Runaway Jury 2003

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: You may be exhausted by the time the gavel comes down. But even if you disagree with the film's political agenda, you'll be impressed with the skill with which it makes its case. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Runaway Jury is an adequate, unremarkable piece of work, but as they say in the book world, you won't be able to put it down. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: [T]his film ranks just below The Firm and The Client on the list of John Grisham-inspired thrillers, thumbs up. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: Fleder and his able cast deliver a brisk, entertaining story that, despite straining credulity at times, earns a positive verdict. Read more

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times: John Cusack gives one of his wiliest performances in some time. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Jury duty never looked so interesting. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Jury is the closest cinematic approximation to a beach novel that money and skill can buy. Read more

Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times: A smooth, comfortable ride all the way, with Hackman and Hoffman, of course, the ultimate in fine engineering. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: A high-minded potboiler. Read more

Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: The best big-screen adaptation of a John Grisham novel since The Firm. Read more

Michael Booth, Denver Post: A captivating thriller that combines intensely personal motivations with broad swipes at the very foundations of justice. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Although the twists are pulpy and the legal foundations feel wildly porous, Fleder, a practiced hand at TV-cop stuff and movie thrills, makes the film a faster, more agile bundle of entertainment than the book. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The best that can be said for Runaway Jury is that it does not disappoint expectations: This is not a case of dumbing down literature; it's mediocrity aimed for and successfully achieved. Read more

Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News: The cinematic equivalent of a page-turner. Read more

Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly: As in all his films, there's a sense that honest human emotion bores Fleder, but he gets points for packing the trial with fine character actors, all of them adept at wringing humor and poignancy from cliche. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Provides just enough nutritional content and exudes enough of a homecoming familiarity to make the indulgence seem worth the empty calories. Read more

Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger: Grossly inauthentic but authentically engrossing entertainment. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: A breezily entertaining courtroom thriller that again clarifies why Grisham sells so well. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: A lot of famous faces populate the courtroom in this overplotted and farfetched tale of jury-tampering, but they and the horse they rode in on are all so mired in illogical, head-scratching incoherence, they need lawyers of their own. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: An enjoyable way to burn up a couple of hours. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The film has its share of high points, but the flaws are frustratingly obvious and impossible to overlook. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The movie hums along with a kind of sublime craftsmanship, fueled by the consistent performances of Hackman and Hoffman, the remarkable ease of John Cusack, and the juicy typecasting in the supporting roles. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: Fleder's direction confirms the impression left by his previous films, Don't Say a Word and Kiss the Girls among them, that he's a hack. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Runaway Jury hooks the audience, and after 10 minutes there's no looking back. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: In spite of its cheesy plot twists, thoroughly second-rate direction, and criminally wasted ensemble, Runaway Jury adds up to a nice little gotcha! courtroom melodrama. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Fans of courtroom thrillers won't go wrong with Runaway Jury. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: An awkward hybrid of courtroom drama and heist thriller that spends a great deal of time on running around and shouting, but precious little on amplifying the important issues it raises. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Watching a movie this impersonal play out for 127 minutes is like being sequestered in a dingy motel without a six-pack. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: It's proof, if any is needed, that Grisham knows more about bestsellerdom than he does about law. Read more