A MURDER OF CROWS

US, 1998, 95 minutes, Colour.
Cuba Gooding Jr, Tom Berenger, Marianne Jean- Baptiste, Michael Pellegrino, Eric Stoltz.
Directed by Rowdy Herrington.

A Murder of Crows is a murder mystery focusing on lawyers. There is a reference to John Grisham - and this film aspires to John Grisham territory. Cuba Gooding is a hotshot lawyer who decides not to continue to defend a wealthy murderer in New Orleans (Eric Stoltz). When he is disbarred, he retires to Florida where he encounters a strange character called Christopher Marlowe, who shows him a manuscript of a novel about the murdering of lawyers who get guilty clients off. When Marlowe suddenly dies, Gooding decides to publish the novel under his own name, receives acclaim, and then is arrested because of the accuracy of the detail of the murders.
Cuba Gooding co-produced this film as a vehicle for himself and is at home in the role of the lawyer, especially in pursuit of the truth. Tom Berenger is the detective who confronts him. Marianne Jean-Baptiste? (Secrets and Lies) is a lawyer who befriends him.

The plot is rather farfetched - and one presumes that any investigation would give the lawyer an alibi for one or all of the murders. However, it finishes in a slightly cynical way with the lawyer once again being freed - by a wealthy hotshot lawyer.

Rowdy Herrington directed such action movies as Roadhouse and Next of Kin.

1. Entertaining crime thriller? The focus on lawyers? Detection? The world of publishing? Sensationalism?

2. The plausibility of the plot, the work of the professor, his motivations, being in so many places, acting and disguises, the use of the Faust myth and Marlowe and Goethe? The role of Lawson, his being framed, his detection work?

3. The title and the explanations of the analogies during the film? Images of crows?

4. Lawson and his work, telling the story from his prison cell, audiences wondering why he was in prison? His decision not to continue the case, the reaction of the judge, his performance in court, exposing the murderer, yet not fulfilling his requirements of giving his best defence, his being disbarred? His memories of his father and the sayings about the law, morality, truth? His retiring to Florida, fishing, the encounter with Mr Marlowe, taking him fishing, at the bar, the reading of the novel, his death, the discussion with the detective?

5. His decision to publish the novel, its success, his being carried away, the relationship with Janine? The book-signing? His friendship with Elizabeth Pope, her coming to the signing, saying that the book was not like him?

6. His return home, success, the clash with Thurman? The audience being led to believe that it was a plot by Thurman against him? Thurman's words and threats?

7. The suddenness of the arrest, Dubose and his receiving the book, reading it? Billy Ray and Lawson's arrest? The revelation that all was true? His seeking Elizabeth's help? Her inability to do much? His being on the run? Going back to Florida, checking on the identity of Mr Marlowe, getting the phone records? His return home, finding the housekeeper, finding the professor, his lectures? Searching his house, the revelation of the truth?

8. Lawson's return to the house, the confrontation with the professor, the explanation of the cases, his own family, the murders? Dubose and his following, the arrest, the professor shooting Dubose? The evidence against Lawson?

9. The explanation to Elizabeth, her getting a lawyer, his wealth from the book (compensation?)? The trial and his being freed?

10. The character of Thurman, wealth, murders, defences, getting off?

11. Dubose, tough, reading the book, the investigation, the confrontations with Lawson, the pursuit? The police chases?

12. A satisfying if rather incredible thriller?