High Crimes (2002)

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

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Dec. 28

10:00 PM

MAX

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:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Continuity: When Claire is out jogging and is being followed by the pick-up truck - the store she goes to has a prominent "ADT Security" sticker on the door from the exterior shot (looking into the store), but from the shot looking out toward her there is no sign.

Quotes:

Jackie: I just don't believe it. I refuse.
Charlie Grimes: My assistant now used to say 'truth is less fun than fiction'.
Jackie: Terry would never do that!
Claire Kubik: Oh, you're screwin' him so you know him?
Jackie: Excuse me, Mrs RON CHAPMAN!

Movie Connections:

References Kiss the Girls (1997)

Soundtrack:

I'm Not the Enemy

High Crimes: 7/10

In High Crimes, director Carl Franklin shows us an ideal life gone wrong. Claire Kubik is one of them. She's happily married to husband Tom (Jim Caviezel). In fact, he's such a great husband that we don't find out his occupation. Claire, who is played actually well by Ashley Judd, couldn't love Tom more. Until he gets arrested for something that he supposedly didn't do. Did he or did he not? An hour and a half is spent contenplating the fact.

The acting is surprisedly well, especially by Caviezel. I didn't understand why he had that "outburst" at the end, but that's a minor detail. Judd is equally good as Claire, except she seemed to be too slow at some parts. So did the pacing. It seemed to drag on a little, and the genre seemed to be more like a courtroom drama instead of a crime thriller.

Morgan Freeman is OK as the lawyer Claire hires. His acting seemed a little forced at times, though. The plot, though nothing new, was one of those that were predictable, but I was enjoying it too much to care. It's very entertaining if you just sit back and watch it instead of scrutinizing every little detail of it.

But, at the end, after the final court scene, it seems to continue on for a little long after spending an hour and a half leading up to that part. The running time was a little long. And the ever-lovable Amanda Peet plays a role where she could have gotten more time and shown off her acting ability. If you sit back for two hours and leave your mind on hold, it's a very entertaining yarn.

My rating: 7/10

Rated PG-13 violence and some language.