Careless Writing Wastes Good Cast, Movie Idea
No matter what role Richard Gere is playing, he always seems to be a figure skater.
Preening and smirking, Gere possesses a narcissism that is awe-inspiring. When he meets someone, you always get the idea that he’d like them better if they wore a mirror on their face. In “Primal Fear,” he has found the perfect role: a showboating defense attorney who loudly brags that he doesn’t care that his clients are guilty. Ironically, playing a vain, egotistical character settles Gere down; it’s his best work.
“Primal Fear” falls into that phoniest of movie categories: the Big Secret movie. Gere’s new client is an altar boy implicated in the murder of a sex-crazed cardinal (the prelate, not the bird). Everything in the movie depends on the Big Secret, which, almost inevitably, isn’t as interesting as the moviemakers think it is.
“Primal Fear” keeps cooking up “revelations” about its characters that couldn’t be less surprising, particularly if you saw the episode of “L.A. Law” with an identical set of plot twists and with Susan Dey in the Gere role (“Primal Fear” director Gregory Hoblit also worked on that series). Within the first few minutes of the movie, you’ll be onto its now-what-would-be-the-least-likely-twist? rhythm and, as a result, you’ll be way ahead of it.
Shows like “L.A. Law” and books like “The Firm” have taught all of us at least a little about the law, and that’s a problem, too, because the movie is unconvincing in some very basic ways. I’m a moron about legal issues, but it’s obvious even to me that Gere should have sought a change of venue for his client. And I’ve also heard about a little rule that says lawyers must tell each other what witnesses they plan to call, but, apparently, none of the lawyers in “Primal Fear” is familiar with this.
This carelessness is a disappointing waste of a fine cast (Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand and Laura Linney are three great actresses with three nothing roles) and an idea with potential: the uneasy relationship between attorney and client.
Toward the end, even Gere’s subtle, low-key performance starts to go awry. Richard Gere in a showy, can’t-you-see-how-brilliant-I-am role? That’s my primal fear.
xxxx Locations: East Sprague, Newport and Showboat cinemas Credits: Directed by Gregory Hoblit; starring Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Alfre Woodard, Laura Linney Rating: R