Entertainment | Film & Cinema
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
In Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Peter Hyams tries to recreate the magic of the 1956 classic by Fritz Lang. While Lang's original dealt with issues of condemnation relating to capital punishment in the US, Hyams movie has an unmistakeable touch of the earlier days of detective thrillers.
- By Sarah Alphanso, sub editor, Eplus
- Published: 00:00 November 12, 2009
- Hunter has an impeccable record of 17 death penalty convictions.
- Image Credit: Supplied
Cast Michael Douglas, Amber Tamblyn, Jesse Metcalfe
Director Peter Hyams
Rating TBA
A modern story of corruption and violence, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt revolves around an ambitious and struggling television reporter Jesse Metcalfe, in the role of CJ Nichols, whose plan to expose a corrupt district attorney goes awry.
High profile lawyer Martin Hunter, played by Michael Douglas is the district attorney (DA) in Shreveport, LA. Donning a swanky suit and a sly smile, Hunter has an impeccable record of 17 death-penalty convictions. Additionally, he also has plans to run for the upcoming post of governor.
Nichols begins investigating Hunter, since he's convinced that the popular DA has been fabricating forensic material at crime scenes to win cases. Soon the DA's record is up for scrutiny.
Determined to expose Hunter in the act, CJ embarks on an audacious plan along with his fellow producer and partner Corey, played by Joel David Moore and frames himself as a murder suspect.
Complicating matters further is CJ's romantic relationship with Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn), a fiercely intelligent woman, who incidentally is also the DA's assistant. Ella is unaware of CJ's undercover assignment and finds herself facing a serious conflict of interest between her boyfriend and her corrupt boss.
With the two strong rivals pitted against one another in a treacherous game of cat and mouse, the DA proves to be a more dangerous adversary than CJ expected him to be.
In the meantime, something happens to Corey and the evidence of Nichols' innocence is destroyed. Needless to say, CJ's plan takes an unexpected twist, when he's sentenced with a death penalty. As mounting evidence stacks up against both men, Ella's own life is threatened when she discovers incriminating proof that puts the fate of CJ's innocence and Hunter's shady dealings in her hands.
With a far-fetched plot that succeeds at creating some tension, this courtroom thriller also stars Orlando Jones as detective Nickerson, the world-weary Shreveport cop with an eye on both the leading stars.
However, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt fails to execute performances that will engage audiences, except for Michael Douglas. Furthermore, the film is half an hour longer than the 1956 original, and features a few action sequences strewn in, including a thrilling car chase that does not add to the suspense of the film.
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