You are on page 1of 12

The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 American thriller film adapted from the novel of the same

name by Michael Connelly, starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, William H.


Macy and Marisa Tomei. The film is directed by Brad Furman, with a screenplay written by John
Romano.[3]
Criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) operates around Los Angeles
County out of his black Lincoln Town Car. Haller has spent most of his career defending gardenvariety criminals, including a member of a local bikergang, until he lands the case of his career: Louis
Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy and son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor (Frances
Fisher), is accused of the brutal beating of prostitute Regina Campo (Margarita Levieva). Haller thinks
Roulet is innocent, having simply been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Haller and his
investigator Frank Levin (William H. Macy) analyze the pictures and evidence, notably the injuries the
victim sustained. It bears a similarity to a past case of Haller that landed a previous client, Jesus
Martinez (Michael Pea), in prison for life for murdering Donna Renteria, despite repeatedly
proclaiming his innocence.
Haller has a daughter with his ex-wife, prosecutor Maggie McPherson (Marisa Tomei), who has never
appreciated Haller's efforts on behalf of guilty clients. Haller begins to wonder if he should have tried
harder on behalf of Martinez instead of convincing him to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding
the death penalty. Martinez becomes agitated when Haller visits him and shows him Roulet's picture.
Haller begins to suspect that Roulet could be the real killer in the Martinez case, but bound
by attorneyclient confidentiality rules, he cannot tell the police what he has learned. That night,
Roulet breaks into Haller's house, nonchalantly admits to committing the murder that put Martinez in
prison, and makes veiled threats toward Haller's family. Levin is shot to death after leaving
a voicemail message claiming that he has found Martinez's ticket out of jail. The murder weapon used
in Levin's murder is a .22 caliber pistol and Haller finds his .22 Colt Woodsman is missing from its
carrier box.
Haller is suspected of killing Levin because the police discover that a Colt Woodsman is registered to
Haller. Haller believes it was stolen by Roulet when he had broken into Haller's home. Obliged to do
his best for his client, guilty or not, Haller ruthlessly cross-examines the prostitute and discredits her in
the jury's eyes. However, Haller sets up a known prison informant with information on the previous
murder. When the informant testifies, Haller discredits him and the state later moves to dismiss all
charges in the current case. Roulet is set free, but the police then arrest him immediately for the
previous murder based upon testimony Haller had coaxed out of the informant. Haller acquires
a Smith and Wesson pistol from his driver, Earl (Laurence Mason), as a precaution against any
retribution he may face. Roulet is released due to lack of evidence and sets out immediately to kill
Haller's ex-wife and child, but Haller finds out in time to get them out of the house.
Roulet mockingly tells Haller that he will not be able to guard his family this way every day. Just then, a
group of bikers whom Haller has previously represented starts bashing Roulet's Maserati and they
brutally beat Roulet. Haller gets a call from Maggie that a parking ticket was issued to Roulet near the
house of the previous murder victim, strong evidence against Roulet in his pending murder trial that
will support Martinez's release. Upon arriving home, Haller discovers Roulet's mother, Mary Windsor,
inside. She shoots him with the Colt Woodsman, the same one that killed Levin, confessing that she
committed that murder to protect her son. Haller, wounded, draws the Smith and Wesson pistol that
Earl got for him and shoots Mary Windsor, killing her. Upon being discharged from the hospital, Haller
learns that Martinez has been released and the District Attorney will seek the death penalty against

Roulet. As Haller rides off to his next case, he takes the biker gangpro bono because of their previous
help.
Matthew McConaughey stars in this legal thriller as a low-rent defense attorney named Mickey Haller. Most of the
time, Mickey barely keeps his head above water, representing low-life clients and working out of the back of his
car. He thinks he's landed the case of a lifetime when he's hired to defend a rich playboy (Ryan Phillippe) who
stands accused of rape and attempted murder, and eagerly accepts his new client and the massive payoff that's
sure to come with him. But Mickey soon discoversthat he's become ensnared in a twisted plot where no fee in the
world is high enough to pay for the deadly workload, and his only hope of survival may just lay in his own skills as
a long-practiced double-crosser

Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back
of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the
case of his career: defending Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and
attempted murder. But the seemingly straightforward case suddenly develops into a deadly game of survival for
Haller.

