Raising the bar

Director: Brad Furman,
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas

Based on the best selling novel by Michael Connelly, Matthew McConaughey stars as Mickey Haller – a slick, charismatic criminal defence attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Continental sedan.

Having spent most of his career defending petty, garden-variety criminals, he unexpectedly lands the case of a lifetime – defending a rich Beverly Hills playboy (Phillippe) accused of attempted murder. However, what initially appears to be a straightforward case swiftly develops into a deadly match between two masters of manipulation and a crisis of conscience for Haller.

First-time director Brad Furman does full justice to Connelly’s hit novel, producing a film that is surprisingly enjoyable. This is a good old-fashioned courtroom thriller that succeeds thanks to a satisfyingly twisty script, a terrific cast and a glorious return to form for McConaughey, in his best lead performance since A Time For A Kill.

Like all the best mysteries, it will keep you guessing until the end – not about the identity of the villain, but rather about how our flawed but enviably resourceful hero is going to bring him to justice.

Our verdict: a solid crime drama that’s well worth seeing.

Genre: Drama
Age Restriction: R
Runtime: 118 min