When I somewhat recently watched "Beyond A Reasonable Doubt" -- the 1956 version -- I liked the film, particularly its leading actors Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine. But I had a problem with the premise of the film -- that a reporter would intentionally scheme to have himself arrested for murder in a state with the death penalty in order to expose a crooked district attorney. But, in films, to varying degrees, we have to suspend belief. So, okay.
Now when I watch this remake, which though modernized fairly faithfully follows the original plot, I have exactly the same feelings. I'm not saying that Jesse Metcalfe is a great actor, but he's pleasant enough in films. I'm not saying that Amber Tamblyn is a great actress, but here she is good enough to play Metcalfe's loyal and later suspicious girlfriend. Michael Douglas, of course, is a fine actor, but here he just sort of gets by, not being quite sinister enough. Two supporting actors here -- Joel Moore as a news cameraman and Orlando Jones as a police detective -- do quite nicely, and it reminded me that nowadays I don't see as much of Orlando Jones as I would like to; he's quite talented.
If you didn't watch the original film, I won't spoil the major plot twist which, I think, will surprise you...although there are a number of plot twists here that are quite good.
But to summarize the quality of this film, notice several phrases I have already used: "he's pleasant enough", "she is good enough", "sort of gets by", "quite good". The problem is that there is nothing great about this film. It's "pretty good". In fact, the highest compliment I can give the producers/directors is that they resisted the temptation to show Jesse Metcalfe's torso until the last few minutes of the film.
Is this film worth watching. Yeah. It's okay.
Now when I watch this remake, which though modernized fairly faithfully follows the original plot, I have exactly the same feelings. I'm not saying that Jesse Metcalfe is a great actor, but he's pleasant enough in films. I'm not saying that Amber Tamblyn is a great actress, but here she is good enough to play Metcalfe's loyal and later suspicious girlfriend. Michael Douglas, of course, is a fine actor, but here he just sort of gets by, not being quite sinister enough. Two supporting actors here -- Joel Moore as a news cameraman and Orlando Jones as a police detective -- do quite nicely, and it reminded me that nowadays I don't see as much of Orlando Jones as I would like to; he's quite talented.
If you didn't watch the original film, I won't spoil the major plot twist which, I think, will surprise you...although there are a number of plot twists here that are quite good.
But to summarize the quality of this film, notice several phrases I have already used: "he's pleasant enough", "she is good enough", "sort of gets by", "quite good". The problem is that there is nothing great about this film. It's "pretty good". In fact, the highest compliment I can give the producers/directors is that they resisted the temptation to show Jesse Metcalfe's torso until the last few minutes of the film.
Is this film worth watching. Yeah. It's okay.