PRIMAL FEAR
A film review by Robin Redcrest
Copyright 1996 USPAN
(No Stars)
Oh, Puh-leeze!
My date and I both walked out of this movie with the same reaction - "We wasted a Saturday night on this?" Movies like this aren't filmed, they're programmed. Here's how it's done:
1. Turn on the computer, call up the software for "star vehicle for aging sex symbol - male"
2. Plug in the name of Richard Gere, because he can't act his way out of a paper bag, but he looks great for 46 and you can generate word of mouth by getting columnists to discuss the merits of his neck wrinkles over Robert Redford's.
3. Plug in a plot that plays on people's fears of corrupt politics, corrupt law and Archbishops who diddle little boys in the back room.
4. Finish up with a female lead who can't seem to get over the fact that her opposing council on a major trial is an ex-lover who treated her badly, and who she'd go back to in a heartbeat, for reasons that no one can figure out except maybe a penchant for neck wrinkles. I loved her seething indignation when her ex baited and manipulated her and how somehow she dissolved into his arms at the end because - not in spite of the fact, but because - he completely ruined her. It was so distasteful, it might as well have been a rape scene where she started to enjoy herself. Hollywood - WAKE UP!
My date was an attorney, so we at least had some fun dissing the legal inconsistencies. Testimony is stricken that is later referred to in court - hello? A sideline of questioning that is relevant to the plot but - oops! - not the trial is allowed. I watched every "L.A. Law" episode ever made, and Mike, or Grace or Arnie or Victor would've gotten hooted out of L.A. County Court for trying some of this stuff.
Don't bother.
(http://moviereviews.com/janesreviews/primalfear.html)
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