Runaway Jury (12) (From Warrington Guardian)

Runaway Jury (12)

STEVEN HALLMARK

NOT exactly a vast departure for John Grisham - an idealistic lawyer in the Deep South involved in a trial against corporate America.

In this case the lawyer is Dustin Hoffman but his role is actually more on the periphery of the action.

The spark for the story is the widow of a gun victim, who is represented by Hoffman's character, suing the gun company for selling the product.

Consultant Gene Hackman is brought in by the arms dealers to take control of the jury but, unknown to him, a 'freelance' jury tamperer (Rachel Weisz) has beaten him to it

The majority of the action follows Weisz and juror John Cusack as they battle with Hackman to control the trial.

This isn't exactly thrill-a-minute stuff but, after a slow start, the excitement does build up to an entertaining climax.

There is the usual twisting plot of a Grisham movie but without quite as much of a threat level as the likes of A Time to Kill or The Firm. There is no Ku Klux Klan or mafia to fear - but the tension is still there and there are some hairy moments for Weisz as Hackman's henchmen close in.

Cusack, who seems to have been in his late 30s for about 15 years, is as engaging as always (he could play a serial killer and you'd still be on his side). Yet again, Jeremy Piven has ended up in one of Cusack's films - it's like they come as a package. You may not know the name but you will recognise Piven straight away, he plays the jury consultant who works with Hoffman.

Hackman is menacing, Hoffman underused and Weisz shows that she has what it takes to move onto the next level in Hollywood.

Runaway Jury is a good adaptation of a gripping story and a damning indictment of the American justice system.