Directed by Brad Furman, Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, & Ryan Phillippe. The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)


What’s It About?

IMDB says: “A lawyer conducts business from the back of his Lincoln town car while representing a high-profile client in Beverly Hills.“


What We Thought:
Nick:This past week the New Orleans Film Society was showcasing The Lincoln Lawyer for free. To be honest, the way the trailer was cut kind of intrigued me, almost as if it had the potential to rise above the usual Matthew McConaughey performance. It’s the story of a lawyer who takes on a high profile client who may or may not be guilty. Now, you wouldn’t call this movie cliché, but you may use the word typical. It’s your typical hotshot lawyer who wheels and deals with your typical lawbreakers and outlaws. The typical hotshot lawyer with a typical divorced wife meets a typical sociopath who says he didn’t commit the typical murder he’s accused of. The typical lawyer investigates to uncover the typical truth. The movie doesn’t dazzle you with camera tricks or interesting story lines. It barely keeps you interested in the film, but rewards your patience with minor jokes that pay off well. McConaughey is his usual self, but, and I’m sorry for spoiling this ladies, keeps his shirt on for the entirety of the film (except for brief seconds during a love scene.) Ryan Phillippe tries way too hard to play the antagonist and Marisa Tomei is, well, just there. Nothing too spectacular there and I guess they threw in William H. Macy and John Leguizamo to cover any plot holes. Some sub plots are left loose and the ending is typical. If you wait to see this via Netflix or DVD rental, you wouldn’t be missing out on any water cooler chatter.

FTS SCORE:
55%
40-60% = Average movie. Contained some flaws but wasn’t unwatchable. Couldn’t get into the movie but wasn’t offended.