directed by Gregory Hoblit
This is an entertaining older (1996) legal thriller/noir murder mystery that has a number of twists, some of which were immediately apparent, others of which were not.
Watching it you might say that many of the seven deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride) drove the characters and situations described.
Primal Fear was also actor Edward Norton's debut. Norton held his own against more experienced actors. I thought Norton was probably a few years too old to be 100% believable in his role as an altar boy but there are different customs on this.
Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is a smooth talking former Chicago prosecutor and current successful defense attorney. Martin claims not to care about the innocence of his clients or the victims of their alleged crimes. Martin is all ego. Martin enjoys proving every day that he is smarter than any prosecutor.
Martin thinks that with facts on his side he can beat any charges against his client(s). And if the facts are against him, Martin believes that he's slick enough to win over any jury. Martin does not lack for confidence, smarts, or legal tricks.
One person on whom Martin's charm is lost is his former girlfriend Janet Venable (Laura Linney), a prosecutor who still works in the same office that Martin left.
Janet feels, with some justification, that her prosecutor career has suffered since it became public knowledge that she and Martin used to do the do. Janet blames Martin for this, which isn't entirely fair but everyone is the hero/heroine of his or her own story. Janet also dislikes Martin for other reasons.
Martin would like to restart their thang but Janet insists those days are gone. Martin and Janet separately attend a charity event presided over by Archbishop Rushman (Stanley Anderson). The Archbishop is later found brutally murdered in his private quarters.
The police have apprehended an altar boy, Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), who was fleeing the scene and covered in blood. Aaron doesn't remember anything. He has no motive for murder. And Aaron is well, either mentally slow or mentally disturbed. Aaron has blackouts and comes from an abusive family background.
Wanting to show off, Martin defends Aaron pro bono. Martin's former boss, the District Attorney Shaugnessy (John Mahoney), hates Martin. Shaughnessy assigns Janet to prosecute the case against Aaron. Shaughnessy can kill two birds with one stone. If Janet wins she gets some revenge and Shaughnessy can gloat at Martin losing to a "girl". If Janet loses, Shaughnessy can fire a woman whose professionalism he questions.
Martin uses every tool he has, ethical or otherwise, to rattle Janet and create reasonable doubt for Aaron. Initially not caring about Aaron's story, Martin starts to believe that there might be something there.
Martin's investigator Goodman (Andre Braugher) and expert psychologist Molly (Frances McDormand) discover evidence which supports Aaron's innocence or at least non-responsibility. A former client, mob boss Pinero (Steven Bauer), shares some information with Martin that opens a new line of inquiry.
Martin learns the stakes are higher than he thought and that he might not be as cynical or amoral as he pretended. This film is worthwhile. It ranks with the classic forties and fifties noir movies. All the actors and actresses are good. Norton is brilliant.
