Runaway Jury (2003)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writers (WGA):

John Grisham (novel)
Brian Koppelman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Trials are too important to be decided by juries.

Plot:

A juror on the inside and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.

Plot Keywords:

Jury | Gun | Lawyer | Trial | Court

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Nicholas Easter
Gene Hackman	...	Rankin Fitch
Dustin Hoffman	...	Wendell Rohr
Rachel Weisz	...	Marlee
Bruce Davison	...	Durwood Cable
Bruce McGill	...	Judge Harkin
Jeremy Piven	...	Lawrence Green
Nick Searcy	...	Doyle
Stanley Anderson	...	Henry Jankle
Cliff Curtis	...	Frank Herrera
Nestor Serrano	...	Janovich
Leland Orser	...	Lamb
Jennifer Beals	...	Vanessa Lembeck
Gerry Bamman	...	Herman Grimes
Joanna Going	...	Celeste Wood
Bill Nunn	...	Lonnie Shaver
Juanita Jennings	...	Loreen Duke
Marguerite Moreau	...	Amanda Monroe
Nora Dunn	...	Stella Hulic
Guy Torry	...	Eddie Weese
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Millie Dupree
Margo Moorer	...	Kaufman
David Dwyer	...	Birk
Michael Arata	...	Raines
Rhoda Griffis	...	Rikki Coleman
Fahnlohnee R. Harris	...	Sylvia Deshazo
Corri English	...	Lydia Deets
Jason Davis	...	Phillip Savelle
Xuan Van Nguyen	...	Henry Wu
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Terry Docken
Carol Sutton	...	Lou Dell
Deneen Tyler	...	Receptionist (as Deneen D. Tyler)
Zach Hanner	...	Ted
Andrea Powell	...	Deborah
Ted Manson	...	Pulaski
David Jensen	...	Shamburg (as David E. Jensen)
Lori Heuring	...	Maxine
Adella Gauthier	...	Voodoo Shopkeeper
Afemo Omilami	...	SUV Driver
Barret O'Brien	...	Techie
Ned Bellamy	...	Jerome
Orlando Jones	...	Russell
Michelle M. Miller	...	Reporter #1
Eric Paulsen	...	Reporter #2
Margaret Lawhon	...	Reporter #3
Gary Grubbs	...	Dobbs
Lark Marie Fall	...	Singing Woman
Marco St. John	...	Daley
Henry Darrow	...	Sebald
Don Henderson Baker	...	Thernstrom
Danny Kamin	...	Cash (as Daniel T. Kamin)
Lance E. Nichols	...	Agent Shield
Deacon Dawson	...	Hoppy Dupree
Elliott Street	...	Ringwald
Mike Pniewski	...	Strode
Joe Chrest	...	Owens
David Ramsey	...	Jimmy Hoke
Marcus Hester	...	Kyle Murphy
Lara Grice	...	Blonde Decoy
Loren Kinsella	...	Cafe Waitress
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Vaughn
Wayne Roberts	...	Clerk
Harvey Reaves	...	Agent Crowley
Wayne Ferrara	...	Agent Novecki
Peter Jurasik	...	Professor Phelan
Shannon Eubanks	...	Phyllis
Celia Weston	...	Mrs. Brandt
Irene Ziegler	...	Peg Grimes
Ed Nelson	...	George Dressler
Bernard Hocke	...	Mason Foley
Mark Krasnoff	...	Aggressive Reporter
Christopher Mankiewicz	...	Bartender
Cedric Pendleton	...	Homeboy
Perry Brown	...	Potential Juror #1
Don Hood	...	Potential Juror #2
Elizabeth Omilami	...	Potential Juror #3
Claudia Coffee	...	Reporter #4
Charlie Detraz	...	Reporter #5
Sally Ann Roberts	...	Reporter with Cable
Stuart Greer	...	Kincaid
Kathy Seiden	...	Kathy
Jack Massey	...	Henry Wood
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jude Cambise	...	Lamb's Assistant / WarRoom Techie (uncredited)
Alan Davidson	...	Landlord (Cincinnati) (uncredited)
Justin Groetsch	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Luis Guzmán	...	Jerry Hernandez (uncredited)
Murphy Martin	...	Man on Cell Phone at Cafe DuMond (uncredited)
Dylan McDermott	...	Jacob Woods (uncredited)
Darlene Moore	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Annie Morgan	...	College Girl (uncredited)
T.J. Toups	...	Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by
Gary Fleder

