The Lincoln Lawyer

While the majority will flock to see Limitless starring Bradley Cooper of The Hangover fame, I chose to review the “dark horse” of the major releases this past weekend – The Lincoln Lawyer. However, both are getting favorable reviews, so the popularity is not just based on which blonde-haired dude your girlfriend thinks is hotter.

Los Angeles has never seen a lawyer like Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey). Haller, an unconventional defense lawyer whose office is the backseat of a Lincoln town car and “secretary” is a street-savvy driver and former client named Earl (Laurence Mason), sometimes even takes to holding court on the streets. His clientele are the likes of drug dealers, rapists, and killers. So he’s thrown into an unlikely predicament when Beverly Hills rich kid Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) gets into a little trouble and requests his services for an upcoming trial. Eager to protect the family name and reputation, Roulet claims his innocence – no different from any client – and vehemently denies domestic abuse and battery accusations from the accuser – a prostitute. Haller and investigator Frank Levin (William H. Macy) examine evidence – photos of the young lady’s brutal scars – and compare stories from both Roulet and the defense.

Once the story sequence becomes reminiscent; Haller runs to his books to recall details of a similar case he defended.

The Los Angeles cityscape plays background as Haller attempts to piece together clues from the Roulet case and the previous trial of former client, Jesus Martinez (Michael Peña) – now serving time for a murder he claims to be innocent of. When Haller shows Martinez a picture of Roulet, Martinez goes ballistic, causing Haller to regret advising the former client to plead guilty for a lesser sentence.

Throughout the case he and ex-wife, prosecuting lawyer Maggie McPherson, (Marisa Tomei) try to play part-time lovers. However, she detests his work, citing that he frees the very criminals she’s trying to lock away.

Haller, now in a quandary, has to legally defend his current client while attempting to arraign him for crimes an innocent man is serving time for.

McConaughey is great, proving he can do much more than serve as a Kate Hudson accessory. The supporting cast shines as well, with no unnecessary filler roles. The film perhaps, starts a little slow but smoothly picks up speed, in true town car fashion. The Lincoln bound lawyer takes us on a riveting ride all the way to the credits – earning 3.5 out of 4 stars.