High Crimes
"Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd are sensational " (WFLD-TV) in this "head snapping chiller" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) filled with nonstop twists and nail-biting suspense.
Judd stars as Claire Kubik, a smart and sexy attorney whose perfect world comes crashing down when the FBI charges her husband Tom (Jim Caviezel) with the murder of innocent civilians during a covert Army operation fifteen years earlier. Aided by shrewd ex-military lawyer (Freeman), Claire fights to clear Tom's name, but gets too close to exposing a government cover up in the process. Now she must risk her career - and even her life - to find the truth.
Member Reviews
A thriller that exposes the hidden side of a loving spousal relationship - moviemonger
Judd is Claire Kubik, a high-powered defense attorney living an affluent, happy life with her husband, Tom (cue the "Jaws" music, it's about to get dramatic). Everything she believes about her husband is tossed out the window as he is arrested at gunpoint by the FBI and charged with the deaths of innocent civilians during a military action in El Salvador. As the wife of a man who is accused of atrocious crimes during a covert military operation, Judd's torn between her love for her husband and the ugliness of the charges mixed with the possibility that the military's version of events is true. Deciding to be the supportive wife - and cutthroat defense attorney - she enlists the help of Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman), a wild card attorney with many bones to pick with the military. The premise has been used before, many of the twists are predictably mapped out thus robbing them of their impact, and the writers throw in too many military clichés. It probably sounds as if I didn't like this film but that's not entirely true. The acting was first-rate and there were parts of the film that were downright riveting. It's just that where the story could have cut a fresh path, it chose to rely too heavily on tried and true plot points. I personally had a problem with a few of the scenes not being consistent with the film's ending, but to give the writers the benefit of the doubt, they are constricted by time restraints. Perhaps to answer those dangling storylines would have added another half an hour to the film - and we all know how well audiences hold up during long films.A Good Legal Yarn - MovieLover5
This was good entertainment for the night, even if the movie is not likely to stick in your mind. Morgan Freeman does his usual underdog role, and Ashley Judd is tops as the lawyer and wife who is determined not to allow her husband be railroaded by the military higher ups attempting to cover their misdeeds. Good plot twists as the story moves along.powerful, quick paced, not to be underestimated - Porkchop
HIGH CRIMES is a powerful, quick paced, eyes-peeled to the screen
kind of movie, that will keep you on the edge of your seat for
most of the picture, until the very end, notwithstanding some
jaded and defeatist comments seen elsewhere on this site from
other movie goers.
The military tribunal, and the portrayal of military life, military
justice and those who work in that industry - as living in a
significantly differnet world than the civilian one - is
accurate. Obviously, anyone having done basic training will
recall the indoctrination, team values, hard work, dedication and
focus that those joining it are expected to incorporate into
themselves, that some might also call, brainwashing or hazing.
In this movie, James Caviezel plays a character that is difficult
to discern, as a good guy or bad guy...he keeps the audience
guessing until the very end. Most will fail to recognize him, as
Mel Gibson's Jesus, as I did, certainly.
The weak spot of this movie, are 1 or 2 special effects and
action scenes, .. such as when the SUV is pushed over the side of
the highway, and flips over. The vehicle didn't seem to have the
natural momentum to flip, and this is later shown accurate in the
extras part of the DVD, which shows wires pulling the SUV to one
side, digitally manipulated afterwards to hide those wires from
the viewers. Others effects and scene and better filmed, such as
the scene in the street, with the SWAT team.
All in all, this movie, with Morgan Freeman bringing his
credibility to it, and Ashley Judd showing her dynamic and
articulate presence, is not to be underestimated, considering
that it will impact the mind of the viewers with a strong and
remarkably powerful artistic statement.
Member Reviews
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A thriller that exposes the hidden side of a loving spousal relationship - moviemonger
Judd is Claire Kubik, a high-powered defense attorney living an affluent, happy life with her husband, Tom (cue the "Jaws" music, it's about to get dramatic). Everything she believes about her husband is tossed out the window as he is arrested at gunpoint ...A Good Legal Yarn - MovieLover5
This was good entertainment for the night, even if the movie is not likely to stick in your mind. Morgan Freeman does his usual underdog role, and Ashley Judd is tops as the lawyer and wife who is determined not to allow her husband be railroaded by the military ...powerful, quick paced, not to be underestimated - Porkchop
HIGH CRIMES is a powerful, quick paced, eyes-peeled to the screen
kind of movie, that will keep you on the edge of your seat for
most of the picture, until the very end, notwithstanding some
jaded and defeatist comments seen elsewhere on this site ...