Writing credits (WGA)
John Grisham		(novel "The Runaway Jury")
Brian Koppelman		(screenplay) &
David Levien		(screenplay) and
Rick Cleveland		(screenplay) and
Matthew Chapman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jeffrey Downer	....	executive producer
Gary Fleder	....	producer
Christopher Mankiewicz	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Steven Brown	....	line producer: additional photography (uncredited)

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit

Film Editing by
William Steinkamp

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Mary Tricia Wood		(as Tricia Wood)

Production Design by
Nelson Coates

Art Direction by
Scott Plauche

Set Decoration by
Tessa Posnansky		(as Tessa Posnasky)

Costume Design by
Abigail Murray

Makeup Department
Steve Artmont	....	makeup artist: Ms. Weisz
Judy Crown	....	hair department head
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup department head
Allison Gordin	....	key makeup artist
Betty Hamnac	....	additional hair stylist (as Betty W. Hammac)
Stacy Kelly	....	additional makeup artist
Frances Mathias	....	hair stylist: Ms. Weisz
Adelita Solorzano	....	additional makeup artist (as Adelita M. Solorzano)
Donna Spahn	....	key hair stylist (as Donna Spahn-Jones)
Sherry Heart	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Dana Robin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bott	....	additional second assistant director (as George R. Bott)
Gary Romolo Fiorelli	....	second assistant director
James Roque	....	second second assistant director (as James Roque Jr.)
Ann C. Salzer	....	additional second assistant director
Mark Vargo	....	second unit director
Jimi Woods	....	second assistant director: second unit
Michael Zimbrich	....	first assistant director
Jay Tobias	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Stuart Auld	....	muralist
Marc Baird	....	storyboard artist
Paul Blanchard	....	set dresser
Marc Bouffard	....	labor foreman (as Marc J. Bouffard)
Kenneth Chauvin	....	set dresser
Randall S. Coe	....	construction coordinator
John Steuart Curry	....	paintings by: second unit
Bill Darrow	....	stand-by painter (as William Darrow)
David Erwin	....	on-set dresser (as David J. Erwin)
Tracy Farrington	....	property master
Daniel Fox	....	set dresser
Chad S. Frey	....	set designer
Eileen Garrigan	....	lead scenic
John Gathright	....	set dresser (as John B. Gatright)
John Herbert	....	paint foreman
Dave Kelsey	....	paint foreman
Vince Le Blanc	....	co-leadman (as Vincent Le Blanc Jr.)
Michael S. Martin	....	assistant property master
Patrick McGuire	....	set dresser (as Pat McGuire)
Danny Nick	....	set dresser
Jorin Ostroska	....	assistant property master
John Patterson	....	construction foreman (as John N. Patterson)
Marvin Perry	....	carpenter gang boss
Eric William Pierson	....	set dresser
Adele Plauche	....	set designer
Raymond Pumilia	....	set dresser
Leonard R. Spears	....	buyer (as Leonard Spears)
Leonard R. Spears	....	leadman (as Leonard Spears)
Chuck Stringer	....	location foreman (as George 'Chuck' Stringer III)
John Sweeney	....	property master: second unit
Ron Terry	....	set dresser (as Ronald Terry)
David Tureau	....	greensman
Nita Wilson	....	design department coordinator
Jason C. Bitzer	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)
Jack Blanchard	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gail Briant	....	signwriter (uncredited)
Daniel Coe	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Peter Croyle	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
James Dupuy	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Sara Fanelli	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Michael Hendrick	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Monroe Kelly	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Molly Mikula	....	set designer (uncredited)
Eric Reichardt	....	lead painter: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Marcus Turchi	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mark Allen	....	sound effects editor
Neal J. Anderson	....	dialogue editor (as Neal Anderson)
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bryan Bowen	....	sound effects editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Flickinger	....	sound mix technician
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital assistant
Scott Martin Gershin	....	supervising sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Hector C. Gika	....	sound effects editor (as Hector Gika)
Glynna Grimala	....	bg editor
Craig S. Jaeger	....	foley editor (as Craig Jaeger)
Christopher S.P. Jones	....	cable person
Michael Keller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julie Lindner	....	assistant adr editor
Jay Meagher	....	production sound mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Randy Pease	....	boom operator
Gary L.G. Simpson	....	re-recording engineer (as Gary Simpson)
Branden Spencer	....	assistant sound editor
Wylie Stateman	....	sound designer
Renee Tondelli	....	dialogue supervisor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Peter Zinda	....	sound effects editor
John Bires	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
David Kudell	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stephen Bourgeois	....	special effects
Bob Cooper	....	special effects coordinator (as Robert H. Cooper)
David K. Nami	....	special effects (as David Nami)
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steven Fagerquist	....	visual effects compositing artist (uncredited)
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Brian Smallwood	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Mark Spatny	....	visual effects supervisor/producer: Modern VideoFilm (uncredited)