Summary: Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln
Continental sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of a
lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy accused of murder. But the seemingly straightforward case suddenly
develops into a deadly game of survival for Haller. "The Lincoln Lawyer" is based on the best-selling Michael Connelly
novel.

The novel

This #1 bestselling legal thriller from Michael Connelly is a stunning display of novelistic mastery as human, as gripping, and as whiplash-surprising as any novel yet from the writer Publishers
Weekly has called "today's Dostoevsky of crime literature."
Mickey Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the backseat
of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend
clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers - they're all on Mickey Haller's
client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence, it's about negotiation and
manipulation. Sometimes it's even about justice.
A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to
defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney's dream,
what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may
be the easiest case of his career. Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers
that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To
escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal - this
time to save his own life.

OPINII

I like movies about smart guys who are wise asses, and think their way out of tangles
with criminals. I like courtroom scenes. I like big old cars. I like The Lincoln Lawyer
because it involves all three, and because it matches Matthew McConaughey with a
first-rate supporting cast, while so many thrillers these days are about a lone hero
surrounded by special effects. People have words they actually say in this movie. After
Battle: Los Angeles, that is a great relief.
Let's start with the big old car. It's a Lincoln, and a lawyer named Mick Haller
(McConaughey) does most of his work out of the back seat. Apparently he drove it
himself until he was socked with a DUI; given how much he drinks in the film, it's
amazing he remembered where he parked it. Now he has a chauffeur (Laurence
Mason) who ferries him around to the Los Angeles dealers, hookers, bagmen and
low-lifes who are his clientele. Mick's specialty is getting people off, sometimes in a
perfectly legal way.
There were decades in the movies when heroes drove new cars, unless it was a period
picture. Car makers used to pay for product placement. We saw Mustangs, GTOs,
Chargers. But in recent years, action and thriller heroes have driven mostly classic
cars, or oddballs like Hummers. The reason for this is obvious: Modern cars all look
mostly the same, and none of them look heroic. Can you imagine James Bond in a
Camry? My Ford Fusion gets good mileage, but Mick Haller would just look silly
doing business out of the back seat. The only new cars still popular in movies are big
black SUVs with tinted windows, which usually prowl in packs.
Anyway, Haller is a street-wise defense attorney with connections who knows how to
collect and invest prudent envelopes full of cash. So connected is this guy that a
motorcycle gang materializes more or less when he needs one. One day a bondsman
(John Leguizamo) comes to him with a higher-class client than usual. Louis Roulet
(Ryan Phillippe) is a rich kid from Beverly Hills accused of beating up a woman.
He's clean-cut, looks Mick in the eyes, seriously insists he is innocent and wants a
trial to prove it.
Mick senses there is something fishy. So do I. If Roulet has unlimited funds and really
is innocent, why is he hiring a guy who works out of the back seat of a car? I've seen a
lot of crime movies and read my Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald. I know,
even if Mick doesn't, that he's being used in some way.

Let's not get into the details. Details are interchangeable in movies like this. What you
want is a laconic wise guy in the lead, and McConaughey does a nice line in those. You
need a good dame in the picture. Marisa Tomei plays his ex-wife, courtroom
opponent and (still) friend. When Tomei walks into a movie, it's like the Queen came
into the room. I want to stand up. I know why Lady Gaga wants Marisa to play her in
a biopic. It's not because they look like sisters. It's because every woman, and many
men, would love to have a smile like Marisa Tomei's.
We also meet Mick's opposing attorney (Josh Lucas); a former client he pleabargained into prison (Michael Pena); a cop (Bryan Cranston) who considers him
a shyster and, most valuable, Mick's private investigator (William H. Macy). The P.I.
role isn't very big, but Macy makes it distinctive; he brings it a quirky familiarity that
creates a history between the two men without a lot of setup. You care for the hardworking sap.
All of this comes together in a satisfactory way. It isn't brilliant, it's far from foolproof,
and the second appearance of the motorcycle gang technically qualifies, I think, as a
miracle. The Law of Seemingly Unnecessary Characters comes nicely into play as
events from the present turn out to be connected to the past. I did feel undercut by
the movie's final revelation which is, let's face it, completely arbitrary. The plotting
seems like half-realized stabs in various directions made familiar by other crime
stories. But for what it is, The Lincoln Lawyer is workmanlike, engagingly acted and
entertaining.

