Peur primale

... although, like Perry Mason, we do have a legal trio here - The cynical high dollar criminal attorney who loves the limelight (Richard Gere as Martin Vail), the private detective (Andre Braugher as Goodman) and the very quiet legal secretary (Maura Tierney as Naomi).

Vail has made a fortune and a very public persona defending drug dealers and gangsters who are embarrassingly guilty of at least similar crimes to the ones of which they are accused. But then a case that is very much in the news arouses his interest - a choirboy is accused of the brutal butchering of a beloved priest. The manhunt for the blood covered suspect is even televised on local Chicago news. Vail goes to visit the suspect. He may be guilty but he is also a 19 year old stuttering kid (Edward Norton in his film debut) who at least claims he is innocent. Vail is intrigued so he takes the case pro bono. He is looking for a change of pace and this is it.

The obvious complicating factor is that the prosecuting attorney assigned to this case is his old lover (Laura Linney as Janet Venable). She saw their relationship as just one of his extended stay one night stands, he saw it as something more. And furthermore the DA is seeking the death penalty in this case.

It has several twists in it, some shocking at the time, others probably not so much considering that even in the 90s corruption in high office was not surprising to the public at all. It's probably not that well remembered today because it comes in rather late in Gere's best remembered performances and very early in Edward Norton's. Laura Linney's character was great, and a good job was done rounding out her character so that she wasn't just an easy love interest. She was a tough young female prosecutor who knew how to play the game, and Gere exploited that tough attitude in the courtroom.

I loved Alfre Woodard as the judge, someone who isn't afraid to carry a glass of iced tea into the courtroom. When someone in her chambers is obviously rattled and lights up a cigarette to calm down, she makes them put it out but then does offer a shot of bourbon instead. She is the definition of calm and smooth authority.

To say much more would be to give too much away, but I think it does still hold up almost 30 years later and I would still recommend it if you like courtroom dramas.

An interesting aside - There is a scene with Tony Plana and Richard Gere as they walk along with one of Gere's gangster clients. 14 years before they starred together in "Officer and a Gentleman" where they both played naval officer candidates. A coincidence? I don't know.