Stunts
Robert Apisa	....	stunts
Charlie Brewer	....	stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (as Joe Bucaro)
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
Dana Stein	....	stunts
Ron Stein	....	stunt coordinator
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Galpin	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Applebaum	....	camera operator: "b" camera
James W. Apted	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as James Apted)
Gordon Ard	....	company grip
Jimmy 'Coach' Armstrong	....	assistant video assist operator (as James W. 'Coach' Armstrong Jr.)
Bob Bates	....	electrician
Phil Bertelsen	....	video surveillance unit
Buddy Carr	....	company grip
Gilly Charbonnet	....	best boy grip
Gilly Charbonnet	....	key grip: second unit
Thomas E. Conrad	....	video assist operator
Paul Conti	....	24 frame video engineer
David Crone	....	Steadicam operator
David Crone	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Cougar Easley	....	best boy rigging electrician
Christopher Ekstrom	....	company grip
Michael S. Endler	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Michael Endler)
Sean Finnegan	....	electrician
Matthew Gaumer	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Matt Gaumer)
Bob Hall	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Lavelle Higgins	....	electrician
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Vic Keatley	....	electrician: second unit (as Victor Keatley)
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Jeff Kunkel	....	dolly grip: "a" camera (as Jeffrey Kunkel)
R. Scott Lebell	....	rigging electrician
Lisa Lengyel	....	camera loader: second unit
Nick Leon	....	rigging electrician (as T. Nick Leon)
Rick Lupton	....	24 frame playback
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Luis R. 'Rick' Marroquin)
John Morris	....	best boy grip (as John P. Morris)
Paul Olinde	....	best boy electric
Paul Olinde	....	gaffer: second unit
Mike 'Chewie' Pappas	....	electrician (as Chewie Pappas)
James Plannette	....	gaffer (as Jim Planette)
Daniel Rector	....	rigging grip
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Mark Scott	....	24 frame video engineer
C. Alexander Sears	....	video playback operator
Philip Shanahan	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Sherman Shelton Jr.	....	rigging electrician
Michael L. Smith	....	company grip
Mark Vargo	....	director of photography: second unit
Lynda Vincent	....	camera loader
Don W. Wegner	....	company grip: second unit (as Don Wegner)
Don W. Wegner	....	rigging grip (as Don Wegner)
Raymond Gonzales	....	chief rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Franklin Jones II	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Dan Kubicek	....	grip (uncredited)
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Craig Fincannon	....	casting: New Orleans
Lisa Mae Fincannon	....	casting: New Orleans
Kelly Jones	....	extras casting
Chrysanthy Lyras	....	casting assistant
Jennifer L. Smith	....	casting associate (as Jennifer Smith)
Amy Staub	....	extras casting
Tommy Staub	....	extras casting
Seth Whitlow	....	location casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Chance	....	costume supervisor
Dana Embree	....	costume supervisor: second unit (as Dana Marie Embree)
Dana Embree	....	costumer (as Dana Marie Embree)
Caroline Eselin	....	costumer
Ann Foley	....	assistant costume designer
Linda Gardar	....	key set costumer
Jeannie H. Kelly	....	costumer
Meagan McLaughlin	....	costumer (as Megan McLaughlin)
Jennifer Day Young	....	key set costumer
Valerie Zielonka	....	costume supervisor
Michelle M. Pershing	....	costumer (uncredited)
Giselle Spence	....	seamstress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Lee Grubin	....	assistant editor
Kristin Kumamoto	....	editorial production assistant
Brett Lavinthal	....	associate editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Bob Shugrue Jr.	....	assistant editor (as Robert F. Shugrue Jr.)
Jennifer Steinkaump	....	editorial production assistant
Jeff Williams	....	assistant editor
Anthony Gore	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Ron Orenstein	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
David Baerwald	....	music consultant
Michael K. Bauer	....	music editor (as Michael Bauer)
Dick Bernstein	....	supervising music editor (as Richard Bernstein)
Wael Binali	....	score coordinator
Konstantinos Christides	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	score mixing engineer
Robert Fernandez	....	score recording engineer
David Giuli	....	score coordinator
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Melissa Orquiza	....	score coordinator
Jonathan Price	....	additional music score recordist
Jasper Randall	....	score coordinator
Steve Smith	....	additional music recordist
Vlad Solovey	....	score coordinator
Adam Stern	....	conductor
Steve Weisberg	....	composer: additional music
Rob Calhoun	....	scoring intern (uncredited)
Jessica Clements	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Scott Glasgow	....	score technical assistant (uncredited)
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer (uncredited)
Margaret Yen	....	associate music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Charley Bob Burnham	....	transportation coordinator
Peter R. Chittell	....	transportation captain
Lonnie Craig	....	transportation
Poland Perkins	....	transportation captain (as Poland Paul Perkins)
Frank Perrotti	....	driver: special equipment (uncredited)

