JUST CAUSE
US, 1995, 102 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Capshaw, Blair Underwood, Ed Harris, Christopher Murray, Ruby Dee, Scarlett Johansson, Daniel J. Travanti, Ned Beatty, Lyn Thigpen, Hope Lange, Kevin Mc Carthy, Chris Sarandon, George Plympton.
Directed by Arne Glimcher.
Just Cause is a rather graphic and violent investigation movie with Sean Connery trying his hand at solving a murder mystery and, as a celebrated lecturing lawyer, defending the innocent. Connery is executive producer of the film. Once again Connery lends his dignity (though a dent in credibility with Kate Capshaw, so young compared with his age, as his wife with young children, one of whom is Scarlett Johanssen - The Horse Whisperer, Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn't There, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Lost in Translation) as one of the grand old men of cinema to a popular genre.
Again there is a very strong supporting cast including Blair Underwood as a man accused of rape and murder, Laurence Fishburne as a Florida policeman. The plot has a number of twists and character interconnections that lead to changing sympathies. Ed Harris gives a brief but extraordinary performance as a psychotic killer. The film highlights justice difficulties in violent America.
1. A strong police investigation, portrait of a serial killer, thriller? The combination of these elements?
2. The southern settings, the towns, homes, prisons, the glades - a context for the action, for the characters? The contrast with New England? The musical score?
3. The plausibility of the plot: the work of the police, police brutality, crimes, rape and murder, beatings and confessions, the practice of the law, motivations, the insane killer, the various twists in audience sympathies, the final peril?
4. The title, as applied to Bobby Earl and the crimes he was accused of, the police and their brutality, Sullivan and his criminal activity, Paul and his concern about justice, his wife and her motivations? The ending?
5. Bobby Earl, black, the previous charge of kidnapping, Laurie and her having prosecuted? His second arrest, the rape and murder, the examination of the location for the crime, lack of evidence? His being in the cells, Wilcox and Brown and their treatment of him, the confession? His being found guilty, going to prison? His relationship with his mother? Her going to Paul to plead for him to come and defend him? His discussions with Sullivan, Sullivan assuming his blame? His being let out, the revelation of the truth? Laurie and her daughter, his going berserk, motives? The explanation about his torture and castration? The confrontation with Paul and Brown? The threats, death, vengeance being taken on him?
6. Wilcox and Brown, their police work, Wilcox and his treatment of Bobby Earl? Work, investigation, Brown and his being black, investigating Bobby Earl? The actual beatings and who did them? The mission, the notice, the men, the escape, going to the glades? Brown with Paul? Wilcox's death? Brown surviving, the confrontation with Bobby Earl, his death? The bonding between Brown and Paul?
7. Paul, his work, lecturing in New England, Evangeline and her being present, pleading her son's cause? Paul and his work, his young wife, children? The discovery that Laurie had been involved in the case against Bobby Earl? His going to the south, discussions with the local authorities, investigating the police, going to the jail, interviewing Bobby Earl? Estimating his guilt or not? A man of the law, a man of action? His relationship with his wife and daughter, their being taken? The interviews with Brown, with Sullivan? Sullivan's execution? The lie to Bobby Earl that Sullivan had not been executed? Forcing the truth? Brown and his story, their going to the glades, the confrontation with Bobby Earl, the rescue of Laurie and the children?
8. The cameo presence of Sullivan, mad, cruel, born-again? His intensity, the interviews, his violence? His taking on Bobby Earl's guilt? Giving the explanation and clues? Their not measuring with the truth? His deal with Bobby Earl, his execution?
9. Laurie, her law background, in the case against Bobby Earl? The age difference with her husband? Her children? Her motivation in persuading Paul to take the case, his questioning whether it was for Bobby Earl or for herself? The family, the abduction, the perils, their being saved?
10. Brown, black, police work, Bobby Earl and justice, the atmosphere of the south, the brutality of bashings for confessions? The interactions with Paul, the initial antagonism, Wilcox's death, the abduction, his change of heart, his helping Paul in the rescue?
11. The officials, the law, prison guards?
12. The victim of Bobby Earl's crime, her parents, their wanting justice?
13. The complexities of morality and law, the administration of justice? Morality, action and melodrama?