Mickey Haller has spent all his professional life afraid that he wouldnt recognize
innocence if it stood right in front of him. But what he should have been on the watch
for was evil.
Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back
seat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los
Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug
dealers theyre all on Mickey Hallers client list. For him, the law is rarely about
guilt or innocence its about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes its even
about justice.
A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses
Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a
defense attorneys dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks
up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career.
Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for
innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape

without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal
this time to save his own life.
The Lincoln Lawyer was released as a feature film in March 2011. The movie stars
Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller, Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson, and
Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet. It is available now in DVD and download.
The Lincoln Lawyer is available in paperback and as an e-book, an audiobook, and in
large print formats

REZUMAT

We open in the car of Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) being driven to the
courthouse by his driver Earl (Lawerence Mason). He gets inside, and bails
bondsmen Val (John Leguizamo) comes up to him and tells him he has a great
client for him. The client's name is Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe) and he's accused of
beating up a hooker Reggie Campo. All Val wants Haller to do is make sure went
bail is set that the client's family goes with a bond instead of collateral. Haller
would have to be on the other side of town at noon. Haller says he will think about
it.
Haller bribes a bailiff to let his client go first. Haller goes to see his client Harold
and tells him when they will say they are not ready for trial. The real reason is that
Haller has not been paid to work, and he wants his money. Haller tells the judge
they need to find a witness and need time to prepare. The judge honors the request.
Haller gets into his car, telling Earl he needs to get to his next case. Earl asks if his
position will be permanent even after Haller gets his license back (Haller was
busted for DUI; that's why he has a driver). Haller tells Earl he got his license back
three months ago; he likes having him around. Earl smiles.
Haller's car is surrounded by bikers and Haller tells Earl to pull over. One of them
Eddie (Trace Adkins) comes up and tells Haller they already paid him five thousand
dollars. Haller says he needs more to fly in an aerial expert who will testify that the

FBI violated air space regulations when they took pictures of Harold's "farm".
Eddie gives Haller another ten thousand and the bikers leave. Haller reveals to Earl
that it was a hustle; they didn't need an expert from New York, they have plenty in
Hollywood. Earl says Haller would of done good on the street.
Haller goes to see Roulet. Roulet says he is innocent of what he is being charge
with. Another inmate Corliss (Shea Whignam) tries to recruit Haller, but Haller tells
him to back off since he is with a client. Roulet tells Haller about himself; he's
thirty two, lives in Bel Air, sells real estate, and has nothing on his records but
parking tickets (important later). Haller tells Roulet he will try to get him out on
bail.
Haller goes to the acting prosecutor Maggie McPherson (Marisa Tomei) who
happens to be his ex-wife (they have a daughter) and thus will have to excuse
herself from the case (as they personally know each other; conflict of interest).
Maggie is mad but says she will drop into Ted Minton's (Josh Lucas) lap after the
initial bail hearing. Haller successfully argues for bail, the one condition being
Roulet wears a tracking bracelet at all times. Haller meets the family lawyer Cecil
Dobbs (Bob Gunton) who admits that Roulet specifically picked Haller which
surprises him. Nevertheless, they set a meeting for four pm Haller leaves the
courthouse because he has to meet another client. He tells Dobbs that he will need
100K upfront, another 100K when they go to trial, and more if the trial goes
beyond two weeks.
Haller goes to see Gloria (Katherine Moennig), a prostitute that got collared again,
this time with cocaine. She thinks she is screwed, and Haller says she might have to
go to jail. However, Gloria remembers the man who paid her had a lot of drugs and
she saw his passport. He's a wanted fugitive, so Haller cuts a deal; Gloria gets pretrial rehab and the charges are dropped in exchange for the location of her john,
which the police presumably arrest.
Haller goes into the client meeting with his investigator Frank (William H. Macy).
They meet up with Roulet, Dobbs, and his mother Mary Windsor (Frances Fisher).
Mary tries to pay Haller but Haller makes it clear that Roulet will have to pay him,
not her. She will also have to leave because anything her son says she could
possibly have to testify for, as attorney client privilege does not include her. She
leaves and Roulet tells his story:
He was at the club when he saw a woman who seemed interested in him. She was
with another man though. She brushed by him and gave him her address, to which
he went to later, noticing the previous man leaving. She opened the door to him and
let him in, only for someone to knock him out. He came to being restrained by the

