Rating: 
Summary: Ho hum...
Review: I watched this film and Changing Lanes this weekend, and they both have two things in common -- Amanda Peet and a silver Mercedes C240. I just thought that was interesting. Ok, now back to what I thought of this film. I was disappointed at the trailers released on TV for this film. It kept saying "... surprising ending" with Jim Caviezel looming under a hallway arch. That ruined the film for me. I knew what the ending was going to be even before watching the film. I watched it just to be sure anyway ;). I think Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman work well together. Ashley Judd plays a no nonsense lawyer trying to defend her husband Jim Caviezel in a military court on the charge of murder. Morgan Freeman plays an ex-drunk attorney who's good at trying military cases. Together they have to peel back the layers of deception and coverups that happened 13 years ago.This film does not have any powerfully dramatic scenes. It felt like a cookie cutter suspense thriller (the type John Grisham would write). In fact, at times it tries to be light and humorous. The ending did not really provide the audience a reason to empathize with Ashley Judd's character. It was kind of vague. LEAP rating (each out of 5):
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L (Language) - 3 (nothing special, no memorable lines)
E (Erotica) - 0.5 (more from Peet than Judd)
A (Action) - 2.5 (mugging, car "accident")
P (Plot) - 3 (really predictable)
Rating: 
Summary: Ashley Judd STRIKING Comeback
Review: I went to see High Crimes because I was really bored and already saw Panic Room. I didn't think it'd be good and the theater was packed with old people. When it started I was like "this won't be anything good". But boy was I wrong. High Crimes is one of my favorite movies. Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, James Caviezel, and Amanda Peet all did an amazing job acting together. Carl Franklin, the director, did a stunning job too. He had nice smooth camera movements that were superior. Ashley Judd plays a succesful atterny whos married to Jim Caviezel and teams up with Morgan Freeman to get her husband out of jail. He was accused of killing nine people and Judd's will power forces her to help save her husband. High Crimes is a super heart-racing thriller that anyone should like.
Rating:
Summary: FAST PACER
Review: Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman click. This movie was fast paced throughout and had a good "happy ending". Ashley is a beautiful woman and just keeps getting better.
Rating:
Summary: just gretrat!
Review: wow! it's like this flick is like amazing. totoaly the best flick of the year dso far. really really goodly acted by judd and freeman, they make a good laywers. i really think everyonesle is gona love this flick. nothing out now xcan beat. watch and see how this wins soms eocsar next year. we are talking best pictuyre good! this has lots of excitiment and twist and turmn. see this movie as soon as possibvle.......peace out!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Drama Laced With Thrills
Review: What do you do when life throws you a curve, when you're blind-sided by a situation totally out of the blue, a situation unbelievable and inexplicable that has to do with the past of the person you love most in the whole world? A past of which you've never had so much as a hint or knew existed? It's a situation that is examined by director Carl Franklin in "High Crimes," a film that is part courtroom drama, part suspense/thriller (with emphasis on the latter), and which illustrates the facility with which the black and white definition of someone's life can in a moment be tainted and overwhelmed by shades of gray. And it becomes, then, a story about courage and commitment, and most importantly, trust and truth, the basic ingredients that make up the mortar that holds our society and our very lives together; and as this film points out, if the mixture of that mortar is not pure, it is a very tentative seal, indeed, that binds us together. Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) seemingly has the perfect life; she's a successful criminal defense attorney (about to become a partner in the firm), has a beautiful home in the San Francisco Bay area and a wonderful husband, Tom (James Caviezel), with whom she is hoping to have a baby soon, which would make her life complete. Then suddenly, it all comes crashing down around her, when Tom is arrested by the F.B.I. and charged with murder. And, as if that's not bad enough, it's a military case-- Tom is facing a court martial stemming from an incident in 1988 when Tom was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. The incident occurred in El Salvador; after the bombing of a restaurant in which three Americans were killed, a detachment of Marines-- Tom's unit-- was sent to a small village in pursuit of the rebel terrorist responsible for the bombing. According to the military intelligence that had been gathered, the villagers there would have information about the perpetrator. But as the interrogations began, things went bad somehow, and some of the villagers ended up dead. And fingers pointed to Tom as the shooter. Claire, of course, believes that Tom is innocent, and decides to take on the case-- and the military-- herself. She feels confident in her ability to defend him and get to the truth. After all, she has a strong case-- if only she can uncover the identity of the real shooter, then prove it in a court of law that operates within