Other crew
Brooks Baldwin	....	dialect coach: Ms. Weisz
Samantha Barker	....	assistant: Christopher Young
Mary Beth Basile	....	assistant: Gary Fleder
Susie Blanchard	....	set medic (as Susan D. Blanchard)
Max Blomgren	....	synthesiser programming
Natalie Borlaug	....	production assistant
Elliot Brown	....	legal consultant
Sam Bruskin	....	accounting clerk
Mara Buffett	....	production assistant (as Mara D. Buffett)
Batou Chandler	....	assistant location manager (as Batou A. Chandler)
Kenny Chaplin	....	production assistant
Kenny Chaplin	....	production assistant: second unit
Aloura Melissa Charles	....	production assistant (as Aloura M. Charles)
Paul Conti	....	24 frame computer playback operator
Doug Dearth	....	assistant: John Cusack
Rebecca L. Denton	....	legal consultant
Frank Duffy	....	set medic
Ryan Eustis	....	production assistant
Bridget Fenlason	....	stand-in
Tina George	....	production assistant
Greg Goossen	....	stand-in: second unit
Winston Gregory	....	technical consultant
Caleb Guillotte	....	production assistant (as Caleb V. Guilotte)
Robin Haas	....	production assistant
Dana A. Hanby	....	location manager: second unit (as Dana Hanby)
Ellen Harris Walters	....	assistant: Jeffrey Downer
Joe Hartwick Jr.	....	production accountant (as Joseph Hartwick)
Dennis Henigan	....	legal consultant
Rankin Hickman	....	assistant production coordinator
C. Robert Holloway	....	location assistant
Elston Howard	....	location manager (as Elston James Howard)
Timothy P. Hurley	....	legal consultant
Elizabeth Jurado	....	assistant: Rachel Weisz (as Elizabeth A. Jurado)
Jennifer Kamrath	....	production assistant
Tracy Keller	....	production coordinator
Robert A. Levine	....	unit publicist
Lindsey Liberatore	....	assistant: Arnon Milchan
Elizabeth Ludwick-Bax	....	script supervisor
Rick Lupton	....	computer graphics coordinator
William V. Malpede	....	synthesizer programmer (as William Malpede)
Ryan H. Martin	....	production assistant
Mark Miller	....	payroll accountant
Aimee Nance	....	assistant: Dustin Hoffman
Jonathan Price	....	synthesizer programmer
Jason Reppert	....	production assistant
Andrea Roa	....	production assistant
Anthony Rossi III	....	production secretary
Devon Schruff	....	location assistant (as Devon M. Schruff)
Mark Scott	....	24 frame computer playback operator
Amanda Segel	....	assistant: Arnon Milchan
Helen Sideris	....	second assistant accountant
Billy Slaughter	....	stand-in: second unit
Julie Ann Snow	....	first assistant accountant (as Julieann Snow)
Alice St. Germain	....	script supervisor: second unit
Lee Tucker	....	preview projection engineer
Paul Uddo	....	production assistant
Jeffrey D. 'J.D.' Ward	....	location projectionist
Wise Wolf	....	production assistant (as Wise Wolfe)
Wise Wolf	....	stand-in: second unit (as Wise Wolfe)
Laurel Wolowic	....	research consultant
Dustin Young	....	intern
Ilya Beynenson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rachel Brewer	....	stand-in: Rachel Weisz (uncredited)
Tessa Brophy	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Brian Burney	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jude Cambise	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Chip Carey	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Trang Dang	....	intern (uncredited)
Samuel Dyches	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dustin M. Flickinger	....	intern (uncredited)
Justin Groetsch	....	production intern (uncredited)
John Joly	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Alissa M. Kantrow	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)
Ted Kantrow	....	caterer (uncredited)
Michael D. Kennedy	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lauren McAuliffe	....	script supervisor: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Tricia Mercaldi	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elizabeth Mire	....	intern (uncredited)
Nathan Parker	....	production intern (uncredited)
Billy Slaughter	....	stand-in: Dustin Hoffman (uncredited)
Rick S. Sulier	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Steve Van Hee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Garson Yu	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Jacqueline Brechtel Clarkson	....	thanks (as Councilwoman Jacqueline Brechtel Clarkson)
Ernest Collins	....	thanks: Office of the New Orleans Film Commission
Stephanie Dupuy	....	thanks: Office of the New Orleans Film Commission
Ken Hollis	....	thanks (as Senator Ken Hollis)
Ray Nagin	....	thanks: Mayor of New Orleans (as The Honorable C. Ray Nagin)
Steve Scalise	....	thanks: State Representative

