The Lincoln Lawyer

9/10 E.M.
9/10 C.E.

  The Lincoln Lawyer answers the new craving that movie goers everywhere have had for intellectual dramas and thrillers ever since Inception came out last year. Lawyer's story and plot are without a doubt well thought out and conceived and will not only hold the audience's interest but more important will have you wondering how it will all work out till the very end. Best of all it stays within the confines of reality and doesn't break the rules that it sets up. It also balances well the task of not just being a straight up drama but also throwing in humor at the right moments with the right characters as well as a bit of romance. But make no mistake Lawyer will deliver hard in the courtroom of the movie theater something new and better than just another episode of Law and Order or the like.

  The chemistry between all the actors is really something unreal for once everyone hits every note just right. Those who hate Mick (Matthew McConaughey) come across as exactly that, those who love him make it clear. In other words whatever dynamic SHOULD come across between characters DOES which is not only hard to do sometimes but even harder to find in movies during this off season. Speaking of Matthew McConaughey it should be said that he did extremely well considering some of his past roles include such paltry movies as Fools Gold and the like. This time he really comes across as a lawyer who is conflicted, you don't want to mess with and compassionate all at once not to mention suave and smart.

  William H. Macy does a good job of being the sidekick Frank who provides comic relief providing a good portion of the humor in the film. Josh Lucas also nails his part as the wet behind the ear lawyer Ted. Lucas is able to convey that Ted although new has intuition going for him and it's nice to be able to actually see the wheels turning along with the other emotions he portrayed well.  Ryan Phillippe has developed a knack and is incredibly good at playing the part of a rich kid that has brains to go with his money. Downright great performance on everyone else's part as well there really were no weak links in this film.

  The music in the movie is limited but a good selection often something like what you might find in some sort of poetry coffee hut but fitting and nice. (The last song before/during the credits especially so.) As said before the plot is really well thought out and all the characters are well developed. The script is also well written leaving out overused cliches and not limiting the actors/actresses allowing the story to be told in all it's brilliance. I want to also point out that the camera work is really well done hitting scenes from nice angles and refraining from too many close shots a danger when it comes to dramas in courtrooms. It lets the words commit the action and not the camera. The final verdict on Lincoln Lawyer is that it's guilty... of being really good!