Intermission: 'Runaway Jury' more like TV show than movie

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.

Robert B. Parker, writing in one of his Spenser detective novels, penned one of the greatest lines ever concerning the criminal justice system: "Would you trust your fate to 12 people too stupid to get out of jury duty?"

In the movie "Runaway Jury," based on the novel by John Grisham, the big money powers that be try to manipulate things so nothing in their trial is left to chance. But as things usually go in stories such as this, the best-laid plans always seem to go awry.

The case involves a woman whose husband was killed in an assault-weapon shooting spree. She's suing the gun manufacturer, an entity with deep pockets and even deeper concerns.

The widow's lawyer is Wendell Rohr, a by-the-book straight arrow played by Dustin Hoffman. The gun company is represented by Durwood Cable (Bruce Davison), but he's merely a tool for jury specialist Rankin Fitch, played by Gene Hackman with his usual intensity.

This is the first time Hoffman and Hackman have appeared together, and it's a treat to watch two craftsmen of this caliber playing against each other.

The entire basis of the American trial process is based upon an unbiased jury, but the jury selection process ensures that both sides can pick prospective candidates considering how they feel the candidates' bias leans.

Discerning the emotional makeup of a would-be juror involves a high-tech, big-dollar proposition. Fitch and his team are well equipped, but they do not come cheap.

They have a "war room" set up with video feeds from the courtroom and computer monitors online. Any prospective juror can be instantly checked out via public and private records accessed through the Internet. Fitch then advises the lawyer on which to pick. The team is not above stepping across legitimate lines and resorting to blackmail. It's a fascinating, if chilling, process to behold.

Everything seems to go according to Fitch's plan, except for juror number nine, Nicholas Easter. John Cusack is perfectly cast in this role. He's such an affable screen presence that he manages to get the viewer on his side from his first appearance. Even as the cold-blooded killer in "Grosse Point Blank," we still liked him.

His motives here remain cloudy until the climax of the film. First he seems to be trying his best to not become a juror. After he's picked he, and his behind-the-scenes partner Marlee (Rachel Weisz), appear to be open to the highest bidder. But there's more to their motives than meets the eye.

Easter and Marlee play both sides of the fence. The gun company undoubtedly has enough money to meet the couple's demands. Later on, Rohr is willing to ask his law firm to come up with the dough to turn the jury as well. Both sides know that Easter can control the entire panel and are willing, in such a high-profile case, to spend whatever it takes to assure things go the way they desire.

When the climax arrives it's a surprise. But for me, it seemed too much a "paint by numbers" sort of affair. Grisham is one of the best-selling novelists working today but like Stephen King and others who find it necessary to churn out as many books per year as possible the plots they crank out seem to be fairly formulaic.

As much as I appreciated the fine ensemble cast, I found myself wanting something a little bit more. That may be a harsh criticism because "Runaway Jury" is a good watch. It seems more like an episode of a TV series than a serious film, though, and this fact may make it all the more popular when it hits the home video market.