The Gingerbread Man
He knew the law, but he forgot the rules: Never get involved with a client. And never put your family in danger. Legendary director Robert Altman helms this thriller based on a John Grisham original story. Kenneth Branagh and Robert Duvall star in this complex mystery thriller.
Step into the courtly world of Savannah's top-tier law firms. Meet one of the brightest young stars of the bar, Rick Magruder. And witness how his obsession with a beautiful, mysterious client, stalked by her deranged father, plunges him into a world of terrifying intrigue and deadly deceit. As a hurricane bears down on the city, Magruder finds himself locked in a battle without a judge or jury--only an executioner.
Member Reviews
Run, run, as fast as you can... - Neil1
That's pretty much what Kenneth Branagh does throughout this show: from the office to the ex-wife and kids' to the girlfriend's to her old man's compound, trying to keep three or more balls in the air at one time, and finally collapsing in a heap. (Meanwhile, Downey and Tom Berenger look bored out of their respective minds.) Not saying the ride was a total waste of time --the Savannah backdrop does lend its charm after all-- but we never really feel like we get to the point, or even like there's a point worth getting to. Make that 2-1/2 stars.Disappointing for both Altman and Grisham fans - Gregg
Story about a successful lawyer (Kenneth Branagh) who is divorced, and whose two children live with their mother (Famke Jamesson), at a party to celebrate a recent legal victory he chances to meet a young woman (Embeth Davidtz) employed by the caterer who is being harassed by her father (Robert Duvall). Feeling compelled to help her he brings in a private detective (Robert Downey Jr.) and his legal assistant (Daryl Hannah) to investigate and eventually bring about a competency hearing so that the father can be hospitalized for his acute Schizophrenia. At this point the story changes direction and becomes more of a thriller.
The movies primary strength is a nice natural feel to the environment, but this alone does not compensate for a fairly routine story. Also despite the abundance of talent featured here, there are no memorable performances and in fact the talents of Robert Duvall are largely wasted as is Robert Downey Jr. to a lesser extent. The films excellent cast also included Tom Berenger.
The film is amongst the most disappointing from both John Grisham and Robert Altman. As a result of changes to the script allegedly by Altman, John Grisham would have his name removed from the credits. The story was originally a discarded manuscript (never published as a novel) that was adapted as a screenplay by Grisham himself. As a result of supposed studio interference Robert Altman would also petition to have his name removed from the credits for awhile. This is yet another example in Hollywood that despite all the best ingredients the result in not necessarily a great film or even a good film.
The film was only a few months removed from another failed Grisham adaptation "The Rainmaker" by another great director Francis Ford Coppola.Ugh! - Moir
It was interesting seeing Branagh play such a different part - from his wonderful Hamlet, for example - so well ( at least as well as probably was possible given the film). That 'interest' was far from enough to make me glad to have seen this film. [The one good thing is now I am spared the temptation to see it because Branagh was in it - but that is because I have already paid the noxious price of having seen it].
It seemed so full of dwelling upon foul and nasty behaviours of various people as well as lacking in interest or any redemptive quality I hesitated to write such a terribly negative review but then I realised I should have noted some of the other negative reviews and saved my time. So I add my negative vote also.
I wonder now from my memory of some other Altman films I have seen if some of the apparent unnecessary wallowing in details of human nastiness is at least in part a result of some kind of bias of the director's.
The beginning sequence and the effect of the colour tones in which the aerial view was given was interesting - I think it may have kept me to the end ... wondering/ hoping if perhaps ... something that never came close to happening - something of some interest might possibly accidentally have survived into the film. [The gruesome effect of seeing the flare burning in the man's body even as he was sinking into the sea near the end was not the kind of 'nice' touch I had been looking for, although it was I guess a clever conveyor of the horror of being hit by certain kinds of incendiaries].
Member Reviews
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Run, run, as fast as you can... - Neil1
That's pretty much what Kenneth Branagh does throughout this show: from the office to the ex-wife and kids' to the girlfriend's to her old man's compound, trying to keep three or more balls in the air at one time, and finally collapsing in a heap. (Meanwhile, ...Disappointing for both Altman and Grisham fans - Gregg
Story about a successful lawyer (Kenneth Branagh) who is divorced, and whose two children live with their mother (Famke Jamesson), at a party to celebrate a recent legal victory he chances to meet a young woman (Embeth Davidtz) employed by the caterer who ...Ugh! - Moir
It was interesting seeing Branagh play such a different part - from his wonderful Hamlet, for example - so well ( at least as well as probably was possible given the film). That 'interest' was far from enough to make me glad to have seen this film. [The one ...