woman's neighbors and the girl already talking to the police. He never laid a hand
on her, the man before him must of done it to possibly spring an extortion plot.
The police have a different story. As narrated by Frank, Roulet broke into the
Reggie Campo's apartment and a struggle ensued where he threw her around and
held a knife to her throat only for her to grab a bottle of vodka and knock him in the
head. Roulet notices a flaw in the story; the knife they supposedly show in the
report Frank brought isn't his knife. Haller asks if there is anything he should know.
Roulet says no.
Haller and Frank are getting a drink that night. Haller tells Frank to start with the
club Roulet was at, and go from there. Maggie is at the bar and seeing how drunk
Haller is, takes him home.
Frank comes the next morning with the security footage. Despite a slight
discrepancy or two, it follows Roulet's version of events. Haller is happy he can
spin this in his client's favor.
Haller goes to see Minton to "officially" get the D.A. report. Haller thinks he has
this one in the bag, but Minton doesn't look he is backing down. As Haller is
leaving, he is accosted by Detective Kurlen (Michael Pare). Kurlen hates what
Haller stands for, including clients like Jesus Martinez (Michael Pena). Kurlen
thinks Haller is scum, so Haller spins a story about how a client of his decapitated
his wife and the D.A. got greedy and tried to stack more murders on the guy. Haller
destroyed their case. The justice system is scum both ways Haller tells him.
Haller, Frank, Haller's daughter Hayley, and Earl are hanging at the park and Haller
is trying to figure out why Minton is not backing down from the case. They realize
their file and the official file are the same with one distinction. The knife in the
official file is different. It is covered in blood and has the initials "L.R." engraved in
the handle. Haller confronts Haller and tells him he should not of lied. Roulet says
he didn't; he kept the knife on him since his business is quite dangerous. His mother
was raped a few years ago showing a house alone and he has kept a knife on him
since then. Haller tells him never to lie again.
Haller takes Hayley home to Maggie. Though they are divorced it is clear they still
care about one another. Maggie says at least they did one thing right (Hayley).
Haller said they did a couple.
The next night Haller is out at a bar and Maggie is their too. They drink a lot and go
back to the house and have sex. Haller leaves before Hayley wakes up because it
wouldn't be fair for her to think her parents are back together. Haller looks at the
case file and realizes that it reminds him of Jesus Martinez's case. He looks at the

case file and sees it is similar to Roulet's. The difference was, the other girl was
murdered.
Haller remembers his meeting with Martinez. Martinez staunchly proclaims his
innocence but Haller says the prosecution has DNA evidence and circumstantial
witness statements that make him look bad. Martinez will have to take a plea if he
wants not to get the death penalty. Martinez is crushed but eventually takes a deal;
Life with a chance of parole in 15 years. That was about four years ago.
Haller goes to see Martinez in San Quentin and tells him he is trying to "make it
right". Though not convinced with his sincerity, Martinez tells his story, making it
clear he didn't hurt the girl. There was another guy at the bar. Haller shows him a
series of pictures, ending with Roulet. Martinez flips out and though not directly
stating it, Haller realizes the truth.
Haller goes to Frank's house, drunk. Haller tells Frank that they were set up from
the beginning. Roulet is a killer; he murdered the woman Martinez went to prison
for and would have killed the other girl if he hadn't been stopped. Roulet picked
him because he was part of the other case and attorney client privilege bars him
from saying anything for fear of losing his career. Frank realizes that's Roulet's
MO: He not only likes to commit a crime, but to also make sure someone else goes
down as the guilty party. Frank asks Haller what is he is going to do.
Later that night, as Haller is going home, he calls Frank and tells him to deeper into
Roulet, including the parking tickets. He then gets a call from Maggie telling
Hayley has soccer on Saturday. Haller sees his door is open. He goes inside to see
Roulet has broken inside. Roulet tells Haller that he knows he went to see Martinez
and directly states he killed the woman and there is nothing he can do about it.
Roulet comments on Hayley's picture, and Haller realizes he is being threatened.
Haller tells him to leave.
hat Saturday, Haller goes to see his daughter play soccer. Maggie is there and tells
him she's taking Hayley home. Frank has been murdered.
Haller goes to Frank's house. The lead investigator, Dectective Lankford (Bryan
Cranston) makes it clear he thinks Haller is a suspect. Haller has a good idea who
really did it; Roulet.
Haller goes home and finds a message on his answering machine. It's Frank just
before he died. He looked into Roulet and found "Martinez's ticket home". There is
a knock at the door and Frank hangs up. Haller calls Dectective Sobel about the call
and Sobel reveals that Frank was killed with an antique .22 pistol. Haller goes to

