'Beyond a Reasonable Doubt'
(Michael Douglas, Jesse Metcalfe, et al / DVD / PG-13 / 2009 / Anchor Bay)
Overview: High profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act.
DVD: 'Beyond a Reasonable Doubt' is based on a 1956 Fritz Lang film, and yet is still a film that stands alone - and is actually a pretty good film in those shoes.
In a clash of two overly ambitious men, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) and C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe), Hunter is the district attorney in Shreveport, L.A. with an unbroken string of 17 death-penalty convictions and plans to run for governor. Nicholas is a TV reporter for whom Shreveport was a career step up (from Buffalo) - but whose investigative reporting unit has just been broken up by his boss for budgetary reasons.
The convoluted plot, needless to say, goes awry when Nicholas is sentenced to the death penalty - as he sets out (along with his eager-beaver cameraman - Joel David Moore), to get himself accused of the murder of a prostitute, contriving evidence after the fact that will reveal the D.A.'s crooked methods - and the exculpating evidence is gotten rid of by the D.A.'s chain-smoking henchman!
Complicating matters further is C.J.'s burgeoning romantic relationship with a lawyer (Tamblyn) working for the D.A. who naturally finds herself facing a serious conflict of interest.
This movie has a really strong script. I don't think anyone with common sense would frame themselves for murder, but this movie had me going. It also has this surprise ending that will make your jaw hit the floor! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
Audio Commentary with writer/director/cinematographer Peter Hyams and actor Jesse Metcalfe
The Whole Truth - The Making Of 'Beyond A Reasonable Doubt'
Criminal Forensics - The Burden Of Proof
Theatrical Trailer
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