Saturday Night Retro Movie Review: The Guilty
April 17th 2010 12:18
Tonight we launch a new feature of Film Mage, the Saturday Night Retro Movie Review. The movies I review in this section will be DVD's that are at least 8 years old. The first Saturday Night Retro Movie Review is the Bill Pullman film The Guilty released in 2000.
The Guilty tells the story of Callum Crane (Bill Pullman), a high powered Criminal lawyer with not much going on in the way of ethics. A powerful man used to getting what he wants, his picture perfect world is shaken when he meets office administration assistant Sophie Lenon (Gabrielle Anwar). Taking the leggy beauty out for drinks on her first day on the job, champagne and flirtation leads to rape.
Nathan Corrigan, a young man in his early 20's in recently released from jail and determined to start his life again. Interested in leaving America for the oil fields of Venezuela he applies for and receives his birth certificate. The certificate contains a shock, and Nate finds after a conversation with his mother that he is actually the result of a drunken one night stand between a high school senior and a law student she met at a party.
The lives of the three main characters twist and turn amongst each other, with no one knowing anyone knows the other. Nate goes in search of his father Callum Crane, and is involved in a car accident. When he is hit by Tanya (Angela Featherstone), who has gone to collect the final pay check of her flatmate Sophie. Nate goes back to stay with the two women while searching for and finally meeting his father in circumstances that don't bring about a loving father/son reunion. As a matter of fact, the newly appointed Federal Judge hires his son to murder the young woman who could ruin him.
The Guilty is a good movie for a Saturday night when you don't really want to have to think too hard. I found the many twists and turns to be unnecessary. And I think that was the major problem for the film. Trying to accomplish too much, too many subplots, too many twists and "unexpected" stings.
I loved the ending. There was something so spiteful about watching the puppet master get his just deserts.
Bill Pullman was excellent as Callum Crane. He played the role to perfection and as the alcoholic amoral criminal defense attorney he seemed to be really enjoying himself.
Gabrielle Anwar as Sophie was a little bit too cunning for someone who seemed like she was supposed to be an innocent young woman who made a mistake. I was also distracted by how thin she was. Every time she was on screen I just wanted to sit her down and make her eat a cheese burger.
Devon Sawa as Nate Corrigan was excellent. His character was probably the least defined, but he played the role well and his reaction to finding out Lee (Jaimz Woolvett) had decided to do the hit and who the intended victim was mesmerising.
It's been a long time since a decent film noir was made, and despite the plot holes - how Bill Pullman gets hold of the tape addressed to the DAs office beggars belief - it was really enjoyable. Well worth the watching if you can suspend belief occasionally.
The Guilty
The Guilty tells the story of Callum Crane (Bill Pullman), a high powered Criminal lawyer with not much going on in the way of ethics. A powerful man used to getting what he wants, his picture perfect world is shaken when he meets office administration assistant Sophie Lenon (Gabrielle Anwar). Taking the leggy beauty out for drinks on her first day on the job, champagne and flirtation leads to rape.
Nathan Corrigan, a young man in his early 20's in recently released from jail and determined to start his life again. Interested in leaving America for the oil fields of Venezuela he applies for and receives his birth certificate. The certificate contains a shock, and Nate finds after a conversation with his mother that he is actually the result of a drunken one night stand between a high school senior and a law student she met at a party.
The lives of the three main characters twist and turn amongst each other, with no one knowing anyone knows the other. Nate goes in search of his father Callum Crane, and is involved in a car accident. When he is hit by Tanya (Angela Featherstone), who has gone to collect the final pay check of her flatmate Sophie. Nate goes back to stay with the two women while searching for and finally meeting his father in circumstances that don't bring about a loving father/son reunion. As a matter of fact, the newly appointed Federal Judge hires his son to murder the young woman who could ruin him.
The Guilty is a good movie for a Saturday night when you don't really want to have to think too hard. I found the many twists and turns to be unnecessary. And I think that was the major problem for the film. Trying to accomplish too much, too many subplots, too many twists and "unexpected" stings.
I loved the ending. There was something so spiteful about watching the puppet master get his just deserts.
Bill Pullman was excellent as Callum Crane. He played the role to perfection and as the alcoholic amoral criminal defense attorney he seemed to be really enjoying himself.
Gabrielle Anwar as Sophie was a little bit too cunning for someone who seemed like she was supposed to be an innocent young woman who made a mistake. I was also distracted by how thin she was. Every time she was on screen I just wanted to sit her down and make her eat a cheese burger.
Devon Sawa as Nate Corrigan was excellent. His character was probably the least defined, but he played the role well and his reaction to finding out Lee (Jaimz Woolvett) had decided to do the hit and who the intended victim was mesmerising.
It's been a long time since a decent film noir was made, and despite the plot holes - how Bill Pullman gets hold of the tape addressed to the DAs office beggars belief - it was really enjoyable. Well worth the watching if you can suspend belief occasionally.
| 116 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
