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Genre: Drama | Mystery
4 votes
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IMDB Review
Release: 10 July 2009
Directed by Peter Hyams and starring Michael Douglas, Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt feels like some sort of TV movie in the neo-80s period with its melodramatic music score, obscure and unconvincing supposition, dizzying twists and trashy montages. In fact the roots of the movie go back even further- Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is a remake of a 1956 thriller of the same name, directed by Fritz Lang. The movie is released by Anchor Bay Films.
Mark Hunter played by Michael Douglas is a top-rated criminal lawyer who has an infallible record of putting criminals behind the bars. Douglas is portrayed as a slimy district lawyer in Shreveport who has a plan for the Louisiana governorship in the upcoming election. Nicholas played by Jesse Metcalfe is an ambitious TV reporter who begins investigating Hunter since he is fabricating forensic material evidence to secure his convictions and hence the lawyer’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Nicholas plans to use to camera to capture his guilt, as suggested by his boss.
Hence we see Nicholas convincing his producer Corey played by Joel David Moore to go after Hunter. To get hold of the corrupt Hunter in the act, Nicholas frames himself as a murder suspect. Once Hunter will present the fake evidence, Nicholas plans to introduce his own proof of himself planning the entire sequence and close the trap on Hunter. All goes well and as planned until a mishap results in destruction of evidence that proves Nicholas’ innocence. Meanwhile, district attorney Ella Crystal played by Amber Tamblyn and assistant to Hunter is also romantically involved with C.J. Nicholas. Quite unaware of Nicholas’ latest assignment, she perceives that she’s in mortal danger as the evidence against both men starts mounting up. And her perception is proved right. As she discovers Nicholas’ innocence and Hunter’s shady dealings, the fate of both men falls in her hands, in the hands of a woman whose life could be lost at any moment of time. This gives rise to dizzying twists in the plot, which further raises tension throughout the film.
Although the movie portrays excellent stunt work the movie is quite mediocre. A remake of such a blockbuster thriller, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt fails to stand at par with the original movie. Neither the suspense, nor the pace of the story or the narrative is worthy of appreciation.
Metcalfe and Tamblyn both talented as individual actors, lacks chemistry as well as credibility in the film. Though the movie tries to be an intricate thriller, the thriller comes as if forced and upon the audience. The storyline is quite dull; even the courtroom sequence seems artificial. Humor in the movie seems quite unintentional. Besides the movie is quite preposterous and poorly edited.
In this otherwise dull courtroom thriller, it is only Michael Douglas who brings little life to the movie.