Production Companies

• Regency Enterprises (presents)
• New Regency Pictures (as New Regency)
• Epsilon Motion Pictures

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2008) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (original airing) (RTL5)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Film Production Capital  tax credit brokering
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Panavision Remote Systems  remote cranes and heads
• Soundelux  sound re-recording
• Todd-AO Studios  sound post-production
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• Warner Bros. Studio Services  music re-recording
• yU+Co.  titles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40050)

Filming Locations:

Esplanade Mall - 1401 West Esplanade, Kenner, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

This movie is based on the early 1990s John Grisham novel, but in the book the trial was about a large tobacco company.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Fitch meets with the gun company man who is shooting clay discs, near the end of the conversation the man loads his gun and closes it. In the very next shot it's broken open then switches back to closed in the shot after that.

Quotes:

Rankin Fitch: Gentlemen, trials are too important to be left up to juries.

Movie Connections:

References Beetle Juice (1988)

Soundtrack:

Big Rock Candy Mountain

One of the better Grisham-adaptations

'Runaway Jury' is one of the best movies based on a John Grisham novel. The best is still 'The Rainmaker', probably because Francis Ford Coppola was the director who could work with a perfect ensemble of actors. Other Grisham adaptations have had terrific ensembles as well. 'The Firm' (1993) starred Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Holly Hunter, 'A Time to Kill' did it with Samuel L. Jackson, Matthhew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Donald Dutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris Cooper, Oliver Platt and Ashley Judd, and 'The Rainmaker' had to do it with only Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mickey Rourke, Mary Kay Place and Danny Glover.

Now here is 'Runaway Jury', starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman (in his third Grisham-movie), Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz, a courtroom thriller that has suspense, keeps our attention and knows how to surprise. The good thing is that the movie seems to have no real good guy or girl. Hackman is Rankin Fitch, a guy who spies on possible jurors to make sure he chooses the right jury for his employers. The way he does this make his the real bad guy. John Cusack is Nick Easter. He becomes a juror in a case that deals with guns and how their manufacturers are responsible for people getting killed. Fitch is on the side of the manufacturers, on the other side we have lawyer Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman). He represents a woman who wants to sue the gun-manufacturers because her husband was killed by one of their guns.

At first the movie seems to be a courtroom drama but then we learn that juror Nick Easter has his own agenda. He wanted to be in that jury for something and his girlfriend Marlee (Rachel Weisz) has a lot to do with that. Nick and Marlee want to give the verdict to the person, Fitch or Rohr, who is willing to give them the highest amount of money. Fitch is interested right away but tries to prevent this in a lot of ways, Rohr slowly realizes that he has to make an offer as well since Marlee and Nick are able to show that they really own the jury. To tell you too much could spoil things for you, so this is enough for the plot.

With real suspense this movie keeps our attention and makes us forget that at some times things are not very plausible. There were moments I could have asked questions but during the movie I was not thinking about them, only after it was finished I realized that certain events simply had to happen to keep the movie going. The way the movie just kept on going made sure we were not even able to think about possible flaws. It was interesting the entire time.

Director Gary Fleder ('Kiss the Girls', 'Don't Say a Word') has made his best thriller to date with the help of a nice story and some terrific performances. Cusack is able to do almost anything, Hoffman and Hackman are always reliable actors and sexy Weisz is perfect as the mysterious Marlee. Completely different from 'The Rainmaker', but almost as good as that one.