THE JUROR
US, 1996, 113 minutes, Colour.
Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Anne Heche, Tony Lo Bianco, James Gandolfini, Lindsay Crouse, Matt Craven.
Directed by Brian Gibson.
Demi Moore is The Juror, a single mother who is eager for the opportunity to serve in jury duty only to find that it is a Mafia case and `The Teacher', the Mob mastermind, is holding threats to her son's safety over her to ensure a `Not Guilty' verdict. It's a glossy treatment of a serious subject that emphasises the sinister and the far-fetched elements of the plot - especially an unbelievable climax in Guatamala. But Demi Moore gives a persuasive performance. After his smoothly lethal villains in Miami Blues and Malice, Alec Baldwin offers another successful variation on the charming killer. Glossy and far-fetched.
1. An entertaining courtroom thriller? Outside the courtroom? The judicial system? Jury tampering? The woman in peril, protecting her son? The vicious criminal?
2. The plausibility of the plot, the access to the juror, the Teacher and his control? The influence, the judge? The pressure on Annie? The finale and the confrontation in Guatemala?
3. The American city, homes, ordinary settings, the courts? The contrast with the festivities in Guatemala? The final shoot-out in the ruins? The musical score?
4. The title and its focus? The role of juries? Conscientiousness and doing duty? The influence of jury tampering? The pressures of the individual, dangers? The jurors using their wits, in the jury room to persuade the jury for a not guilty verdict? Their own developing ingenuity? To protect themselves from threats?
5. The opening, the Teacher and the assassination, the boy as a witness, his being shot? His grandmother in the court giving testimony? Louis Bofano and his son's criticism of the Teacher killing the boy?
6. Annie, single mother, busy, her relationship with Oliver? Jury duty, Oliver telling her about the case, her being questioned in the court, her not having time to read? The judge and his concern (and his later comments to Annie when she wanted to talk with him)? Acceptable to the defence? The other jury members? Their sitting in the courtroom, listening, the jury room, the two who were bought, guilty and not guilty, the discussions in the jury room, the outspoken man and his exasperation, his eventual weariness and giving in? The grandmother and her concern about criminals on the loose? Her being persuaded to not guilty? Annie and her working the jurors, especially the friendly man and the meal with him? The overall effect of jury tampering?
7. Annie, in the court, her being approached by the Teacher and the selling of her artwork, his comments? His sternness, his threats? Her being in fear, wanting to protect her son? Eventually harsh on him, getting him to write things down rather than being overheard? Her reliance on Juliet for friendship, support? Juliet and her persuading her to go to the judge, the judge wanting witnesses for the interview? The threats because she had gone to the judge? The Teacher picking her up, her friend and his being made drunk, the speeding car, the threat to Oliver on the bike, the car over the cliff? Juliet and her relationship with the Teacher, his vengeance on her after the sexual encounter, killing her in vengeance because of her advice about the judge? The cumulative effect on Annie? The Teacher and his continued visits, wanting her to go over the strategies of the case? His psychotic falling in love with her?
8. The Teacher, in himself, his relationship to Bofano, Bofano's son threatening him and telling him to keep away from Annie but to work with the trade union leader in the jury? Eddie and his working with him? Memories, the Teacher having no friends at school? Psychotic? A killer, working out the strategies, installing the surveillance in Annie's home, continually listening? His appearances, threats?
9. Bofano, ordering the murder, the tapes in court, his arrogance, getting off and the celebrations, the look from Annie? His son and his assertion? Eddie, the henchmen, the fourteen-year-old daughter, sympathetic to Annie, not liking the Teacher, negotiating the Teacher's meeting with Bofano? His being killed by the Teacher?
10. Annie, her success in the jury room, her success in protecting Oliver by taking him to Guatemala to her close friend, the doctor? Her return, the news of her return, her taping the Teacher and his threats against Bofano? The pressure from the prosecutor, the interviews, her fears, the tape, her throwing it away - but yet giving the other tape to Bofano? The rendezvous, the explosion in the car, the shoot-out and the Teacher surviving?
11. His pursuit of Oliver in Guatemala, Annie getting the chartered plane, his being lured away to follow the doctor, the confrontation and shoot-out, Annie finally shooting him? Her reunion with Oliver?
12. The Teacher, his psychology, sociopath, no conscience? His being intrigued with Annie, wanting to be in her company, always talking about preserving Oliver even when he was threatening his life? Returning the money to Bofano, the explosives in the car? The lack of consistency in his emotional behaviour with Annie?
13. Annie, her telling the Teacher that he was right and that she had gained strength of character? The impact of the experience? The possibility of this kind of pressure in any jury tampering? Sense of honour, duty, justice, protection of family and oneself?
