Runaway Jury (2003) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Runaway Jury (2003) |
| Director | Gary Fleder |
| Screenplay Writer | Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Rick Cleveland, Matthew Chapman |
| Based on Novel by | John Grisham (The Runaway Jury) |
| Lead Actors | John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman |
| Cast | John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Bruce Davison, Nick Searcy, Jeremy Piven, Leland Orser |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Release Date | October 17, 2003 (United States) |
| Duration | 2h 7m (127 minutes) |
| Budget | ~$60 million |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | ~$80.2 million |
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Summary
A juror on the inside, and his girlfriend on the outside try to manipulate a civil trial involving a major gun manufacturer. Meanwhile, the gun lobby’s “Jury consultant” has his own ideas.
Review
It’s an interesting premise and fairly well carried out. A high powered and ruthless jury consultant, Rankin Fitch (Hackman), is out to ensure victory in a civil suit against a huge gun manufacturer. Mild mannered and idealistic attorney Wendell Rohr (Hoffman) is out to make the company pay for the murder of a fellow attorney. Yet a mysterious juror, Nicholas Easter (Cusack) and his girlfriend Marlee (Weisz) are out to manipulate the verdict, even sell it to the highest bidder.
The trial scenes are strong, as is the element of mystery as to who Nicholas and Marlee are, as well as where their intentions lie. Are they just out to cash in, or trying to play a particular side? And how are they orchestrating the whole charade? Fitch’s frustration and Weisz’s coyness are priceless, while Cusack and Hoffman also deliver nice performances with their characters. A screaming match between Hoffman’s Rohr and his adversary, Fitch, during a random encounter is another highlight in this thriller full of acting heavyweights.
The one thing that bothers me about Runaway Jury is the deviation from the John Grisham book upon which it is based. Surely, much material must be condensed in any book to film adaptation, but why change the focal point of the story from a tobacco company to a gun company? Because violence leaves more of an impression on audiences than lung cancer? It cheapened the experience a bit for me, as did the glossing over of several key plot twists. Still, worth checking out.
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