High Crimes (2002)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers (WGA):

Joseph Finder (novel)
Yuri Zeltser (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Everything you trust. Everything you know. May be a lie...

Plot:

High powered lawyer Claire Kubik finds her world turned upside down when her husband, who she thought was Tom Kubik...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Marine | Murder | Terrorist | Pool

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ashley Judd	...	Claire Kubik
Morgan Freeman	...	Charles W. Grimes
James Caviezel	...	Tom Kubik / Sgt. Ron Chapman (as Jim Caviezel)
Adam Scott	...	Lt. Terrence Embry
Amanda Peet	...	Jackie
Bruce Davison	...	Brig. Gen. Bill Marks
Tom Bower	...	FBI Agent Mullins
Juan Carlos Hernández	...	Maj. James Hernandez
Michael Gaston	...	Maj. Lucas Waldron
Jude Ciccolella	...	Col. Farrell
Emilio Rivera	...	Salvadoran Man
Michael Shannon	...	Troy Abbott
John Billingsley	...	Lie Detector Coach
Dendrie Taylor	...	Lola
Paula Jai Parker	...	Gracie

Also Known As:

Crimen en primer grado (Argentina) (Colombia) (Peru) [es]
High Crimes - Im Netz der Lügen (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Büyük günahlar (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Crima de înalta tradare (Romania) [ro]
Crimes em Primeiro Grau (Brazil) [pt]
Crimes et pouvoir (France) [fr]
Den skjulte sandhed (Denmark) [da]
High Crimes (Japan: English title) [en]
High Crimes - Auf höchsten Befehl (Germany) [de]
High crimes - Crimini di stato (Italy) [it]
Salattu rikos (Finland) [fi]
Tiszta ügy (Hungary) [hu]
Toda la verdad (Spain) [es]
Ypsila eglimata (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:AA | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificates #38676)

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

In early versions of the script, Ashley Judd's character was to be a Harvard law professor.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the hallway after the pre-trial hearing, Charlie Grimes adjusts his tie twice.

Quotes:

Claire Kubik: Doesn't it make more sense that some of those alleged witnesses were ordered to lie on their CID statements?
Major Hernandez: They were NOT ordered to lie.
Claire Kubik: How do you know?
Major Hernandez: I would know if something like that happened to my men.
Claire Kubik: And if something like that happened to your men you would tell us.
Major Hernandez: Of course. I wouldn't lie about it.
Claire Kubik: But major, you were trained and often compelled to lie about your clandestine missions. As I understand it, you're trained to beat a polygraph. Is it true you possess that talent?
Major Hernandez: I'd only use it if interrogated by the enemy, ma'm.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Hilary Swank/50 Cent (#30.13)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Buried at Sea

Like Ashley? You'd better.

Because "High Crimes" sticks Judd in front of the camera in almost every scene as its contrived formula story full of cliche characters wells around her. Fortunately, Judd manages to hold this less than sterling film together as it worms and squirms its way through the story of a happy wife and trial lawyer who finds her husband might not be who she thought he was and has to try to wrest him from the clutches of a military courtmartial, a possible death sentence, and a coverup conspiracy. "High Crimes" is busy enough to hold interest through endless plotholes and implausibilities making for an okay no-brainer couch potato watch. A must see for Judd fans and a so-so watch for all others. (B-)