MOVIE REVIEW… THE LINCOLN LAWYER

After a string of disastrous comedies, the only option left for actor Matthew McConaughey was to return to his roots.  The Lincoln Lawyer affords him this opportunity as it shares many similarities with his star making role in 1996’s legal thriller A Time to Kill.  Once again playing a hotshot legal eagle, his limited range may not necessarily be stretched although he looks the most comfortable he’s been for sometime in a role suited to his swarthy charms.

Driving around in his treasured Lincoln car, lawyer Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) continues his hunt for the next big case.  He is asked to defend wealthy playboy Louis (Ryan Phillippe) who is accused of assaulting a prostitute.  Eagerly taking the case promising a big pay-day, Mickey discovers things aren’t so cut and dry.  With the help of his investigator Frank (William H. Macy) and ex-wife Maggie (Marisa Tomei), the road to the court-room becomes paved with death threats and constant lurking danger.

There is a danger for legal thrillers to become conventional who-dunnits.  Given that McConaughey hasn’t been renowned for appearing in substantial works.   Whilst he isn’t always fantastic in this case, The Lincoln Lawyer succeeds in mostly rising above banality.  Effectively presenting a lead character using street-smarts to win cases, Haller is unafraid in getting his hands dirty and eagerly sifts through the murky layers Los Angeles’ alley-ways provide.  This offers Lincoln Lawyer’s main point of interest as it re-freshes the usual courtroom drama formula.

Its story is consistently engaging and has something to say about the value of truth.  Truth can be a cherished commodity when attempting to save a life with the characters twisting that ideal for their own ends.  Louis’ sense of entitlement due to his background becomes a good counter-point as his conduct masks secrets Haller eventually discovers.  This twist driven pattern moves proceedings along smoothly even if some of the actors aren’t well utilised as they should have been.

Although Matthew McConaughey isn’t the greatest actor, he makes the most of what The Lincoln Lawyer offers.  Slick as most crime dramas currently are, it’s an engaging time-waster which provides some fun in guessing how events will ultimately culminate.

Movie Review Rating 6 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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