The Lincoln Lawyer 2011

Tom Long, Detroit News: The ride can be a bit bumpy, but The Lincoln Lawyer gets you where you're going. Read more

Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: ...a pretty decent entertainment, although it does have a pretty challenging time covering up the fact that the genre hasn't got a whole lot of new tricks in its bag. Read more

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: What happened - did Matthew McConaughey roll out of bed one morning and decide that, after smiling through one too many schlocky movies, playing the pretty boy opposite Sandra-Kate-Jennifer, he wanted to do something decent? Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: McConaughey must still think he's starring in television commercials, his original forte. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: "The Lincoln Lawyer" moves through its paces as smoothly as Mickey strolls through a courtroom. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: The film devolves into the cozily predictable world of TV legal dramas, abandoning the moral uncertainty of its opening scenes... Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: In "The Lincoln Lawyer," McConaughey once again takes off his shirt, but only for a minute. I'm happy to report that he spends most of his time acting, while clothed. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Admit it, when you hear the phrase "a Matthew McConaughey movie,'' your expectations slip into the basement, yes? Yes. On that score, this adaptation of a best-selling Michael Connelly crime thriller is an improvement. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Reader: This pungent neo-noir can be sleazy and over-familiar, but like the protagonist, it's so smart and crafty that you may forgive its flaws. Read more

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: Lincoln is smart, juicy entertainment, but it's the kind of straight-up legal drama that hinges entirely on crafty storytelling and across-the-board solid performances. Read more

Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News: Criminal-defense attorneys are often viewed with disdain, and while director Brad Furman's adaptation of Michael Connelly's 2005 novel won't do much to change this, it does allow Matthew McConaughey to give his best performance in years. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: The Lincoln Lawyer is not a feat of genre-breaking design. But it is a well-oiled machine. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: [McConaughey] still looks great arguing in a courtroom, still delivers his lines with a variable drawl implying barbecue for dinner. Read more

Laremy Legel, Film.com: That the premise of the film doesn't make a ton of sense shouldn't dissuade you if you're in the mood for a little escape. Read more

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: A moderately entertaining crime drama from people who know their way around a bloody knife or suspicious evidence. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: While Furman shows a mostly steady hand with his actors, the narrative flow trips things up considerably. Connelly's book turns out to be too much for screenwriter John Romano to handle. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Most fans of the novel would probably tell you McConaughey isn't someone they had pictured in the lead role, but he works out just fine, his laid-back, breezy charisma exactly what Mickey requires to do his job. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: It has nothing to do with the capital of Nebraska or the former president. While you're watching it, though, you'll wish it did. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: It's really just a solid courtroom drama, but these days moviegoers should take what they can get. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: It would be more fun if the hero were a little more colorful. All Matthew McConaughey's Haller has to his character is his cockiness, and that gets a bit tiresome. Read more

Ella Taylor, NPR: Just when you thought Matthew McConaughey had settled into pre-retirement content to play the (dry-aged) beefcake in a string of dippy romantic comedies, the actor comes roaring back with some real acting. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: There's a reason potboiler paperbacks don't make good movies -- there's too much outlandish plot, even for Hollywood. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Calling big-screen legal thriller "The Lincoln Lawyer" the best TV pilot I've seen in a while really isn't meant as a putdown -- the truth is, there's more good stuff on the tube these days than in theaters, especially at this time of the year. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: Brad Furman's movie is shamelessly entertaining and the best thing in it is McConaughey's Mickey Haller, known as "the Lincoln lawyer" because his office is his Town Car. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The Lincoln Lawyer is an enjoyable piece of pop entertainment. Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: Return to old school court room who done it. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: "The Lincoln Lawyer" is workmanlike, engagingly acted and entertaining. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: This is rock-solid entertainment. McConaughey, a cunning mesmerizer in the courtroom, steers this Lincoln into what could be a hell-raising franchise. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: One of the year's most delightful Hollywood surprises. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: The script is legal boilerplate bolted to mundane characters, the acting is baked-ham buffet, and the direction is basic cable mediocrity incarnate. It's the most unrewarding two hours you could spend in a theater, short of a total power outage. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: It marches at an efficient pace, but there's too much collateral damage to believability. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Fellow jurors, let's remember The Lincoln Lawyer at its best and deliver a generous verdict -- an innocent entertainment, with extenuating circumstances. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: The spotlight is firmly on McConaughey, but he earns all the attention. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: This screen adaptation of Michael Connelly's clever legal thriller is stylish, suspenseful and thoroughly entertaining. Read more

Andrew Barker, Variety: The Lincoln Lawyer is a quintessential airport-novel kind of movie, possessing no great qualities or ambitions. Read more

Mark Holcomb, Village Voice: As devoid of spontaneity as a D.A.'s defense strategy, this adaptation of fiction machine Michael Connelly's 2005 legal thriller is both convoluted and completely predictable. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: "The Lincoln Lawyer" just may have the makings of a terrific franchise, if only because it finds McConaughey so clearly in his comfort zone after a string of forgettable romantic comedies and action pictures. Read more