The Lincoln Lawyer is best-selling author Michael Connelly’s 16th novel, and his first courtroom drama. It is successfully brought to the big screen with unexpectedly strong leading performances from protagonist Matthew McConaughey and foil Ryan Phillippe.
Lawyer to the underbelly of Los Angeles—prostitutes and drug dealers—Mick Haller (McConaughey) is a slick, charismatic, “greasy angel” whose specialty is finding loopholes in the legal system to get his clients off. He operates from the back seat of his Lincoln Continental, cruising from courthouse to courthouse.
What you see at the surface, however, isn’t necessarily the whole picture. As the story unfolds, the many layers of Mick are revealed, including his mostly noble code of ethics in helping those who would not otherwise be able to afford fair legal representation. While he can easily cater to wealthier clientele, Mick adamantly chooses to work with the downtrodden in LA’s seedier areas.
We also come to realize his devotion to his daughter, whom he’s raising with his prosecutor ex-wife (played by Marisa Tomei), and he has a deep-rooted fear of putting an innocent man in jail.
Lawyer to the underbelly of Los Angeles—prostitutes and drug dealers—Mick Haller (McConaughey) is a slick, charismatic, “greasy angel” whose specialty is finding loopholes in the legal system to get his clients off. He operates from the back seat of his Lincoln Continental, cruising from courthouse to courthouse.
What you see at the surface, however, isn’t necessarily the whole picture. As the story unfolds, the many layers of Mick are revealed, including his mostly noble code of ethics in helping those who would not otherwise be able to afford fair legal representation. While he can easily cater to wealthier clientele, Mick adamantly chooses to work with the downtrodden in LA’s seedier areas.
We also come to realize his devotion to his daughter, whom he’s raising with his prosecutor ex-wife (played by Marisa Tomei), and he has a deep-rooted fear of putting an innocent man in jail.
As the plot advances, Mick lands the case of a lifetime. His bail bondsman connection (John Leguizamo) introduces him to Beverly Hills socialite Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), who has been accused of attempted rape and murder of a prostitute.
As Mick delves deeper into the case, he realizes that nothing is what it seems. Mick quickly discovers that he’s dueling with a mastermind who may have led him to put a previous client (Michael Pena) into jail for a crime he didn’t commit. How will Mick balance his own ethics and morals against the legal system to correct his mistake?
The Lincoln Lawyer was highly entertaining, keeping the audience at the edge of their seats, almost as if we were all swerving across LA’s diverse neighborhoods in the back of Mick’s Lincoln. The all-star ensemble cast also includes Josh Lucas, as the prosecuting attorney on the case, and William H. Macy, who plays Mick’s private investigator best friend.
Matthew McConaughey was so comfortable and believable as Mick that you’d think the novel was originally written specifically with him in mind. This is his first dramatic role in years, and hopefully it will not be his last.
His facility in handling both comedy and drama make him a true pleasure to watch on screen. While he may be pigeon-holed into a rom-com leading man with a distaste for shirts, it’s important to recall his first major breakthrough starring role, playing a young lawyer in John Grisham’s court thriller A Time to Kill.
Despite one romantic scene in which he does take off his shirt, McConaughey’s performance in The Lincoln Lawyer is redemptive, illuminating his depth and prowess as an actor who can be taken seriously.
Also worthy of calling out, Ryan Phillippe’s nuanced performance as the anti-hero was a key element of the film’s success. Louis and Mick go head to head, battling out their moves as if on a life-sized chessboard.
While certain parts of the film didn’t come together as cohesively as they could have, The Lincoln Lawyer is a highly entertaining courtroom thriller with an all-star cast. Matthew McConaughey’s performance alone is worth buying a ticket!
[etRating value=“ 4”]
As Mick delves deeper into the case, he realizes that nothing is what it seems. Mick quickly discovers that he’s dueling with a mastermind who may have led him to put a previous client (Michael Pena) into jail for a crime he didn’t commit. How will Mick balance his own ethics and morals against the legal system to correct his mistake?
The Lincoln Lawyer was highly entertaining, keeping the audience at the edge of their seats, almost as if we were all swerving across LA’s diverse neighborhoods in the back of Mick’s Lincoln. The all-star ensemble cast also includes Josh Lucas, as the prosecuting attorney on the case, and William H. Macy, who plays Mick’s private investigator best friend.
Matthew McConaughey was so comfortable and believable as Mick that you’d think the novel was originally written specifically with him in mind. This is his first dramatic role in years, and hopefully it will not be his last.
His facility in handling both comedy and drama make him a true pleasure to watch on screen. While he may be pigeon-holed into a rom-com leading man with a distaste for shirts, it’s important to recall his first major breakthrough starring role, playing a young lawyer in John Grisham’s court thriller A Time to Kill.
Despite one romantic scene in which he does take off his shirt, McConaughey’s performance in The Lincoln Lawyer is redemptive, illuminating his depth and prowess as an actor who can be taken seriously.
Also worthy of calling out, Ryan Phillippe’s nuanced performance as the anti-hero was a key element of the film’s success. Louis and Mick go head to head, battling out their moves as if on a life-sized chessboard.
While certain parts of the film didn’t come together as cohesively as they could have, The Lincoln Lawyer is a highly entertaining courtroom thriller with an all-star cast. Matthew McConaughey’s performance alone is worth buying a ticket!
[etRating value=“ 4”]
