Primal Fear (1996)

Wow. What a film.
This is lengthy court room drama. However, it is never boring or confusing. In fact, its quite compelling throughout. And its all thanks to Edward Norton in probably his finest role. His portrayal as a suspected criminal in the slaying of a priest is oscar worthy. It demands attention. Laura Linney is great in this too as a prosecuting attourney out to destroy Richard Gere's defense. As Norton's lawyer, Gere is in top form and actually watchable in this. Everyone plays their roles perfectly and the film concludes on an interesting note. Its a pretty ingenious ending. Everyone should watch this film.

One of the best movies EVER !
Edward Norton is supreme! what an amazing performance!.. he is this scared boy who make you feel sorry for him, Gere is his defense attorney, Laura Linney plays the nasty prosecutor who wants to put him in jail,.what a great twisted ending,..Watch it!!

Why gamble with money, when you can gamble with people's lives?
"I don't have to believe you. I don't care if you are innocent. I'm your mother, your father, your priest." This is what defense attorney Martin Vale (Richard Gere) tells his client, Aaron Stampler (Ed Norton), as they are preparing to defend him against charges of killing the Archbishop of Chicago.

Of course, later, Marty says: "I believe in the notion that people are innocent until proven guilty. I believe in that notion because I choose to believe in the basic goodness of people. I choose to believe that not all crimes are committed by bad people. And I try to understand that some very, very good people do some very bad things."

So--which one is true? Nobody is quite what they seem in this legal procedural that will keep you in your seat and your finger away from the 'Pause' button for its entire 2 plus hours' duration.

First, you see the kindly Archbishop attended by a heavenly choir at a charity function. The city loves him. But, is his public face the same one he wears when he's all by himself with the altar boys?

Did bumbling, stuttering Aaron kill the Archbishop. Nobody really wants to believe it.

Does Janet (Laura Linney) truly tow the company line as the assistant prosecutor? Well, and is she truly no longer interested in Marty?

The plot's got more twists than a pretzel factory. I no sooner thought I knew what was going on or what someone was going to to when they changed it on me.

"Primal Fear" is one of the best written and acted courtroom dramas I've seen. My only question to myself is why the heck did I wait this long?