INNOCENT
US,, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
Bill Pullman, Marcia Gay Harden, Richard Schiff, Alfred Molina, Marianna Gravena, Collard Harris.
Directed by Mike Robe.
Innocent is based on a novel by celebrated author, Scott Turrow, best known to film audiences for Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford as a lawyer Rusty Sabich. This film takes place 20 years later when Sabich is arrested for the murder of his wife, played by Marcia Gay Harden. Bill Pullman is Sabich, not as commanding a screen presence as Harrison Ford, but able to combine the innocent, the sly, the deceptive. Richard Schiff portrays Tommy Molto, the lawyer who had prosecuted Sabich 20 years earlier.
The film moves backward and forward from the celebration of Sabisch’s 60th birthday and his beginning of an affair with his assistant, then to the morning when he is discovered with the body of his wife and the proceeding court case. The audience is unsure and there are still some surprises when Sabich portrays the situation, sometimes shone in flashback, with what really happened at the time of the death of his wife. Richard Schiff is very good as Molto, being urged on by his assistant, Jimmy Brand (Tahmoh Penniket) who has a vindictive approach to Sabich, wants him in jail and is prepared to stoop to illegal means to effect this.
The film is designed for a television audience and so lacks the scope of Presumed Innocent.
1. An interesting murder mystery and court case?
2. The film had Scott Turrow as consultant, its continuity with Presumed Innocent? Characters, the initial situation, the prosecution, Sabich and his relationship with his wife, her illness and depression? His fidelity and infidelity?
3. The city setting, homes, police officers, legal offices, the court? The musical school?
4. The title, its ambiguity?
5. The situation with Barbara’s death, Rusty and his being in the room for 24 hours, his son’s arrival, the handling of the situation, the presumed suicide? Rusty and his being arrested?
6. Rusty in court, his judgements, the homosexual murderer, the issue of bail, Rusty meeting him in the corridor, threatening him? His change in presuppositions and prejudice? The later testimony of the murder in court against Rusty?
7. Rusty at home, Barbara and her neuroses, change of moods, depression, taking of pills? Love for her son? Nat and Anna at dinner and the tensions?
8. Rusty, with Anna, her prospects, her coming on to him, his succumbing, the affair, the various meetings? The rumours? Rusty breaking of the affair, and her reaction? Anna meeting Rusty, falling in love, explaining to Rusty, going to the home for the dinner? And not telling the truth?
9. Tommy, his work as a lawyer, 20 years earlier, his late family, his hoping for advancement? Jimmy Brand, in the office, urging Tommy to prosecute, insisting, his obsession? His behaviour in court?
10. Stern, friends with Rusty, ill, coming to meet him, defending him, Marta and her assistance? Their work in the court?
11. The witnesses, hearsay, legal officials, medical? Rusty and his ability to answer the questions?
12. The issue of the computer, the message from Barbara? Access to the computer? Rusty and his presumptions about Nat or Anna? The revelation of the truth that Brand had interfered? His justifying himself?
13. The judge, her listening, treatment of the lawyers, the issue of the computer, her wanting the issue settled?
14. Rusty, his plea, impeding justice, the murder charge withdrawn? The reaction of all of his friends? His going to jail?
15. Tommy, talking with Brand, the journalist and her talking about Brand’s drunken claims? Talking with the computer expert? The truth, his acting on it, going to the prison? Rusty released?
16. The truth about Barbara’s tests, her malice towards Rusty? Nat and his support? And? The concealing of the truth from Nat? Appropriate or not?
17. Standard material for this kind of murder mystery and court procedure?
