Runaway Jury (2003) - Where to Watch, Reviews, Trailers, Cast - Watchmode

Runaway Jury (2003)

A juror and an outsider scheme in a high-stakes trial; perfect for fans of courtroom dramas and legal thrillers.

Genres: Drama, Thriller

Cast

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Runaway Jury(2003)

Movie2h 7mEnglishDrama, Thriller
7.2
User Score
67%
Critic Score
IMDb

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Overview

After a workplace shooting in New Orleans, a trial against the gun manufacturer pits lawyer Wendell Rohr against shady jury consultant Rankin Fitch, who uses illegal means to stack the jury with people sympathetic to the defense. But when juror Nicholas Easter and his girlfriend Marlee reveal their ability to sway the jury into delivering any verdict they want, a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game begins.

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With a cast this strong, this should be so much better. However, it remains an entertaining if forgettable courtroom drama, pretty much in keeping with every adaptation of a Grisham novel. The films moves briskly and the message of the film is well meaning wish fulfilment, but the plot is thin and contrived and stretches credibility to breaking point. Hackman and Hoffman are always watchable however, and both Cusack and Weisz do well to flesh out rather dull characters whose predictable motivation is revealed near the end.

Of course John “Anti-Gun” Cusack made this anti-gun movie. Remember it’s ok for him to use guns and protect himself and make millions on screen with guns. Just as long as you you don’t have them.

Man, I haven't watched this since it was in theaters, and I forgot what a great ride it is; Grisham adaptions always were. While the switch from Big Tobacco in the novel to the firearms industry may have been a little too on-the-nose for current events in 2003 which ruffled a lot of feathers at the time, this still *really* works because both industries have historically dominated in civil cases.*But* it being against the firearms industry in the movie really isn't the focus of the it at all; it's about the moral and ethical conundrums of trying to rig a jury in either direction. It works so well because of the cast; can't really go wrong with Hackman and Hoffman going toe-to-toe or Cusack and Weisz going toe-to-toe with Gene Hackman. Yeah, it gets into the realm of fantasy revenge porn what with [spoiler]Nick and Marlee getting $15 million on top of Fitch getting badly outplayed,[/spoiler] but it's still a fun ride. If you're a fan of any of the many *other* Grisham adaptations, this one probably won't disappoint you.

A story based on law but but on justice. At least they could have made strong arguments, but they didn'#39;t even do that. If we had invented something, and could be held responsible for people abusing the product, then how would that encourage progress? To say guns are an exception is a simple case of special pleading fallacy.

Very intriguing movie about a '#34;lawyer organization'#34; that tries to manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.

This kinda shit can'#39;t be real. It'#39;s quite good nonetheless.

Featured User Reviews

With a star-studded cast and based on a John Grisham novel, this film aims to deliver a gripping portrayal of power and manipulation within the judicial system. While it manages to hold the audience's attention throughout its over two-hour runtime, the final result falls short of its ambitious premise. The story blends courtroom intrigue with dramatic twists, but at times sacrifices credibility in favor of visual and emotional spectacle that, while entertaining, can feel somewhat contrived. Gary Fleder's direction attempts to assert a distinctive style with editing and cinematographic choices designed to impress, though they sometimes distract rather than enhance the narrative. The cast, led by Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, provides a solid foundation for the film. However, the script fails to fully capitalize on this ensemble's talent, leaving some characters underutilized. Despite this, the performances succeed in sustaining a story that, while lacking depth in its social critique, remains engaging. Visually, the film boasts polished production values, but certain stylistic choices—such as the overuse of modern cameras and flashy effects—may feel unnecessary. This contributes to a narrative that prioritizes spectacle over introspection, weakening the film's core message. In summary, Runaway Jury is an entertaining legal thriller, ideal for casual viewing, but it doesn’t delve deeply into the ethical and legal dilemmas it raises. While it doesn’t leave a lasting impression, it fulfills its purpose as an enjoyable spectacle.

This offers quite an interesting look at just how seriously big business takes the selection of a jury, when large amounts of money are at stake. Gene Hackman is "Fitch", a man who makes a very good living acting on behalf of these organisations. His job is to probe into the private lives of prospective jurors, of their loves, peccadillos, politics - looking for weaknesses or reasons not to select them. This case involves one of the most contentious in the US pantheon of criminal law - the right to bear arms, and it falls to "Rohr" (Dustin Hoffman) to bring an action against a weapons manufacturer that is going to be tough. As the case proceeds, we are introduced to the less honourable nature of one of the jurors, and his girlfriend who have a plan of their own - and, as you'd expect, there is money and pressure being applied to ensure that the jury reach the "correct" verdict. Intriguing as the plot is, though, the film itself stutters along without much innovation. The courtroom scenes are a bit dreary and once we have established the premiss, Hackman's efforts are all rather repetitive and become less and less menacing and sophisticated as the story slips into a rather mediocre melodrama of private life shenanigans. Hoffman is adequate, no more, as are Rachel Weisz and John Cusack as the eagerly duplicitous but not awfully bright "Easter". Based on one of John Grisham's more inventive stories - nobody ever actually wants to be on a jury - this loses much in it's translation to film and by the mid-point I was really pretty turned off by the whole thing. It's watchable, but becomes more preposterous as it proceeds to a conclusion that, though not quite what you might expect, is still a bit flat.

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