parameters that extend beyond her personal frame of reference. As can be expected with a film like this, there is much more to it than meets the eye, and director Franklin does a great job of putting his characters (and his audience) through their paces with it. There are a number of forks in the road along the way to the climax, and he puts them all to good use, building the tension and maintaining it right up to the very end. He spends just enough time in the courtroom scenes to make them effective; he does not dwell on them nor linger there. Instead, he keeps most of the story elsewhere, which works well, because that's where the action and the thrills reside. Most importantly, he keeps it all moving right along and keeps you guessing; he never tips his hand too soon, and it makes for some riveting suspense. Franklin knows how to handle his actors, too, and he gets some first rate performances out of them, especially from Judd and Morgan Freeman, who are great on-screen together (as they were in their previous collaboration, "Kiss the Girls," in 1997). Judd is charismatic and has a down-to-earth persona she manages to bring to whatever character she is playing that enables the audience to connect with her. Her Claire is professional, but well grounded-- which gives something of a fresh face to the usual portrayal of lawyers in film, and she's entirely convincing, which, of course, adds much to the credibility of the story. As with any good actor, the essence of her character can be found in her eyes, which honestly reflects who this person really is. Judd gives so much more than a by-the-numbers performance, and she gets results accordingly; Claire is very real, and because of that, you care what happens to her. As Charlie Grimes, the former Marine lawyer (who back in the day had more than some trouble with the system of military justice) now in a less-than-thriving private practice, Morgan Freeman effectively creates a memorable character, bringing that extra something to the part-- as he has in films throughout his career-- with yet another excellent performance. Freeman has a natural quality that comes through so well on screen (as it certainly does here), he always gives his best, and he makes it look so easy while he's doing it. A good job from one of the finest actors around. Caviezel also does a convincing turn as Tom, as does Adam Scott, as Lt. Terrence Embry, the young attorney assigned by the Marines to Tom's case, and Amanda Peet, as Jackie Grimaldi, Claire's somewhat irresponsible sister. The supporting cast includes Tom Bower (Agent Mullins), Michael Gaston (Waldron), Juan Carlos Hernandez (Hernandez), Jude Ciccolella (Farrell) and Emilio Rivera (Attacker). A well crafted and delivered thriller that will get and keep you emotionally involved, "High Crimes" is entertaining, but frustrating, as well. It keeps you on the edge of your seat while taunting you with the absolutes of a military tribunal that makes the term "Military justice" seem like an oxymoron; there are times, in fact, when you'll want to yell at the screen and plead for someone or other to use some common sense and acknowledge the proof of what's placed right in front of them. But it's all a part of the ride, and it's a good one; it is, in fact, the magic of the movies.
Rating: 
Summary: High Crimes (against the audience)
Review: Ah, the over-used plot. Take murder, military cover-up, and a dash of feminist attorney, mix them in a blender and out pops High Crimes. Attempting to establish human elements to the principal characters, the movie opens with Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) wearing the pants in the relationship who quickly strips them off and orders her husband Tom (James Caviezel) to produce their offspring. Despite his good looks (picture a cross between Tom Cruise and Superman), his mission is accomplished in ten seconds and we then begin the plot. Tom, whose real name we find out is Ron Chapman, is arrested with charges of murdering nine civilians in El Salvador during a military operation. Claire, being the high-powered attorney that she is, decides that she shall be his salvation from this absurd accusation. Enter the required characters: the drunken male lawyer assistant Charles Grimes (Morgan Freeman); the poster-boy military lawyer (Adam Scott); and the estranged sibling (Amanda Peet) to provide support to her sister during this crisis. Apparently all covert attempts to persuade Claire to forget her interests in the case can only be performed at night. During the day, she is able to freely access classified information that can exonerate her beloved. But, the nocturnal attempts to make her victim number 10 are futile (or was it 12, or 15? There were a few extra "accidents" thrown in for effect.). Hmm, makes you wonder how the military is ever successful. The plot is stock and the characters are under-developed. The meaning of the relationship between Tom and Claire is left to assumption. Tom's character is so ill conceived that we are to believe that his only job is to tinker in his tool-shed. To further lose our belief in plausible circumstances, the character of the sister was not only pointless, but completely devoid of significance and necessity. At the end, with only brief contemplation, we can begin to question what the real cover-up was. If you find the answer, let me know. Did you miss seeing The General's Daughter, A Few Good Men, Kiss The Girls, and Double Jeopardy? Then see this movie. You'll get 4 movies for the price of one with this tired plot concept.
