Criminal Law (1989)

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R04/28/1989Drama, Thriller, Romance1h 54m

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Overview

Ben Chase is an on-the-rise Boston attorney currently defending a wealthy client in a high-profile murder case. Martin Thiel is the wealthy young man on trial for a particularly brutal murder. The verdict sets Thiel free. Within 24 hours another grizzly and all-too-familiar murder has taken place with striking similarities to the first crime. Chase inexplicably agrees to act as his defense attorney; but this time it will be to gather evidence that will put away his client for good.

Top Billed Cast

Gary Oldman
Ben Chase
Kevin Bacon
Martin Thiel
Tess Harper
Detective Stillwell
Karen Young
Ellen Faulkner
Joe Don Baker
Detective Mesel
Sean McCann
Jacob Fischer
Ron Lea
Gary Hull
Michael Sinelnikoff
Professor Clemens
Karen Woolridge
Claudia Curwen

A review by John Chard

5.0

Written by John Chard on Nov 12, 2017

Boston based neo-noir fails to ignite. Criminal Law is directed by Martin Campbell and written by Mark Kasdan. It stars Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Tess Harper, Karen Young and Joe Don Baker. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Philip Meheux. Boston attorney Ben Chase (Oldman) successfully defends Martin Thiel (Bacon) who is on trial for a sexually aggravated murder. But not long after Chase comes to realise Thiel's guilt and sets about correcting the wrong he helped orchestrate. If you have never seen a legal thriller before, or a serial killer based neo-noir for that mat...