It is such a
cliché to say that the good ultimately triumphs over the evil. This notion has
been, and probably will be a clear truth in the future as well. I was also one
of the majority of people that believed this, thereby kept trying to pursue the
good. However, my perspective toward the notion was slightly shifted after
watching the movie; goodness that we achieve is the grimy good, not the genuine
one that we dream of. The movie, Runaway Jury, directed by Gary Fleder,
supports my sight by illustrating a trial against an evil gun manufacturer.
John Cusack, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman acted.
The case involves
a widow who is suing a gun manufacturer, because her husband was killed in an
office massacre involving an easily-obtained weapon. The widow has hired the
decent Wendell Rohr to represent her, while the manufacturer is defended by a
lawyer named Cable, who is the instrument of the evil, brilliant jury
consultant Rankin Fitch. Taking advantage of technology and experts in various
fields, Fitch weeds out juries in the company’s favor. However, one of the
selected juries, Nicholas Easter turns out to be involved in a free-lance
arrangement with his girlfriend Marlee, selling the jury to the highest bidder.
This becomes a variable of the trial to both sides. Inwardly, Easter helps Rohr
by changing other juries’ minds, and eventually, the case is decided in favor
of the plaintiff. The movie ends by uncovering relationship in the past between
Easter and Fitch that led to the consequence.
This movie well
portrays its message by utilizing various film techniques. Initially, a
virtuoso montage of image takes a huge portion of it. While staking juries,
Fitch stands in front of an array of computer and television monitors,
apparently able to summon at will the secrets of all the prospective jurors. In
this scene, several questions such as “Wouldn’t it cost millions, and could it
be done in such a short time?” could pop up, but such quibbles disappear in the
excitement of the chase, as Fitch oversees his screens like an orchestra
conductor. Furthermore, a large number of shots in which defenses of both sides
are made pass by rapidly, which compresses time consumed on showing legal
contents that are very apt to make people bored. In addition, the usage of
advanced tracking movement of camera and special lighting enabled the movie to
be much livelier. Instead of just following motions of actors, the director
caught 25 main characters in one frame, which led to expression of personality
and countenance of each character. Moreover, dramatic mood was directed thanks
to the lighting using distinct characteristics of light such as synthesis or
refraction instead of artificial filters.
One of the most noteworthy aspects that the director leavens
the plot with is humor, by which readers marvel at the intricate maneuvers and
laugh at the ways some maneuvers work out. For instance, one of the prospective
jurors proudly announces that he is blind, a fact that millions of dollars paid
to the jury investigators failed to uncover. Then this blind man wants to be
considered for service in this trial, or he will sue. In another scene, Easter
tests his ability to manipulate the jury by convincing them to recite the
Pledge of Allegiance before the trial begins, a move which discomposes everyone
else in the courtroom. Like these examples, this movie displays a dry,
sardonic, and knowing humor, which offers a mocking insight into the vagaries
of trials.
It seems that
Runaway Jury superficially deals with gun possession issue which has become an
irrefutable hot potato in American society. However, a true message that it
tries to give is the point that the pure good does not exist, and it cannot
beat the evil unless calculating actions are taken. For those who enjoy watching
thrilling court movies with full of strategies and overwhelming reverses,
Runaway Jury is surely the best choice.
.jpg)
