Undescribable Perfection

Absolutely the worst movie.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is one of those films that has a terrific, spellbinding ending, but to grasp the significance of that ending, the viewer must endure a slow, plodding, two-hour story that slowly builds suspense with subtleties and tedious detail.Rusty Sabich (Harrison Ford) is a smart prosecuting attorney who comes under suspicion in the murder of an attractive female colleague. The first half builds the back-story, establishes the main characters, and sets up appropriate red herrings. The second half is set mostly in the courtroom, where a trial plays out in interesting ways. Near the end, we think we know the solution to the mystery, but we are in for a surprise twist, one which I never saw coming.The script presents us with a legal dilemma, one that's fascinating to ponder because it is so bizarre. In so doing, the film has great thematic depth. But the slow, plodding plot seems tedious, with long scene-takes and considerable dialogue. Most scenes are set indoors. Characters trend stereotyped upper-middle class. The tone is serious and intense.Production values are generally good, with excellent prod design and effective though dimly lit visuals. Background music is annoyingly elevator-style that amplifies the plot's lethargy. Casting is acceptable except for Harrison Ford, with his never changing facial expression and monotone voice that's tantamount to Chinese water torture. Almost any other actor would have been preferable. I enjoyed the performances of Raul Julia in the role of Sabich's lawyer and Paul Winfield in the role of the Judge.Despite a slow plot and the casting of Harrison Ford, I recommend this film, with its deep legal themes and terrific ending. The plot is very subtle, a characteristic which one doesn't see much of in current films.

With the murder committed within the first few minutes into the movie itself, we have an idea about where we are heading towards. But as each scene plays out, and the tension builds up, we keep our fingers crossed, waiting for the inevitable. From the title itself, we can make out that it is about a guy framed for murder. The plot is designed with intelligence and moderately tense moments. When the victim tends to be developed into a bad girl-image, you tend to sympathise with the perpetrator, though he seems 'presumably innocent.' Minus a couple of R-rated scenes, the movie is not centred on sensuality. I have loved Harrison ford since Air Force One. He brings his expressions alive as the one in a fix, searching for a way out.The movie does have few interesting twists. When the whole truth is out, you feel you can justify it. It is an ugly but sad truth that many female employees work on men's weaknesses to climb the career ladder. The movie ends on a serious note, with Harrison's mental turmoil lingering in your mind.

"Presumed innocent" is unfairly forgotten movie in both Harrison's Ford and Alan Pakula career's . It shows that Ford as an actor is more than Indiana Jones and Han Solo and it's last great movie of Alan Pakula.The movie is quite long (2 hours). I can agree that the first half is a little too slow and might be boring. It's necessary , because during that time we get to know the characters , explore their personalities and learn about the murder case. It's important to pay attention the whole time. The patience will be rewarded in the second half of movie with simple , yet subtle twists that will be better and better until the wonderful finale. Every puzzle will fit in the end . considering that dialogues are well written and the pacing gets better during the movie it shouldn't be hard. Many time you will be "Why I didn't thought about that?". Solid direction that never tries to unnecessary manipulate your emotions and well written screenplay will keep you interested in the story.Harrison Ford is great as the main hero –lonely , depressed , bitter . He's got a great support in Brian Dennehy ("Rambo : First blood") and Raul Julia ("Addams family"). Gretta Scacchi is sexy as Carolyn Polhemus and don't forget the solid Bonnie Bedelia as Ford's wife.This is more than fine courtroom drama . It will provide you entertainment, but also make you think about the difference between law and justice. I give it 7/10.

Alan J. Pakula, known primarily for his conspiracy movies ("Klute", "The Parallax View", "Rollover", "The Pelican Brief", "All the President's Men"), directs "Presumed Innocent", a very good if somewhat conventional courtroom drama.The film stars Harrison Ford as a talented prosecutor who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a colleague with whom he had an adulterous affair. The film's first act is very slow, its second act is a fun exercise in paranoia, courtroom pyrotechnics and dispensed red herrings, and the film's climax is excellent, until, of course, Pakula's real killer is revealed. Films like this rely heavily on misdirection. The audience likes to be kept guessing. It's difficult to then reveal the killer and not have your audience feel somewhat cheated.Like many of Pakula's films, "Presumed Innocent" maintains an ominous tone throughout, and there is always the feeling of off screen characters plotting, conspiring and moving our heroes about like pawns. The film was part of a wave ("Fatal Attraction", "Final Analysis", "Basic Instinct", "Jade", "Disclosure", "Single White Female", "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle", "The Last Seduction", "Body Heat", "After Dark My Sweet" etc) of psycho-sexual thrillers which exhibited a new breed of femme fatale. Hilariously, while these films unconsciously exhibited a fear of female independence, women and a threat to traditional female gender roles, male action heroes around this time (1980s, early 90s) were responding by getting ridiculously muscular, physical, phallic and barbaric, desperately hoping to cling to fading notions of traditional masculinity. Today, everyone's metrosexual. You can't even conceive of a "Fatal Attraction" being released and making money today. An angry, murderous wife? Oh my goodness, why didn't the husband recognise the warning signs, take the kids and leave? 7.5/10 – Like most directors who did their best work in the 70s, Pakula's latter output struggles to juggle art, commerce, personal taste and popcorn expectations. Worth one viewing.