The Lincoln Lawyer

This is one of those movies that I was not sure how bad I wanted to see. While I waited and did not see this movie in the theaters, I was really glad when I saw it. Lincoln Lawyer tells the story of Mick Haller, a lawyer, who because of the morally questionable clients he feels with he finds it easier to run most of his client meetings from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car. Things turn intense after he takes the case of a privileged, rich kid who has been accused of the rape of a prostitute, as the story unfolds Mick comes to find out this new clients has ties to a past client that was accused of murder and Mick convinced to plead guilty to the murder. What ensues from this knowledge, is an edge of your seat thriller which has you wondering how Mick can get around attorney/client privilege to make things right.

Matthew McConaughey plays the role of Mick. McConaughey is fit for this role because while lately he has been in a lot of romantic comedies where he does not really have to act, this role allows him to show the range of emotion he is capable of giving. He is really believable as the lawyer who is all about the money and his ability to win in the courtroom, no matter who he is defending as long as the price is right.  He plays so great the moments of absolute disdain as this smooth talking lawyer who defends any scumbag that can pay, then turn your feelings around completely with his likability from his southern charm. McConaughey has such a believability as we feel his internal strife as he tries to figure out how to best handle his situation. Ryan Phillippe in the role of Lois Roulet, the main antagonist in the film plays his role with such a coldness that it only adds to the edge of your seat feelings. While there is a good argument to be made that Phillippe plays every role with this cold almost wooden emotion, this time it definitely worked for his character. The coldness and lack of emotion his character gives this great no remorse, cold and calculating traits that make him a perfect antagonist to match against McConaughey's character. The rest of the supporting cast does a great job at really helping to bring even more strength to the overall storyline. With such a strong supporting cast it makes for great interactions and scenes through the entire movie. Every scene is not a wasted one which is a rarity in films nowadays. William H. Macy in his role as the private investigator/friend to Mick is particularly strong. In a way Macy's character plays the role of the grounding or even almost the moral compass to Mick and helps him at least stay somewhat moral as a lawyer.

When I saw this movie I felt like it could be a John Grisham novel. Later, I found out there is a whole series of books written by Michael Connelly about Mick Haller. The direction by Brad Furman does such a strong job of weaving the story moment to moment that the movie does not have low points or even scenes that are just there for filler. Everything that is put in has been put there for a purpose. This simply just helps to build the intensity of the film as it progresses toward the climatic moment. While I believed throughout that I knew how it all would end, it really kept me off balance and tense in such a way that I did not know how it would end until we finally hit that point. The story does a great job at not only putting us right there with Mick as we are almost in his head as he tries to make decision as to what to do. The range of emotion that is portrayed through the film fits perfectly. Knowing how attorney-client privilege works I could not help but feel anger with the legal system as Mick comes to the realization as to what Louis Roulet's foolproof plan is truly about. Also it was nice that they did not muddle the story with a lot of legal jargon. There also moments of humor sprinkled here and there to lighten the mood of what has been taking place. There are twists thrown in that make you wonder how will Mick get out of this one? Only for him to do just that in a way that is completely unexpected.

The Lincoln Lawyer ends up delivering an edge of your seat courtroom mystery drama movie. McConaughey and company make every scene worthwhile and exciting. While I do feel like they had three points where they could have ended the movie, I would have liked it to end with the viewer questioning what happened and also questioning the ethics of what happened. I am giving The Lincoln Lawyer three and three fourth buckets of popcorn out of five. While this is a movie that is not for everyone and that not all will enjoy, it was one that I enjoyed from start to finish.

-The Movie Man