| PRESUMED
INNOCENT, like most of director Alan J. Pakula's films
is also a complex character study. Based on a best-selling novel by Scott
Turrow, the courtroom murder mystery tells the story of
prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Harrison Ford) who is accused
of murdering his former mistress, the beautiful and
ambitious Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi). All the
physical evidence points to him, and Sabich's
"golden child" character is in deep trouble.
His marriage, too, is in jeopardy as new twists of
events leave his wife Barbara doubting Ford's innocence,
and Sabich's boss Raymond Horgan, who is running for
reelection, simply wants the killer caught before his
campaign suffers. Ford's performance (somewhat against
type based on previous roles) is excellent as the
beleaguered attorney who seeks an end to his nightmare,
calling acerbic defense lawyer and rival (Raul Julia) to
his rescue. Cinematographer Gordon Willis (THE
GODFATHER) and Pakula, who collaborated previously on
KLUTE, have created a film of shadow and darkness in
which great performances keep the audience riveted right
up to the unnerving ending.
PRESUMED INNOCENT is a disturbing
murder mystery told in the style director Alan J. Pakula
(ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN) enjoys best. Harrison Ford
(RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER)
plays prosecuting attorney Rusty Sabich, who is deeply
shaken by the sudden rape and murder of a colleague and
former love interest. Sabich is assigned to the case,
which becomes clouded by both personal and political
interests that are in conflict. An adaptation of Scott
Turow's best-selling novel, the film presents an intense
look at the human flaws of ambition, greed and lust.
Best-selling novelist Scott Turow, on
whose book the film is based, was also an attorney.
The film puts Harrison Ford in the part of a potentially
not-so-nice guy, which is in contrast to other roles in
which he's cast as ethical, dependable, or heroic. This
is also true of WHAT LIES BENEATH (2000) in which he
plays a husband with a secret.
Greta Scacchi's birth name was Greta Gracco!! |
- Attractive Retail Box
- Genre:
Murder Mystery
- Rating:
R (MPAA)
- Rating Reason: For Violence,
Profanity, Nudity and Sex.
- Starring:
Bonnie Bedelia, Brian Dennehy, Harrison Ford, Raul
Julia, Greta Scacchi, Paul Winfield
- Directed By:
Alan J. Pakula
- Release Information:
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Theatrical Release Date: July 27,
1990
- DVD Release Date: December 16, 1997
- Run Time: 127 minutes
- Production Company: Warner Home
Video
- Package Type: Snap Case
- DVD Features:
- Encoding:
Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only).
This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other
countries.
- Aspect Ratio(s):
- Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1
- Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1
- Available Audio Tracks:
- English (Dolby Digital 2.0
Surround)
- French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
- Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0)
- Available Subtitles: English,
French and Spanish
- Closed Captioned:
Yes
- Bonus Features:
- Production Notes
- Theatrical Trailer
- Interactive Features:
- Scene Access
- Interactive Menus
|
