THE LAST INNOCENT MAN
US, 1987, 109 minutes, Colour.
Ed Harris, Roxanne Hart, David Suchet, Bruce Mc Gill.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
The Last innocent Man is a strong telemovie made for Home Box Office cable in the US. It was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, director of a range of films including Under fire, Shoot to Kill, Turner & Hooch. It is a star vehicle for Ed Harris (Walker, The Abyss) as a top lawyer, caught up in defending guilty clients and reacting against the immersion in this world of corruption. Starting an affair, he is asked to defend the woman's husband and is immersed even more deeply in an ugly world of violence an deception.
The film is very well acted, intelligently written, shows the dilemma of the defence lawyer and the repercussions on his life.
1. Interesting telemovie? Portrait of human beings? Portrait of Lawyers? Pressures of their profession? Court room sequences?
2. City settings, courts, police precincts? Homes and apartments? The sleazy world of the city? The musical score?
3. The title and its ironies? Relating to Harry? To Philip Stafford? Guilt and innocence? Legality and morality?
4. The portrait: the encounter with Jonathon Gault, his being acquitted the subsequent celebration, Harry's disillusionment? The encounter with Jenny, the beginning of the affair? His partner, wanting to go on a holiday? His being persuaded to take the case? Interviews with Philip Stafford? His being unsure? Collecting the evidence, photos? His behaviour in the court? Monica and his friendship with her, the prosecution? His relationship with Jenny? The passionate affair? His concern about Philip? The discussions with Jonathan Gault and his observing the situation? The clashes with Matsom and his resentment about previous cases? The behaviour in court? The setup with lights, wigs? The distinction between men and women being seen in shadow? Reasonable doubts? The discussions with Philip, the emerging of more of the truth Jenny and her lies? The effect on him? Jonathan pursuing him? The final dilemma? The discovery of the truth? The handling of the situation? His decision to go for honesty? The different witnesses, undermining his case, his paying the black witness to find out the truth? The result of the case? The appeals? The confrontation with Jonathon, the possibility of killing him? The transition to the courtroom? His saving his innocence?
5. Jonathan Gault, his reputation, profession? The reaction to being acquitted? The party? His guilt? Mad, use of psychology on Harry? Absorbing the case, present in court? Irony of his relationship with Philip Stafford? The impulse to murder, the disguise, the revenge on Stafford? The confrontation with Harry? The gun, the possibility of killing Jenny? His vanity, killing Matsom? His day in court? Madness?
6. Jenny, her relationship with her husband, separation, cruising, with Harry? The affair, the passion? Her relationship with her ex-husband, asking Harry to defend him? And not telling the truth? Her belief in his innocence? Her cover in saving him? The truth? Her being ashamed after lying to Harry? The danger from Gault? A future together?
7. Stafford, his background, arrest? The police definite about his guilt? Desperation in prison? Audiences attitude to his innocence or guilt? The court, the gradual revelation of the truth, his lies, Jenny's cover-up? His being used by Gault?
8. Matsom, the police, anger at lawyers, acquittals? Desperate for an arrest? The evidence for arresting Stafford? His being knocked out? The reliability of what he saw - in Gault's disguise? Collaboration with Harry? Death?
9. Judge, Monica and the prosecution? Techniques for behaviour in court, straightforward cross examination, theatrics? Surprise witnesses?
10. Interesting study of lawyers, police? Court proceedings? The effect on defence lawyers? The necessity of the judicial system?
