Presumed Innocent Movie Review

Presumed Innocent (1990)

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Written by: Scott Turow (novel), Frank Pierson and Alan J. Pakula (screenplay)
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Harrison Ford, Raul Julia, Greta Scacchi, Brian Dennehy, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford
Rated: R
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Plot
As a lawyer investigates the murder of a colleague, he finds himself more connected to the crime than anyone else.

Verdict
It's very 90s in plot and pacing. While it creates a mystery that keeps you guessing right up until the end, it's also a conglomeration of similar murder mystery stories. It's adapted from a book and it shows. I imagine the book frequently delved into characters thoughts and that doesn't translate to screen. The perspective on the murder victim is dated. The powerful men that compromised themselves and had a relationship with her are the victims, she was the devious vixen that tricked them. The power dynamic just doesn't support that.
It depends.

Review
Carolyn, a prosecutor, is murdered and a partner at her law firm, Rusty (Harrison Ford) is tasked with the case. Complications arise because Rusty had a fling with Carolyn. As did Rusty and Carolyn's boss. As more circumstantial evidence is uncovered, Rusty is looking more guilty. The case is driving a wedge between he and his wife because she knows Rusty had an affair with Carolyn. This case renews Rusty's obsession with Carolyn.

Harrison Ford plays Rusty.

Rusty has to hire his own lawyer. The movie doesn't reveal what happened. It seems possible Rusty was with Carolyn the night she was murdered. It didn't think Rusty killed her, but if he was being framed I wasn't sure why. He's the likely suspect, but the movie keeps spinning a lot of different ideas.

This becomes a courtroom drama half way in. Even the judge has a link to Carolyn. Rusty is acquitted, but only because of a crooked judge and crooked cop. The judge serving himself, the cop helping out his friend Rusty. The final conclusion is wild, though it raises a lot of questions.

Presumed Innocent is plagued by being so squarely 90s. At this point it feels like a low budget thriller, though that's due to the style more than the story. It feels like a book adaptation with the pacing, twists, and turns.

The movie portrays Carolyn as deviously tempting these men to sleep with her as a means to further her career. It's furthering a cheap stereotype that is how women progress instead of merit, but the movie also ignores the power dynamic. All of the men she sleeps with are in a position of power over her. The movie presents these men as victims, powerless against her charms. That just doesn't track due to the power imbalance. The movie comes off as Rusty's fantasy of Carolyn. She didn't want him so we get a viewpoint of her that aligns with his disdain. Her only act of agency in the movie is rejecting Rusty. Since we see this from Rusty's viewpoint, it's convenient that we're giving so few redeeming qualities for Carolyn.