One of the really bad films of the year. It would be tempting to blame it on writer/director Brad Silberling, but no one in this film acquits him or herself admirably. Susan Sarandon struggles to bring her usual fiery passion to a
dully-written part, Dustin Hoffman looks great but is otherwise a bore, and
Jake Gyllenhaal comes across as an annoying Tobey Maguire clone, but
even more annoying than Tobey.
The nadir? Possibly this line from Sarandon: "You've given us all a big
truth enema." Yeah, there's eloquence for you! Gyllenhaal whines his way
through an unbelievably bad courtroom scene that provokes a desire to
smack him one, and Holly Hunter looks embarrassed as a district attorney.
A low mark for all concerned.