Criminal Law
1988 · Movie · R · 114 min · ★ 5.6 · 38% critics
A rising Boston defense attorney wins an acquittal for a wealthy client accused of a brutal murder. When a similar killing happens soon after, the lawyer takes the case again—this time hoping to use the role to uncover the truth and finally bring his client to justice.
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi — also streaming on MGM+.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1988
- Release date
- 1989-04-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 38/100
- TMDB rating
- 5.6/10 (128 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a dark, twisty legal thriller with a tense lawyer-client mind game and moral gray areas; Not for you if you dislike messy plotting, slow stretches, or a shaky finish like some found in Hannibal.
Pros: strong lead performances; stylish noir atmosphere; intriguing moral questions | Cons: messy uneven script; baffling character choices; weak credibility late
Cast & crew
Gary Oldman
as Ben Chase
Kevin Bacon
as Martin Thiel
Tess Harper
as Detective Stillwell
Karen Young
as Ellen Faulkner
Joe Don Baker
as Detective Mesel
Sean McCann
as Jacob Fischer
Ron Lea
as Gary Hull
Michael Sinelnikoff
as Professor Clemens
- KW
Karen Woolridge
as Claudia Curwen
- AG
Ali Giron
as Isabel Fuertes
Directed by Martin Campbell