The Lincoln Lawyer

There is something so satisfying about seeing two really smart people in a battle of wits. It's one of my favorite plot devices. For me, another favorite is handsome men...and look at this cast!

• Matthew McConaughey ("We Are Marshall") is a slick, successful, street-wise lawyer, but he actually believes in Justice. His office is a Lincoln town car.
• Ryan Phillippe ("Breach") is his client, accused of rape and attempted murder. This baby-faced character presents quite a quandary: Is he or is he not guilty?
• Josh Lucas ("Glory Road" - I've been a fan since "Sweet Home Alabama") is the prosecutor confronted by death of a thousand cuts. It's not as bad as it sounds.
• Michael Paré ("Hope Floats" and for you hard-core fans, "Eddie and the Cruisers") is a frustrated detective.
• John Leguizamo ("Moulin Rouge!") is the fast-talking street guy who pulls our hero into the game.
• William H. Macy ("Shameless") is our hero's right-hand man, quick, resourceful...and funny.
• Laurence Mason (LOTS of TV) is his chauffeur; he has the best line: "You're nobody 'til somebody shoots you!"

The female roles are mostly window dressing except for Frances Fisher ("Jolene") who plays the accused fellow's mother; the script has plenty of laughs, with many upbeat characters and a twisty plot worth following. By the time we know what happened, we still can't see where we're going.

All in all, this is an exciting, satisfying, well-shot film with plenty of people to root for, very little profanity, no car chases and no blowie uppie stuff.

Our screening crowd really liked this one.