Without much fanfare, this gem of a movie seemed to slip in and out of the box office. After watching it last night, I'm sorry I didn't check it out earlier.
Anthony Hopkins plays a man who caught his wife in an affair, and shot her. The police arrived to find a gun on his hands and a confession straight from his mouth. But as soon as the case goes to court, the game changes as Hopkins' character chooses to defend himself. It's obvious to the audience that he killed his wife, because we saw it before our very eyes. But there is one important piece of evidence missing that makes the vengeful husband untouchable.
I have to say that this was like watching a movie about Lex Luthor defending himself in trial. Hopkins plays a criminal mastermind that leaves the audience completely stumped until the end. And his confident and playful exchanges with the prosecuting attorney make his villainy even more apparent.
In terms of questionable content, this R- rated movie is done tastefully. Although the catalyst for the crime is adultery, the affair is mostly hinted at during the opening credits, without nudity or exploitation. F-bombs are dropped with a couple other colorful words, but only in a few places to give emphasis. This film has class.
In terms of veracity, there is a moment in the film where a big moral choice has to be made by the prosecuting attorney when he is against the ropes and becomes willing to do almost anything, legal or not, to put Hopkins behind bars. There's real opportunity there to talk about state law verses objective morality. When does morality transcend the law and when does it not? The "right thing to do" may not always seem clear in some situations, and this film gives a great opportunity to discuss that idea.
Quality: 9.0/10
Veracity: 8.0/10
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