PRIMAL FEAR

US, 1996, 125 minutes, Colour.
Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton, John Mahoney, Frances Mc Dormand, Terry O’ Quinn, Maura Tierney, Andre Braugher, Alfre Woodard, Jon Seda.
Directed by Gregory Hoblitt.

An always interesting and intriguing court room drama and murder mystery with Richard Gere as a charmingly arrogant defence lawyer clashing with a strong prosecutor, Laura Linney. Characters are well-developed and there is a great deal of sharp dialogue. Edward Norton is a new talent and is excellent as the accused. Audiences need to pay attention right until the end.

The film is also topical (and may disturb some audiences) with the murder victim an archbishop (in some brief but very graphic violent scenes) and elements of current debates on sexual abuse. These are not sensationalised. Regrettable as such behaviour is, it has to be faced (and energy go into support for victims rather than lamenting its being the subject of a movie). Absorbing mystery and courtroom drama.

1. All the and interesting and entertaining film? Critical praise? Court drama? Twists in the plot?

2. Chicago in the 1990s, civic government, administration of the wall, governmental corruption? The role of the church? Linked with civic government and the wall? The issue of two faces? The quotation from Hawthorne? The scarlet letter? The reference being carved in the archbishop’s chest?

3. The religious dimension, scared as in the church, the state of scandals in the mid 1990s? The impact for audiences then? Later? For the title: four Aaron, for Martin, for criminals?

4. The setting of the scene: the civic dinner, the guests, the speeches, the jokes, the particular tables, the war table, Martin getting ready to go, the interviewed for the article, his meeting
Shaughnessy and the history between them, Bud Yancey Janet, her coldness, the past? The archbishop pleasant, his jokes, photo opportunity, meeting everyone? Six

5. The musical background, the choir singing? The archbishop of home, getting up, the noise, the chopping of his fingers, the many slashes and rooms, the windows bursting, the damage the course of the rage?

6. The pursuit of Aaron, as seen on the television, into cult with martens interview, the role of the police, interviews, 19 hurrying to the jail, his offer to Aaron? His offer to take the case pro Bono? Four who scored, that and Aaron, format and himself? The high profile case, the media treatment?

7. Martin and his work for criminals? His visit to Shaughnessy and Yancey? Discussions about the deal, for the criminal, the money deal, his having to leave the state? Shaughnessy and his conditions? Martin visiting the criminal, playing pool with his henchmen? Infornation about the land? The collapse of the company, the involvement of the church? The buying of the property? The latest sequence with Martinez, the plot against him, his integrity? The latest scene of the death of the criminal boss? Martin’s revenge in the cross examination in the court?

8. Shaughnessy and Yancey? Asking Janet to take the case? The later and are at her behavior? The anger and the murder, wanting the death penalty? The setter for the conflict between Janet and Martin?

9. Martin, wanting the case, the individualist, the need for higher profile, for media attention? The magazine cover, Janet asking for it to be signed? His needs beyond the media? Questioning Aaron, the leaving him or not? Spending to the stuttering, PT? His sense of justice? Aaron suggesting the presence of a third person? Correct pity the plausibility of this theory? The prosecution, the clique at case, the obvious guilt, the knife, left handed, forensic evidence, Matt and her going against this evidence?

10. Janet, tough, with the district Atty., Working with Martin in the past, Martin telling the journalist about his lying and his case, resigning will, his change of approach, working for himself? Sure sea and the threats? The documents?

11. Matt and employing the psychologist, a specialties, qualifications, the interviews with Aaron, taking taping them, her sympathy, his responses, her proving, his background, abusive parents, his sudden and are? Watching him confront martyr? Multiple personalities? The possibility?

12. Aaron and his story, Kentucky, pool, abused, coming to Chicago, no money, the sympathy of the archbishop, inviting him to be an altar boy, getting accommodation? Alex and Linda and his friendship? Explaining the friendship with the lender to the psychiatrist? The possibility of marrying? His reading? Seeing the archbishop as a father figure? The innocent, night and grooming him how to walk in the court, his sitting in court, listen?

13. The interrogation by Martin about the video? The police in court? Witness? The doctor, The interrogations, the judge and her caution, will will apply in the mall, finding Martin for contempt? Janet and her reaction to the doctors presence, the issue of multiple personality, her skepticism, her mockery, her interviewing Aaron? The big speech about what she would do in anger? Martin and he is inciting Aaron to change? The emergence of Rory, his physically attacking Janet? His being held down?

14. Martin and his work with his assistants? Their loyalty, personalities, work, Tommy and his being a policeman, searching the apartments, the encounter with Alex, pulling his hearing? Later finding him? The confrontation with Martin and Alex? A story of the video? The watching of the video, the shock?

15. The archbishop, his private face, researching that he had been reported to the district Atty. 10 years earlier on suspicion of abuse, the young man in the court? Shaughnessy denying any knowledge of it? His friendship with the archbishop the archbishop’s public face, people not able to believe the video? The details of the video, the archbishop directing, saying that he had to purge his demons, telling Aaron, Alex and Linda what to do?

16. Tommy leaving the video for Janet? Martin and his schemes, meeting Janet, cat and mouse about bringing the video into testimony? Shaughnessy for banning Janet to bring it to the court? Her shrewdness in cross examining Tommy? The truth coming out?

17. The judge, her way of conducting the case, listening to the arguments, being firm, fining Martin? Her final decision, Aaron being relegated to the institution for 30 days for testing, the possibility for leaving? Will

18. Martin meeting with Janet, and lies in the case, how they had played of each other, correct and liars, Janet losing her job, the future and the possibility of marriage, working together? Next paragraph

19. Martin visiting Aaron, praising him for his handling of the case, believing that boy had emerged? Air and saying he had lost time, could not remember, apologizing to Janet for his violence, Martin realizing the truth, coming back, the explanation that there was no Aaron, but only Roy all the time? The complete deceit?

20. Martin, realization the truth, self image, the reporters, leaving by the side door?

21. A satisfying psychological drama, mystery, court case, portrait of lawyers?