Movie Review: The Runaway Jury

Saw this one last night. This is another courtroom drama with excellent performances from Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman and John Cusack. Gene Hackman gives another Oscar worthy performance as a sleezeball lawyer.

Its the victims vs. the large evil corporation. In Grisham's book the evil corporation is a large tobacco company. In the movie, it is a manufacturer of firearms. The plot runs more like a thriller than an argument against guns.

My favorite part is when the jury has to be scrutinized by the prosecution. Some scenes were way to theatrical but still a great movie.

My verdict: watch this one.

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Audio Book: The Summons by John Grisham

The Summons by John Grisham
8 CDs Unabridged

Pub. Date: February 2002
Publisher: Random House Audio Publishing Group

Ray Atley is a law professor in Virginia. Recently dumped by his wife, he lives a mundane life except for his hobby of flying a Cessna. Suddenly, he is summoned back to his home town of Clanton Mississipi by his ailing father, Ruben Atley. As he comes back, he is in for several shocking revelations.
First, his father is dead. Secondly, there is a mysterious stash of 3 million dollars that are found in his ancestoral home. Third,there is a one page will, dividing the judge's property between the siblings, but there is no mention of the money. Besides Ray and his father someone else knows that the moneyexists. Who could this person be? His junkie brother, Forest, his father's former mistress, a family friend? How could a judge in a small town find such money? Did he have shady dealings? Did he have a lucky day at the Casino? It is up to Ray to unravel this mystery.
Following the trail would lead him to a shady lawyer who has become filthy rich, striking it big,making deals with large,unscrupulous corporations. It would also place Ray in grave danger.

Well, That was the plot. What did I think of it? I did not learn anything much about the law or anything else. Also the end was a little too tame. I cannot imagine Hollywood making a screenplay from this one.

It does make for an enjoyable listen on the road. Michael Beck's Southern accent adds more to the audiobook. Worth listening!

The Summons

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AudioBook: The Last Juror

The Last Juror

Format: Compact Disc Pub. Date: February 2004
This is a typical classic Legal Thriller from Grisham. As with several of Grisham's books, this book's plot is set in Clanton Mississippi. The tale is narrated from the perspective of Willy Traynor who comes as a youngster to Clanton in Ford County in 1970 and buys himself a newspaper publishing bussiness. The business is heading downhill until a young widow is brutally raped and murdered by Danny Paggitt, a scion of a notorious family that has tremondous influence in the area and has a hand in several illegal businesses.
Willy reports this news, sees his Newspaper business thrive, but must deal with threats and warnings from the Paggits.
When the trial begins, Willy is a witness for the prosecution. The Jury sentences Danny for a life sentence. This is where Grisham introduces the twist. A life sentence in Missippi means a decade, maybe less. Danny is out in eight years and seeks revenge for his sentencing. Extremely well performed by Michael Beck, it makes for an enjoyable road trip.

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