his desk; he has a .22 pistol. It is gone; Roulet stole it when he broke in. Haller
screams in anger; Roulet is blackmailing him with a murder he committed.
Haller goes to see Val and angrily confronts him, saying he was picked by Roulet
and Val lied. Val admits it but says he knows nothing about what was going on.
Haller thinks Val helped Roulet kill Frank because he was the only one who could
fake the tracking device but Val vehemently denies it.
Lankford comes with a search warrant and searches Haller's house. They notice the
empty gun case, and make it more clear they think he killed Frank.
The first day of the trail Minton makes it clear that Roulet assaulted and planned on
killing that girl. Haller counters saying the woman is a prostitute and was looking
for an easy payday.
The court had tracked down Roulet's "second man". The man claims he had
consensual sex with the woman but left her unharmed. Haller attacks his credibility
and alleges since the woman's bruises are on the left side of her face and he's left
handed, that he was the one who actually beat her.
The state star witness is the victim herself, Reggie Campo. She says she is not
proud of her profession but her life is hard and she has to make choices. Haller asks
her if she going to try to sue Roulet in civil court, which she declines to make
public knowledge, saying she only talked to a lawyer. Haller can only do so much
without badgering a witness, but plants a seed of doubt in the juror's minds about
who is the real victim here. The state rests.
On the defense, Haller calls Roulet's mother Mary. She explains her son carried a
knife ever since someone close to him was attacked and he never had to use it
himself. She does not directly reveal it was her. When Minton cross examines her,
and claims the defense gave her that story to use, Mary tells him she was the one
who was raped. Minton is aghast, realizing he looks like he was badgering a rape
victim. Minton ends the questioning before he causes more damage.
Roulet takes the stand. He vehemently proclaims his innocence and plays to the
jury's sympathy about being falsely accused of a crime. The Defense rests. Minton
says before the state officially rests, they would like to call a rebuttal witness the
following day. The judge grants it.
Haller deduces by a witness list that Corliss is the one that will be called. Realizing
there is a way to make it all right, he hatches a plan. He pretends to see Gloria and
asks her to pass a message to Corliss which she does. He then has his assistant dig
up some dirt on Corliss. He gets a subpoena for Kurlen to be in the courtroom.

