Ein Ministrant wird beschuldigt, einen Priester ermordet zu haben, und die Wahrheit liegt mehrere Schichten tief vergraben.Ein Ministrant wird beschuldigt, einen Priester ermordet zu haben, und die Wahrheit liegt mehrere Schichten tief vergraben.Ein Ministrant wird beschuldigt, einen Priester ermordet zu haben, und die Wahrheit liegt mehrere Schichten tief vergraben.
- Regie
- Drehbuch
- Hauptbesetzung
- Für 1 Oscar nominiert
- 10 Gewinne & 12 Nominierungen insgesamt
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Even though I'm not really a fan of Richard Gere (I'm not a woman, so no I don't like him because the way he looks, I only look at his acting), I have to admit that this time he really did a very good job as the slick, media-friendly, arrogant lawyer Martin Vail. Still, in my opinion the real star in this movie is Edward Norton. He's really excellent as the altar boy who is accused of murdering a Catholic bishop.
For once the story isn't as predictable as usual. At first the case seems rather clear: an altar boy is running away from the home of the bishop, with blood all over his clothes. No doubt about it you think, he did it, case closed, next movie! But than the first interesting twist in the movie appears: Yes, he was at the murder scene, but he can't remember anything about the grisly murder, because at that exact moment he got a blackout. He's convinced that there was a third person in the room. That third person must have killed the bishop, he's innocent. His lawyer tries to prove the third man theory in the court room, but as the process comes nearer to the end, some new evidence will make everything a lot clearer and more interesting...
As I already said, this movie is more than just worth a watch, thanks to the rather innovative story line and characters. For once, this movie didn't annoy me more than I could ever like it. That's already worth a lot, so I give it a well deserved 8/10.
Kept me on the edge of my chair throughout. One of the best of the courtroom genre films that I have seen.
A coherent script, well directed and edited, leaving me guessing to the end, with a really neat twist in the final stage. Excellent.
Wusstest du schon
- WissenswertesThis is Edward Norton's motion picture debut.
- PatzerIt is stated by several characters that a plea cannot be changed mid-trial. However, it is entirely possible to change a plea before sentencing.
- Zitate
[last lines SPOILER]
[while in a holding cell in the back of the courthouse]
Roy: Mr. Vail?
Martin Vail: Yeah?
Roy: [stammering] Will you t-tell Miss Venable I'm sorry? Tell her I hope her neck is okay.
Martin Vail: Yeah... I will.
[begins walking away, then turns back]
Martin Vail: Wait... What did you just say? What? You told me just a few minutes ago that you didn't remember. You blacked out. You "lost time" yet again. So, how do you know about her neck?
Roy: [slow clapping sardonically; sneers] Well... good for you, Marty. I was going to let it go at that. You was looking so happy just now. I was thinking, hmmm God. But to tell you the truth, I'm glad you figured it out, because I have been dying to tell you. I just didn't know who you'd wanna hear it from, you know? Aaron or Roy... or Roy or Aaron. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. A sort of a client-attorney-privilege type of a secret, you know what I mean? It don't matter who you hear it from. It's the same story.
[stammering as Aaron]
Roy: [in a southern accent] I j-j-just... had to kill Linda, Mr. Vail.
[normal voice as Roy]
Roy: That cunt just got what she deserved. But... cutting up that son of a bitch Rushman? That was just a fucking work of art.
Martin Vail: You're good. You are really good.
Roy: Yeah. I did get caught, though, didn't I?
Martin Vail: So there never... there never was a Roy?
Roy: Jesus Christ, Marty. If that's what you think, I am disappointed in you, I don't mind telling you. There never was an Aaron... counselor! Come on, Marty! I thought you had it figured, there at the end. The way you put me on the stand like that? That was fucking brilliant, Marty! And that whole thing like "act-like-a-man"? Jesus, I knew exactly what you wanted from me. It was like we were dancing, Marty!
Martin Vail: Guard!
Roy: [as Vail walks away] Oh come on, don't be like that, Marty. We did it, man. We fucking did it! We're a great team, you and me. You think I could've done this without you? You're just feeling a little angry here, because you started to care about old Aaron, I can understand that, but... you know, love hurts, Marty. What can I say? Hey, I'm just kidding, bud! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings! What else was I supposed to do? Hey, you're gonna thank me down the road, because this is gonna toughen you right up, Martin Vail! You hear me? That's a promise!
- SoundtracksIntroitus: Cibavit Eos
by William Byrd
Performed by The Voices of Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Conducted by Stephen Darlington
Courtesy of Nimbus Records
Top-Auswahl
Details
Box Office
- Budget
- 30.000.000 $ (geschätzt)
- Bruttoertrag in den USA und Kanada
- 56.116.183 $
- Eröffnungswochenende in den USA und in Kanada
- 9.871.222 $
- 7. Apr. 1996
- Weltweiter Bruttoertrag
- 102.616.183 $
- Laufzeit2 Stunden 9 Minuten
- Farbe
- Sound-Mix
- Seitenverhältnis
- 1.85 : 1