Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is a vain lawyer whose main goal is to look good in front of the press and the public. That is why he accepts the defense of an altar boy (Edward Norton) who appears to be the prime suspect in the brutal crime of the Archbishop of Chicago.
Based on a novel by William Diehl, is a notable example of the validity of that subgenre that are the “trial films”. The intensity of the interrogations, the complexity of some character and the final twist, are part of the gear that makes this a totally enjoyable and engaging film.
In addition to Gere, which is very good, there are two good performances of new faces (at the time): Laura linney Y Norton, nominated for Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for this role.