McConaughey Makes a Strong Case

"The Lincoln Lawyer"

What do the films A Time to Kill, Amistad, and The Lincoln Lawyer all have in common?  Matthew McConaughey playing a damn fine lawyer, that's what.  The opening credit montage of various shots of Los Angeles and a Lincoln Town Car being driven around with the letters, "NTGUILTY" on the license plate set to the thumping beat of Bobby 'Blue' Bland's "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" establish the tone of the setting and main character of Brad Furman's The Lincoln Lawyer based on the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly. 

McConaughey plays defense attorney Mick Haller and he has got this character down to a tee.  Mick is slick and smooth.  He knows all the ins and outs when it comes to the law.  Mick's got connections that seem to stretch the length of Sepulveda Blvd.  We get the sense this guy can walk the walk and talk the talk.  His latest case seems very by the book and not too challenging.  Rich and spoiled pretty boy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) is accused of beating and raping a prostitute.  Louis' defense, "I didn't do it.  I'm innocent."  Mick is skeptical and cautiously takes on the case.  Like many courtroom dramas though nothing is what is seems and new pieces of the puzzle emerge in the case.  Mick has to live up to his reputation and reach deep into his bag of tricks to get to the bottom of what is at stake and uphold justice in the process.

Over the past eight years McConaughey has starred in a string of stinkers so it was quite refreshing to see him in a lead role that let him showoff his acting chops.  His performance is elevated even more so by a fantastic supporting cast consisting of Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, and Bryan Cranston.  With the first scene of the film we are already in awe because McConaughey brings such a presence to the scene and that presence remains consistent throughout the active two hour run time.

Furman does solid job of handling the material for a courtroom drama.  We never linger on a piece of evidence longer than we should and the case is always moving forward to the eventual trial.  There are also moments when we are able to take a break from Mick the lawyer and get to see Mick the man who is a father, ex-husband, and friend.  These little breathes are important to his character.  McConaughey realizes this and is able to show a range of emotions.

Although the film has the sense of a made for TV movie there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  It is still a well made production with a pleasing screenplay for a genre that is certainly underrated.  Hopefully there will be more Michael Connelly adaptations ahead in McConaughey's future.  Mick Haller has a following and he might be just the kind of career booster the actor could use.