Rating:
Summary: You be the Judd
Review: I'm sorry for that awful pun...but I couldn't resist. Was the movie better than the book? Almost. Was the movie version good? Yes it was very good. I was not completely taken in by the story, but Ashley Judd's acting was exceptional. I thought the courtroom scences could have been more dramatic. If you had seen "A Few Good Men" or "Rules of Engagement" you would know what I mean. And yet the judge's decision came so sudden I was taken off guard. This film's strenght can be found in the acting. Especially Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. The dialouge was equally exceptional. If I were Siskel and the other guy I'd give High Crimes "two thumbs up." (Or would that be four thumbs up?) Whatever, go see this one. Cammy Diaz
Rating:
Summary: An improvement on the novel. Judd carries it.
Review: Pure escapism, the film version of Joseph Finder's novel injects some much-needed humor into a morass of murder, duplicity, addiction, and cover-up. It also converts a boilerplate "twist" ending into something slightly more original. Ashley Judd is one the few actors who can hold their own with the inimitable Morgan Freeman and it's good to see them teamed again. She is great at playing humanized action heroines. And he's refreshingly different as a low-rent, alcoholic attorney.
Rating:
Summary: mediocre whodunit
Review: **1/2 In "High Crimes," Ashley Judd portrays a high-powered San Francisco defense attorney who decides to defend her own husband in a military trial when he is accused of having masterminded a civilian massacre in a small El Salvadoran village during the 1980's. Morgan Freeman costars as the typical gone-to-seed, down-on-his-luck (but, we are told, brilliant) lawyer who has lost both reputation and career to the ravages of alcoholism. As in most films of this ilk, the military in "High Crimes" emerges as little more than a hotbed of skullduggery and corruption, with the top brass issuing unethical and undoubtedly illegal orders, then doing everything it can do make sure the facts surrounding those activities remain forever hidden from public view - even stooping to rubbing out uncooperative witnesses if necessary. As a whodunit, "High Crimes" follows a fairly predictable path filled with the inevitable false clues, misunderstandings and, of course, the surprise "twist" ending, which really isn't a surprise at all to anyone even remotely familiar with the way this kind of story operates. "High Crimes," though watchable, is also depressingly efficient in that it simply goes through the motions without injecting anything even remotely original or surprising into the proceedings. With a sinister figure lurking in every shadow and a red herring hiding around every corner, we soon grow weary of the sheer predictability of the whole enterprise. There literally is not a single original minute in the entire film. "High Crimes" isn't bad enough to make anyone jump up out of his seat in outrage - unless it happens to be the military, which certainly has every reason to feel affronted in this case. Luckily, Judd and Freeman are good enough actors that they can make even this mediocre material seem better than it is. One would, however, like to see them putting their very considerable talents to more effective use and stop wasting them on forgettable formulaic drivel like "High Crimes."
Rating:
Summary: True thriller!
Review: This has been by far the best movie I've seen all year. Ashley Judd has really come along as an actress and does an outstanding job as the main character. She's tough and vulnerable at the same time. Morgan Freeman is so incredibly cool, I wish he'd do more detective movies like this and "kiss the girls." This movie has romance, action, suspense and surprises at every corner. Once you think you know the answer, it throws you a curve. Definitely a must see!!
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