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Created Mar 18, 2011 03:02PM PST • Edited Mar 18, 2011 03:02PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   A surpringly good performance from Matthew McConaughey makes The Lincoln Lawyer an entertaining legal flick. McConaughey plays Mick Haller, a click criminal defense attorney who works out of his Lincoln Towncar. Always one step ahead of the opposition, MIck is asked to represent Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe) a rich young man accused of beating a woman. However, things aren’t always as they seem to be (especially in any good crime drama), and Mick must fight to find the truth, while protecting his client.

   McConaughey dos a nice job with a serious dramatic role after having appeared in several goofy movies. He displayed the requisite angst needed for this role. Phillipe was decent in his role as the spoiled rich kid, although his physical stature doesn’t appear as threatning as we are made to believe in this movie.

   A nice number fo plot turns are present int he film, and it certainly kept me guessing thoughout most of the film. I did not read the book prior to seeing the movie, so i can’t speak form first hand knowledge about how faithful it remains to the novel, however I was told by a fellow movie patron that teh book contains much more background information than the movie presented.

   In retrospect, that was one area the movie needed; a better foundation of the relationships between some of the characters. While it was entertaining, we sometimes weren’t quite sure of the previous history Mick had with some of the others. None-the-less, it was a good movie, and a refreshing legal drama, with just enough funny moments to keep it from getting too sentimental.

   The other complaint I had was the sterotypical ex-wife of the big attorney. It seems like that’s been played out in several other movies for some time now, and I’m not sure this one really needed it.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   McConaughey shows far more depth in this role than he has in previous outings. Phillipe is adequate, although never really threatening in his role as the accused attacker.

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

   Marisa Tomei plays the former wife of Mick. Although she is confined to a type-cast role as the ex-wife of the big attorney, she does bring her professionalism to the screen.

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

   Frances Fisher does a fine job portraying the mother of the rich spoiled criminal.

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

   William H. Macy sports a pretty cool mustache in his role as an investigator. The mustache alone should get an award for “Best Facial Hair”. Tom Selleck must be envious.

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

    Overall, Brad Furman does a decent job. I was worried when the opnening scenes relied on a lot of steadycam shots, but he quickly put that tool aside and moved on. The only other notable problem I had was with his insistence on filming McConaughey using a “circle shot” everytime Mick starts his courtroom arguments. This shot involves circling the head and torso of the speaker as he gives his verbal arguements. The problem was that the walls of the courtroom had vertical panels that accented the spinning effect, creating nausea when watched on the big screen.

12. Play Good 3.0

    Moved along well, although I though it was over before it was really over.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.3

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

    No direct nudity, but there was sex in the movie.

18. Violence Brutal 2.7

    Shootings, and physical assault pictures throughout.

19. Rudeness Salty 2.5

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.6

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0