Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Criminal Law Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 21, 2015

Criminal Law may depict the extreme outlier of the client-attorney relationship, but "extreme" is what makes it interesting. Director Martin Campbell's (Casino Royale) film moves beyond legal procedure and delves into the murky and uncertain world of murder and mayhem, turning the tables, essentially, and forcing a slick defense attorney to reposition himself as unwitting investigator and perhaps even judge, jury, and executioner, all the while falling under the shadow of suspicion for his supposed involvement in a brutal crime. The film is never quite the seamless mix of tense legal thrills and darkly psychological drama it wants to be -- it's a bit too contrived and superficial for that -- but it still makes for a solid enough watch that hits just enough of its marks to keep up interest on the path towards whatever resolution it will find in its battle of client-attorney wits.

Meet the press.

Former prosecutor Ben Chase (Gary Oldman) has switched sides in the courtroom, now serving as a defense attorney in a high profile case at the center of which is Martin Thiel (Kevin Bacon), an educated rich kid on the hook for murder. Chase convincingly argues that the prosecution's eyewitnesses are hardly reliable in their accounts. He wins the case. Martin is set free. Soon thereafter, however, Ben receives a call from Martin who pulls him deep into his world when, on a dark and stormy night, Ben stumbles upon a murder victim, bound and badly burned. He calls the authorities, but he's reluctant to state how, or why, he came into contact with the body, leaving Detective Mesel (Joe Don Baker) suspecting Ben to be mixed up in the death. Now, Chase must traverse deep into Martin's realm in hopes of exposing him before the body count rises any further.

The blending of genres is a blessing and a curse. While it's nice to escape not the doldrums of the courtroom procedural -- some of the best Dramas in film history have centered on the justice system experience -- but rather the repetitiveness thereof, Criminal Law falls more into the trap of trying to serve more purposes than it can juggle, at least with any real expertise. The film is part legal thriller, part murder mystery, and part psychological study. It doesn't fail in any of those categories but, at the same time, it's a master of none. The depth simply isn't there, even in a two-hour film that gives the material plenty of room to breathe and explore. The film falls somewhere between "patchwork" and "deep," exploring but not too far, innovating but not too much, trying but not too hard. For all of the risks it takes and wants to take, Criminal Law always feels like it errs on the side of caution, whether in the broader strokes of its story details or in its exploration of the dueling characters, on one side the attorney whose world is upset and, on the other, his client whose manipulation and depravity may have taken him beyond a point of no return. The film's foundation is rock-solid, but everything else seems secondary to the idea, behind the curve of the master plan that's always evident but not always executed to the fullest.

Of the film's several stabs at genre togetherness, it's the psychological battle-of-wits that stands apart. The film's opening courtroom sequence is fine and the various ins-and-outs of the plot's many points generally satisfy, but it's that deeper exploration of the human condition that makes the movie tick. There's a strongly defined and nicely developed contrast and, gradually, merger of personalities and ideals between Bacon's Martin and Oldman's Ben, both intelligent individuals drawn into a complex web of lies, deception, uncertainty, and fear, with Martin working Ben but the latter gradually turning the tables to his advantage, or at least his supposed advantage. The film deals with the deeper issues in a way that makes them accessible through story but a bit more complex behind the curtains, building literally and metaphorically -- sometimes in stride, sometimes not -- through the greater narrative and subtle character details alike. The performances, then, are critical to the film's success, and beyond Oldman's much maligned accent (which, honestly, isn't an issue in more than couple of scenes), both actors more than satisfy. Bacon is particularly terrific as the enigmatic puppet master with a dark past and murky present through which he guides Ben. Oldman's performance is good, particularly as he maneuvers through the character's broader external emotions, but it's Bacon who rightly finds the deeper characterization that makes the movie work.

Criminal Law Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criminal Law's Blu-ray release from Olive Films is impressive. The transfer enjoys a naturally film-like appearance, retaining a light grain structure and producing sharp, well-defined details across the board. Faces reveal minute pores and lines in close-ups. Basic clothing details are tactile. Woods, bricks, vegetation, and other fine bits look terrific. Image clarity is exacting, and softness creeps in only sporadically. Colors are healthy and vibrant across a broad spectrum of shades, including bright natural greens, warm and inviting interiors in the Thiel home, and the more natural woods in the courtroom. Black levels are deep and show only inconsequential stray from natural depth. Flesh tones push ever so slightly warm in a few scenes. The image does show a few minor speckles and evidence of age and wear in places, but it's so infrequent that most won't even notice. This is a very fine presentation from Olive.

Criminal Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unlike its video counterpart, Criminal Law's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack disappoints. The presentation frequently sounds muddy and hollow, lacking pinpoint detail and never quite ascending to even mediocrity, settling for "audible" and "passable." Music is flat and absent more than cursory definition. It enjoys a decent sense of far-side space, however. Sound effects are likewise poorly defined. Save for the random quality effect -- like a blaring police siren -- most are disappointingly empty, including falling rain and booming thunder. Dialogue, too, ranges from passably clear to sounding as if it's practically underwater. Center imaging is fine, and there's a decent sense of spacing and reverberation in the early courtroom scenes. The track will get listeners through the movie but it accomplishes almost nothing else.

Criminal Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Criminal Law contains no bonus content. The main menu only offers selections for "Play" and "Chapters."

Criminal Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Criminal Law is a fair Thriller that twists and turns in several different directions, exploring each to satisfaction but not perfection. It enjoys a solid cast and quality characterization. It's a technically simple but sturdy affair that's a watchable movie to be sure but not exactly a classic of any of the areas it covers. Olive Films' featureless Blu-ray offers excellent video and poor audio. Recommended as a rental or a purchase on a steep discount.