome of what we who are not in organized crime expect such wives to be.

Lumet hit a grand slam with the casting in this one and the story, coupled with next level performances from Diesel, Dinklage, and Sciorra makes this one of the best films, if not the best, of '06.

In my humble opinion.