El inocente

Aunque disfruto mucho leyendo, casi todos los géneros, especialmente thrillers y novelas policíacas, aún no he tenido el placer de conocer los exitosos libros de Michael Connelly. Estoy convencido de que la versión en papel será sin duda más extensa, sin embargo, la película fue filmada rápidamente, la trama fue hábilmente creada, no queda más que estar de acuerdo con el castor - su peinado también me llamó la atención. (16.12.2011)

Diversión relajante con las estrellas de la década de 1990, especialmente con McConaughey, que regresa con el papel más significativo de esa época (el abogado en Tiempo de matar). Es una pena que el guión de esta obra simplifique y facilite la presentación de algunos giros y sus conexiones en una trama interesante, y considera más importante ser lo más genial posible. Eso le quita algo de la impresión final de la película, la debilita como un suspenso, la entierra por completo como un drama y solo hace de ella «una diversión genial». (11.08.2011)

I’ve been telling myself recently that it’s a shame that there haven’t been many good pure thrillers in the last few years. The Lincoln Lawyer fits this category perfectly, it’s very well made, with a smart story and several interesting twists, good performances – overall, a very nice dose of thriller tension. My only quibble is in the script, some of the events don’t move forward in a very clear way. Otherwise, it exceeded my expectations. (04.06.2011)

This deceptive courtroom drama, in which no one acts honestly, was based on Michael Connelly’s popular novel of the same name. The corrupt nature of most of the characters, not excepting the protagonist, does not serve the film as an object of criticism. On the contrary, The Lincoln Lawyer gently convinces us that it can’t be any other way today. What’s important is to have something on everyone and if you don’t know more than the other, you at least pretend that you do. Naturally, the outer shell ultimately gives way to an uncorrupted core, a “nice” story with a lesson about decent behaviour at the end, but I enjoy the fact that traditional values are called into question in a film about law and justice. What’s even more surprising is that I also liked how Matthew McConaughey conceived his character of yet another arrogant hotshot, which – unlike a dozen of his previous roles – actually makes sense this time. You get the feeling that he is hiding something more behind his behaviour. If he didn’t show off, he would be either a zero or pushing up daisies. This dramaturgically complete, though somewhat long, film is held up from the side by excellent actors in supporting roles (Bryan Cranston, William H. Macy). Its lack of functionality as a thriller is a problem of viewer expectations rather than a problem with the directing. It would need more unrevealed cards, more suspense and more reasons to worry about someone’s wellbeing. But I had no problem with the film as a drama. 75% (10.08.2011)

A pleasant surprise and sheer pleasure from a smart film, and I'd say there have been few legal dramas of the same quality as this since Coppola's magnificent The Rainmaker. Matthew McConaughey has finally shed the jaded skin of the sunny boy on the surfboard, and after years (since his role in Schumacher's A Time to Kill) he has returned to what he does best: a passionate advocate who evokes ambivalent feelings – you want to kick him for his cockiness, but you're rooting for him at the same time. The clever script contains so many plot twists that they would be enough for three other films, and I nod my head in approval and highly recommend it. (31.05.2011)