Also, he asks his driver Earl to "get him something." Haller realizes at this point
what Frank was talking about on his phone message; a parking ticket could tie
Roulet to the murder and clear Martinez. He calls Maggie about it and tells her to
take Hayley and herself to her sister's until he calls.
Corliss is called and Haller pretends to be appalled by the action asking his
objection to be put on record. He makes a quick call to his assistant telling her to
come in at 10:15 am. Corliss goes on the stand and tells the jury that Roulet told
him he was in prison for "giving a bitch what she deserved." Roulet asks Haller
how Corliss knows this and Haller plays cool asking who Roulet told about what he
has done. Corliss continues his testimony saying that Roulet not only bragged about
that, he bragged doing the same crime and killing the previous girl. He tells them
Roulet said the girl had a dragon tattoo on her chest, which makes Kurlen perk up
and leave the courthouse. Haller then proceeds to destroy Corliss credibility,
showing he previously testified in four other trials, one in which a wrongly
convicted man spent eight years in jail for raping a child. Minton is flabbergasted
as the entire trial has been torpedoed by this.
Haller and Minton meet with the judge and the judge is appalled that Corliss was
allowed to be a witness which has destroyed the trial. Minton goes to the D.A.
Realizing they cannot win, they dismissed all charges against Roulet.
Mary and Dobbs congratulate Haller on a job well done. The police then come and
arrest Roulet for the murder of the previous girl. Haller tells Roulet he did his job
and now he will need a new lawyer. Roulet says he still has Haller's gun, the one
that Frank was killed by. Haller says Roulet will have to explain how he got it.
Mary just tells Dobbs to get her son out of jail.
Earl gives Haller what he wanted; a gun that is untraceable. Haller finds out Roulet
made bail and calls Val since Roulet still has his tracker. Roulet is going to
Maggie's house. Haller beats him there and stands on the porch with his gun. Haller
warns him to leave, and Roulet asks if he will be there all the time (insinuating that
he will kill Maggie). Haller says he won't have to. He called Eddie and his biker
friends, who cause damage to Roulet's car and beat him up. Haller warns to only do
enough to get Roulet into a hospital and leaves.
Haller gets a call from Maggie; they found a ticket Roulet got near the murdered
girls address. Roulet is finished, and Martinez can be cleared. Haller goes home and
sees some broke in again. This time it is Mary Windsor, Roulet's mother. Haller
says her son's a monster and he will enjoy destroying him for many things among
them Frank's death. Mary tells him he doesn't know how powerful they are. Haller
tells her to leave, and she shoots him with his .22 pistol. She was the one who

killed Frank NOT her son. She realized Frank was close to figuring out what her
son had done and didn't want him to go to jail. Haller has his gun he got from Earl
on him and shoots her back, killing her before passing out.
Haller gets out of the hospital alive. Earl drives him away and says he found they
freed Martinez, what Haller confirms. As for Roulet, he is under arrest and is
looking at the death penalty for all he has done.
Haller's car is surrounded by bikers again. Earl pulls over and Eddie talks to Haller
asking if he really shot a client's mother, which Haller saying he did. Eddie is glad
Haller is OK because Harold got busted again. Eddie asks for a reduced rate for the
favor they did him, but Haller gives him one better; he'll do Harold's case pro bono.
Satisfied, Eddie leaves. Earl asks his boss if he lost his mind. Haller just shrugs,
saying they are repeat customers and he can just charge them more later. Earl and
Haller drive off.

Matthew McConaughey should stick to playing lawyers. Fifteen years ago, he sizzled in John
Grisham adaptation A Time To Kill.
Hes on similar form in this absorbing adaptation of Michael Connellys page-turner, playing Mick
Haller, an amoral LA defence lawyer who runs his business from the back of a Lincoln town car
(complete with NTGUILTY licence plates).
Representing all sorts of scum, not least a posse of drug dealing Hells Angels, hes got street
smarts in spades.
Hallers latest case is different, a high-end money-spinner involving Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe,
perfectly cast), the only son of a wealthy Beverly Hills realtor (Frances Fisher), accused by a

prostitute of attempted murder.


Pleading doe-eyed innocence, Roulet claims hes been set up. Its a theory that doesnt wash with
Hallers own private investigator (William H Macy), while Haller himself is left to consider words
from his own legendary lawyer father (who, in a nice blend of fiction and reality, once repped
gangster Mickey Cohen): Theres no client as scary as an innocent man.
Looking increasingly haggard as the trial unfurls, as Haller gradually comes to the realisation that
this is no open-and-shut case, McConaughey gives his best performance in years. It may not
quite be on the level of Paul Newmans ambulance chaser in The Verdict but its subtle, assured
work.
Just because Haller operates by his own code of ethics, it doesnt make him a total deadbeat
witness his affection for his daughter and ex-wife (Tomei) and McConaughey embodies these
contradictions perfectly.
The support cast is also universally fine, from Macys shaggy-looking P.I. to Josh Lucas
beleaguered State attorney. Credit to director Brad Furman for assembling a group of actors, not
stars, who are willing to service the story, rather than their own egos.
There are other pleasures too, from the aptly nervy camerawork to the urban soundtrack (Gang
Starr, Erik B & Rakim).
Yes, The Lincoln Lawyer is hardly groundbreaking. But what it does do, it does very well.
Verdict:
Engrossing. A classy cast juice up this compelling courtroom saga, with Matthew
McConaughey so long starved of a decent lead on fire.

You might also like