Haven't seen the series, but strong agree on Ruth Negga. She's the poster child for actors that are much stronger than the material they are given (usually, she has been in some genuinely good stuff, but she deserves better roles).
I remember her as one of the only bright spots on the first season of Agents Of Shield, and being the main reason to watch the otherwise mediocre AMC adaptation of Preacher, a show I really wanted to love.
I read the novel before I saw the movie (a frequent occurrence back in the day -- much rarer nowadays), and the thing I remember second-to-most is that this was the first movie adaptation I saw where I said to myself, "My goodness -- there is no one better than Greta Scacchi for the role of Carolyn." Perfect casting for the perfect actress.
Of course, the thing I remember the most about the movie is the ending. Oh, the ending!! So good. I'm sorry they didn't replicate it for the series -- I can't imagine there being a better option.
Thank you for giving us a rationale to use six hours to watch other content. I have invested much time viewing limited series with great casting only to be let down when either the plot is stretched out beyond comprehension or a series with a strong introduction slowly unravels before my eyes. You do a wonderful job highlighting the merits and deficiencies of the series without spoilers, while also reminding us of how decent the Alan Pakula film was in the first place.
Why am I unsurprised the film is better, given that most everything produced nowadays is craptological at its core, just like the Hollywood that created it
Wow, Dennehy, Julia and Camp. That role has become Hamlet-esque in the number of heavy hitting actors who have inhabited it! Seriously, quite a murderer’s row.
This piece made two other decent legal thrillers from that era come to mind for me, I had to look up release dates and it turns out they both came out before PI: Suspect and Jagged Edge. Don’t know how they would hold up on a rewatch but I remember enjoying both at the time.
I’m struggling to remember any of the legal thrillers that would have been inspired by Presumed Innocent. Maybe Body of Evidence, but that felt more like a response to the popularity of Basic Instinct. And hot wax.
Scott, Alan Sepinwall's review of the ending (and Carolyn's treatment in the show) was pretty brutal. Although you didn't overtly discuss the ending, nothing you wrote suggests you disagree with his assessment.
This was terrific, and was exactly what I wanted to read after finishing the series this week. Also, you're right about all of it. (I do not think the series was good, but it was compulsively watchable, which is sort of the depressing point of it existing in the first place. But also Bill Camp forever.)
This was a fun article to read. I loved the movie with its ridiculously good cast and one of the best ending ever. The show I struggled to watch in spite of the great cast. Negga who I’ve not seen before was a revelation. Gyllenhaal (who I’m a fan of) disappointed. His Rusty is to hot tempered to be believable as a talented assistant D.A. or as a man worth his wife standing by. The rest of the cast is very good with the exception of Reinsve, not her fault she has nothing to work with. I get hesitating to make Carolyn the scheming woman she was in the movie in 2024!but we needed to care about her as the victim at least. I for one did not. Carolyn is not enough of a person here to really register. What can you say about the ending? I understand not wanting to copy the movie but there was no way to top it and the seriously out of left field attempt was a terrible decision. The show was okay with a good cast but I predict any good about the show is going to be destroyed but the announced second season. I cannot think of a logical follow up and let’s face it for all his talents creator David E. Kelley’s work is not notable for is logic but for its melodrama.
Haven't seen the series, but strong agree on Ruth Negga. She's the poster child for actors that are much stronger than the material they are given (usually, she has been in some genuinely good stuff, but she deserves better roles).
I remember her as one of the only bright spots on the first season of Agents Of Shield, and being the main reason to watch the otherwise mediocre AMC adaptation of Preacher, a show I really wanted to love.
I read the novel before I saw the movie (a frequent occurrence back in the day -- much rarer nowadays), and the thing I remember second-to-most is that this was the first movie adaptation I saw where I said to myself, "My goodness -- there is no one better than Greta Scacchi for the role of Carolyn." Perfect casting for the perfect actress.
Of course, the thing I remember the most about the movie is the ending. Oh, the ending!! So good. I'm sorry they didn't replicate it for the series -- I can't imagine there being a better option.
Thank you for giving us a rationale to use six hours to watch other content. I have invested much time viewing limited series with great casting only to be let down when either the plot is stretched out beyond comprehension or a series with a strong introduction slowly unravels before my eyes. You do a wonderful job highlighting the merits and deficiencies of the series without spoilers, while also reminding us of how decent the Alan Pakula film was in the first place.
Why am I unsurprised the film is better, given that most everything produced nowadays is craptological at its core, just like the Hollywood that created it
Wow, Dennehy, Julia and Camp. That role has become Hamlet-esque in the number of heavy hitting actors who have inhabited it! Seriously, quite a murderer’s row.
True character actor heaven.
This piece made two other decent legal thrillers from that era come to mind for me, I had to look up release dates and it turns out they both came out before PI: Suspect and Jagged Edge. Don’t know how they would hold up on a rewatch but I remember enjoying both at the time.
I’m struggling to remember any of the legal thrillers that would have been inspired by Presumed Innocent. Maybe Body of Evidence, but that felt more like a response to the popularity of Basic Instinct. And hot wax.
"Ruth Negga, one of the greatest actresses alive"
I love reading a line like this, going to look at their credits and realizing I haven't seen anything this person has been in
Oooh, well you're in for a treat! I'd recommend starting with LOVING and PASSING. She's phenomenal in those.
WARCRAFT, not so much.
Scott, Alan Sepinwall's review of the ending (and Carolyn's treatment in the show) was pretty brutal. Although you didn't overtly discuss the ending, nothing you wrote suggests you disagree with his assessment.
would your recommendation be to skip this?
This was terrific, and was exactly what I wanted to read after finishing the series this week. Also, you're right about all of it. (I do not think the series was good, but it was compulsively watchable, which is sort of the depressing point of it existing in the first place. But also Bill Camp forever.)
This was a fun article to read. I loved the movie with its ridiculously good cast and one of the best ending ever. The show I struggled to watch in spite of the great cast. Negga who I’ve not seen before was a revelation. Gyllenhaal (who I’m a fan of) disappointed. His Rusty is to hot tempered to be believable as a talented assistant D.A. or as a man worth his wife standing by. The rest of the cast is very good with the exception of Reinsve, not her fault she has nothing to work with. I get hesitating to make Carolyn the scheming woman she was in the movie in 2024!but we needed to care about her as the victim at least. I for one did not. Carolyn is not enough of a person here to really register. What can you say about the ending? I understand not wanting to copy the movie but there was no way to top it and the seriously out of left field attempt was a terrible decision. The show was okay with a good cast but I predict any good about the show is going to be destroyed but the announced second season. I cannot think of a logical follow up and let’s face it for all his talents creator David E. Kelley’s work is not notable for is logic but for its melodrama.