Runaway Jury (DVD, 2004, Widescreen)

Runaway Jury is one of my top 5 favorite movies. I think it is one of the best unknown movies out there. Everyone I have suggested it to had never heard of it and said they loved it. It is a great suspense/drama with so many twist and turns that it will keep you guessing till the very end. The movie is about a jury in a trial involving a lawsuit against a big gun manufacturer, which sounds pretty boring. However, the plot is very clever, intriquing, and suspensful, and with actors like Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, John Cusack, Rachel Weisz the acting is great. Give this movie a chance. You'll be glad you did.

The standard media hype of "Runaway Jury" concentrates on the first-ever collaboration of Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. The subtlety of this film is that these two stars provide the wrong and the right, the slick and the homespun, the ruthless and the public-spirited, the background in front of which the real story of the movie is played.

So focused is the viewer on the primary conflict that it is possible to miss the clues that lead to the true motives of jury member (John Cusack) and his girlfriend (Rachel Weisz). Ironically, it is an investigation for the worst motives that bring the best motives to light. This is at the center of the film's most cunning twist. Its resolution allows the viewer to breathe more freely. Somehow it is good that triumphs, independently of the jury selection that is in the spotlight.

As so often, the viewer is captivated by the performance of Dustin Hoffman as a tweedy lawyer from New Orleans battling for decency in an apparent moral wilderness. Ranged against him is the combined power of gun manufacturers, struggling to avoid punitive damages in a lawsuit brought against one of their number. As the story unfolds, with clever twist following clever twist, attention shifts from Hoffman's pioneering odyssey to another struggle between good and evil.

Motivation and morality are at the heart of the plot; the ending, while somehat cornball, is the final vindication of decency. This is a very good film with many valuable messages.

Runaway Jury is one of the best thrillers I've seen in a long time. Based on a story by John Grisham, this tale makes so many twists and turns, that you need a scorecard.

I mainly bought this as a Gene Hackman fan, but in addition to his usual class performance, Dustin Hoffman, and John Cusack really shine, also. A great supporting cast rounds out this approx. two hour roller coaster ride.

Valued priced, and you won't be disappointed.

Gene Hackman plays the antagonist. John Cusak plays the protaganist. Supported by Rachel Weisz (THE MUMMY MOVIES) plus Dustin Hoffman, this is a star-charged feature. Do high profile legal cases actually involve such low-life practices? This movie certainly sheds light on situations which might actually happen.

The actors are magnificent plus the setting (New Orleans) was perfect. This money is not about the actual jury or the case itself, but how money can buy anything and how cold-hearted people can almost get away with the wrong verdict.