From Deseret News archives:
Primal Fear
Film review
Playing a cocky, arrogant "windy-city" attorney isn't much of a stretch for Richard Gere, and he's really in his element as Martin Vail, whose ego is bigger than the Chicago River.
But the script for "Primal Fear" doesn't help him much, as it's loaded with ridiculous plot twists (that I won't give away), which escalate the film's level of silliness until it ultimately self-destructs. In addition, the central murder mystery revolves around a gruesome, ludicrous Catholic-bashing series of events.
Vail is a pop-star attorney, one whose fame has eclipsed his work. He's more concerned with publicity than defending clients in trouble. So, when he takes on a sen-sa-tion-al case that is guaranteed to give him more front-page headlines, he concentrates on his image first, his defendant second.
The defendant is shy, naive, stammering Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), an altar boy who was found running from the scene after the archbishop of Chicago was brutally murdered. Meanwhile, the prosecutor is a woman (Laura Linney) with whom Vail once had a relationship, and for some reason, neither side seems to care much about legal protocol or rules of evidence as they pull all kinds of surprises on each other during the trial.
The quip-laden dialogue seems clever in some early scenes, especially when Vail is being interviewed for a magazine profile and asks the writer for an assurance that it's going to be a cover story. But even the talk becomes campy, as when a deputy district attorney (Terry O'Quinn) tells Vail, "You're worse than the (expletive) thugs you represent!"
The performances are all good, especially newcomer Norton, who is quite charming in the film's first half and is later required to evolve in another direction. But it's a shame to see a movie populated by the likes of Alfre Woodard, Fran-ces McDormand and John Mahoney, and then see that they have nothing to do.
Director Gregory Hoblit, a TV veteran of shows like "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law" and "NYPD Blue," handles the material in a straight-forward manner, but the script, by veteran screenwriter Steve Shagan (whose work ranges from the Oscar-nominated "Voyage of the Damned" to the vampire-bat exploitation flick "Night-wing") and Ann Biderman ("Copycat") is replete with problems.
And worse, it treats audience members like idiots.
"Primal Fear" is rated R for violence, gore, sex, nudity, profanity and vulgarity.
Recent comments
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I was wondering if anyone
out...
amy entzminger | April 13, 1999 at 12:05 p.m.
Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton.
Find a Movie Theater
- Dixie campus briefs 1:10 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:09 a.m.
- UVU campus briefs 1:07 a.m.
- Utah Utes campus briefs 1:07 a.m.
- Visit to paradise nightmarish for Ags 12:32 a.m.
- Utes struggling to shake starts 12:31 a.m.
- Cougars' execution flawless 12:30 a.m.
- Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings 12:17 a.m.
- 3A football: Tigers pull away 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: 'Immigrant' children needy 12:12 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
207 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Lobo suspended
171 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
128 - House passes health care bill
111 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Prep football: San Juan vs. S. Sevier
102 - Thousands protest health bill
100 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Nothing proposed would keep young adults from learning of the reality of sex,...
the only "decent" team we played we lost to? I guess that Air Force isn't a...
I am watching the game again, and it is awesome!!!
I can't help but laugh inside when I read comments from YBU/TCU fans who...
(from the independant) I like Dennis Miller.... and Bill Maher, although I...
As a BYU alumnus, I can't justify to myself ever donating another dollar to...
Not a chance. Don't get me wrong they are both studs, but if Asiata wasn't...
Titan Fan, sorry that some of your best players got hurt. I hope they...
So sad how fear based so many are.
Will the Jazz even make the playoffs this year. The way they are playing it...



