... So when I heard about “High Crimes” I decided this would be a good choice for Saturday evening viewing. I was also swung by the fact Morgan Freeman was one of the leads. This led me to believe it could be an alright film as he doesn’t normally do bad films.
As far as the ... Read review
Just about acceptable as an in-flight movie,High Crimesis a tad weak for the big-screen, ... more
though its amiable stars and typical plotting offer the comforts of familiarity for home viewing. Ashley Judd plays a high-end lawyer who specialises in brilliant ...
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Just about acceptable as an in-flight movie,High Crimesis a tad weak for the big-screen, ... more
though its amiable stars and typical plotting offer the comforts of familiarity for home viewing. Ashley Judd plays a high-end lawyer who specialises in brilliant ...
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Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman are sensational in this gripping thriller filled with ... more
non-stop twists and nail-biting suspense.Judd stars as Claire Kubik, a smart and sexy attorney whose perfect world comes crashing down when the FBI chargers her husban...
Claire Kubik (Judd) is a smart and sexy attorney whose perfect world comes crashing down ... more
when the FBI charges her husband Tom (Caviezel) with the murder of innocent civilians during a covert Army operation fifteen years earlier. Aided by a shrewd ex-mi...
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The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed. A first-hand account of crime and corruption on ... more
Mount Everest. In 1996 eight climbers died atop Mount Everest in a single storm - a story that made headlines across the globe and formed the basis of Jon Krakauer's monumental bestseller 'Into Thin Air'. But instead of being scared off by this event, even more people wish to beat the mountain and pay more than $65,000 to get a piece of the action. Where once climbers like Sir Edmund Hilary enjoyed noble and brave reputations, in the 21st century the criminal element has turned Everest into a place where beatings, thefts, drugs, prostitution, threats and abandoment reign.
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Advantages: Tries to make Courtroom Drama appeal to a wider audience Disadvantages: It fails due to bad direction and a weak script
...too many redeeming qualities about High Crimes either. The lighting is awful in places, where they have attempted to create atmosphere by dimming or switching off lights. Instead of adding anything at all this just means you have to strain your eyes a bit to actually see what is going on. The courtroom scenes are quite minimal when you consider that in essence this is a courtroom drama. This opens High Crimes up to a slightly wider audience, but ... ...The main problem with High Crimes is that it’s all been done before. The director fails to over us anything new and for this the film suffers. He’s tried to create a film that will keep you guessing what’s happened throughout with a few thrills along the way. What he’s actually come up with is an obvious end to the film that you can work out from about 20 minutes into it’s 2 hour run time. As for the Thrills I think ... more
I’ve always found books and films based on courtroom Drama’s to be quite interesting. I’m a huge fan of Grisham’s novels and absolutely love films like “Rules Of Engagement”. So when I heard about “High Crimes” I decided this would be a good choice for Saturday evening viewing. I was also swung by the fact Morgan Freeman was one of the leads. This led me to believe it could be an alright film as he doesn’t normally do bad films.
As far as the plot goes it’s not too complicated to follow. Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) is a big time Lawyer working for a top law firm and is about to make partner. That is until her Husband (Jim Caviezel) is arrested by the US Military for alleged crimes he committed some 10 years earlier. He is being charged with the murder of 10 villagers after a raid on a terrorist village in South America. Of course he denies any involvement and Claire agrees to defend the man she loves, even though it puts her own job at risk.
The only problem is Claire doesn’t know the first thing about military law and must rely on Army appointed lawyer Lt Terrance Embrey (Adam Scott). The only problem is she doesn’t exactly trust him or have faith in his experience. So she enlists the help of Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman), a recovering alcoholic who used to be the top Military Lawyer until his dismissal from the army.
Outside of the courtroom though there are all sorts of mystery goings on. Half the witnesses of the supposed incident have been killed with only 3 remaining. The only problem is two of them are leading the prosecution and the other is in jail. It’s a race against time for Claire as she tries to prove that her husband has been framed, whilst trying to stay alive herself.
The plot isn’t original by any stretch of the imagination and in fact has been done a million times before. It does involve a lot of thought as you try and remember who did what and why this has happened. This normally adds a bit of atmosphere to these types of film however I just felt it wasn’t quite done right. If you’re a fan of intense Drama then this will leave you disappointed. If you’re more of a fan of simple, easier to follow drama, this is ideal.
This is the first time I’ve heard of the director, Carl Franklin and I’m imagining from his other movies it’ll also be the last. As a director he did nothing to inspire me with this film. Although the script didn’t seem to leave him much scope to work with, he didn’t seem to inject anything new. Instead it has the overall feel that he has taken odd little bits from different films and tried to merge them together. This creates a sense that something is missing and makes the plot seem very bitty.
There really aren’t too many redeeming qualities about High Crimes either. The lighting is awful in places, where they have attempted to create atmosphere by dimming or switching off lights. Instead of adding anything at all this just means you have to strain your eyes a bit to actually see what is going on. The courtroom scenes are quite minimal when you consider that in essence this is a courtroom drama. This opens High Crimes up to a slightly wider audience, but this hardly makes up for the rest of the film.
With Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles I expected the acting to be pretty decent. Instead both seem to be coasting through the film and not really asked to do anything special. Judd’s character is almost devoid of personality, which makes the film even harder to enjoy. This is down to the characterisation rather than the abilities of Judd as an actress. She seems to struggle her way through this film as she tries to stop her performance from being average.
Unfortunately the same can also be said for Morgan Freeman. In a similar way to his appearance in Dreamcatcher he just seems to be drifting through. There are a couple of moments where you think he’s about to safe the film, however it never seems to happen. It’s a real shame as I really like his work, but he seems to have made a few bad casting choices around the same sort of time. As for the rest of the cast they would all fall into the below average category. No one really makes an impact on the film and the reason is mainly down to the director failing to work to his cast’s strengths.
The main problem with High Crimes is that it’s all been done before. The director fails to over us anything new and for this the film suffers. He’s tried to create a film that will keep you guessing what’s happened throughout with a few thrills along the way. What he’s actually come up with is an obvious end to the film that you can work out from about 20 minutes into it’s 2 hour run time. As for the Thrills I think he totally forgot that was what he was aiming for. I have to say unless you really think this sounds ok then avoid it, you’ve probably seen it before.
Advantages: Follows the courtroom thriller handbook to the letter - genre fans will be relatively satisfied Disadvantages: Rather obvious, nothing new, no surprises, little bit boring, has wait-for-video stamped all over it
...years none of them have. High Crimes didn't either but it is the perfect movie for a genre fan because it touches all the correct bases leaving no generic plot device untouched and is simply, a model courtroom thriller. For the non-fan or critical observer, it's hackneyed, obvious and incredibly derivative to the point where you can sit with a mental checklist marking off all-the-right-elements as it progresses and probably not to be recommended ... ...Personally, I'd rather not.
High Crimes can be envisaged as John Grisham does A Few Good Men, a mix of military courtroom shenanigans with some rather more preposterous external goings on. It's a world in which lawyers aren't stuff bores who pore over paperwork, present a case to a jury and a crumbly old fart in a Rumpole wig before going back to their pipe and slippers existence(apologies to lawyers, over-emphasis to make a point donchaknow) but ...
wampyrii 29.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Crimes (DVD)
Advantages: Morgan Freeman Disadvantages: nearly everything else
...to the equation. High Crimes then, is another perfectly average, mediocre film pairing the two once again, for no seemingly good purpose. Director Carl Franklin, who has proven at various points in his career that he has talent and actually knows what he is doing, clearly mis-fired here, which is always sad to see, and Jim Caveizel (who is currently filming his role as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion - a film detailing the last 12 hours ... ...himself out too much in High Crimes. Though his role is rather minimal in comparison to Judd's, it is still probably the worst performance turned in on the film. And I usually like the guy. So, you're reading all of this, and then seeing that I gave it three stars and wondering how that can be. Well, it can be because 1) it was actually interesting for awhile (until it became way too obvious) and 2) Morgan Freeman was in it. Give the man a freaking ...
punch-drunk 05.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Crimes (DVD)
Advantages: Fast paced and brilliant Disadvantages: None really!
High Crimes
High Crimes is a fast paced action thriller that is based on the excellent novel by Joseph Finder. I actually watched the film before I read the book (wrong way round really!) but then managed to chase the book down. Finder is quite a popular American author although his books are quite hard to track down here! (I found High rimes in Borders eventually but have not yet managed to pick up any of his other books on the high street). If ... ...The acting is of a high standard throughout the film and the actress who plays Claire's sister is a perfect contrast to Claire.
Who's it for?
This probably isn't a film for kids (even kids over 12 I don't think personally) as the themes are quite complex and grown up. It is fast paced and interesting and I would compare it to films by John Grisham only a bit more direct and to the point. It is definitely a film to get your teeth into but perhaps ...
nickjj78 02.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of High Crimes (DVD)
Advantages: morgan freeman Disadvantages: quite pedictable
...Ashley Judd was great in High Crimes, I think she is a very talented actress she has some very emotional scenes throughout the film and does a wonderful job with all of them. I thought she was very believable both as a successful lawyer and as a wife whose happy marriage is shattered by the past she didn’t know her husband had.
Jim Cavizel played a good role as Tom/Ron, but didn’t have as many scenes as Ashley and Morgan did, so he didn’t have as ... ...Ashley at the beginning of the movie, but after his character is arrested, he and Ashley don’t have as many scenes together, and the chemistry fizzles out.
High Crimes in my opinion is a very enjoyable movie, It isn’t a comedy or a feel-good movie, but definitely worth watching. ...
carolinemu 12.07.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of High Crimes (DVD)
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Classification: 18
Conclusion
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fargo (DVD)
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Release details
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DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Based on the novel by Joseph Finder, HIGH CRIMES is an engaging courtroom thriller that features standout lead performances by Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. Judd is Claire Kubik...or is she
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