The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
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A defense attorney working out of his car becomes entangled in a dangerous web of secrets when he takes on a high-profile case.
The story
Mickey Haller is a defense attorney who operates from the back of his chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car in Los Angeles. He typically handles cases for low-end criminals, a choice of clientele that is disapproved of by his ex-wife, a district attorney. Haller is unexpectedly hired to represent Louis Roulet, a wealthy Beverly Hills playboy accused of brutally beating a woman. During the investigation, Haller and his associate discover that the details of Roulet's crime bear unsettling similarities to a previous case involving a different defendant. As Haller digs deeper, he realizes the two cases are inextricably linked, putting him in a precarious position as he navigates the legal and personal risks of the defense.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who works from his Lincoln Town Car, is hired to represent Louis Roulet, a wealthy playboy accused of assaulting a woman. While investigating, Haller finds that Roulet's crime mirrors a previous case where a man named Jesus Martinez was convicted of a murder. Haller realizes Roulet is the true killer and that Roulet chose him specifically to bind him by attorney-client confidentiality. After a confrontation where Roulet threatens Haller's daughter, Haller's investigator, Frank Levin, is found shot dead. Haller discovers the bullet came from his own father's gun. To protect himself and find the truth, Haller cross-examines the victim and sets up a prison informant to testify against Roulet. While Roulet is initially released, he is immediately arrested for the previous murder. In the climax, Roulet's mother, Mary Windsor, confronts Haller and shoots him; he returns fire, killing her. The film ends with Haller taking on a new case for a biker gang in gratitude for their assistance.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brad Furman
- Writers
- John Romano · writer
- Cast and characters
- Matthew McConaughey · Mickey Haller; Marisa Tomei · Maggie McPherson; Ryan Phillippe · Louis Roulet; Josh Lucas · Ted Minton; John Leguizamo · Val Valenzuela; Michael Peña · Jesus Martinez; Bob Gunton · Cecil Dobbs; Frances Fisher · Mary Windsor; Bryan Cranston · Detective Lankford; William H. Macy · Frank Levin
- Genres
- legal thriller; crime thriller
- Themes
- legal ethics; justice; consequences of crime
- Tone and mood
- tense; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- lawyer; courtroom drama; mystery
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2005 novel of the same title by Michael Connelly
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and was well-received by audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 31; Chicago Sun-Times · score: 3 · scale: 4
- Production trivia
- The film's story is adapted from the first of several novels featuring the character of Haller.; Haller works in a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car rather than an office.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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