The Lincoln Lawyer **** (2011, Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Peña, Bob Gunton, Frances Fisher, Bryan Cranston) – Classic Movie Review 3270

Working from the back of his Lincoln car with the registration plate NTGUILTY, Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a hotshot lawyer who makes the mistake of taking on the case Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a smooth Beverly Hills rich boy accused of badly beating a prostitute.

Aided by evidence from his investigator (William H. Macy), McConaughey soon thinks Phillippe’s not as innocent as he claims, though the cops and prosecutor (Josh Lucas) may have a few things up their sleeves…

With an expert screenplay by John Romano  based on Michael Connelly’s novel, this is a real nice surprise: an old-style crime thriller that really works. Without an ounce of fat, it’s tense, credible, surprising and entertaining throughout. The support cast is outstanding, but the movie stands and falls as McConaughey’s show – and it turns out he can still surprise us with a tour-de-force.

Also in the cast are John Leguizamo, Michael Peña, Bob Gunton, Frances Fisher, Bryan Cranston and Trace Adkins.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3270

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