overrated

Rating: 3/10 (15 August 2006)

I found this movie to be rather boring and predictable. Sidney Lumet always had an agenda in his movie making. Unfortunately he never understood the word subtle. This movie is a prime example of his pretentious, preachy, sledge hammer approach to his message. From the very beginning one could figure out the ending robbing the film of any suspense. The characters were too broadly drawn to be believable especially the role of Lee J. Cobb. Where is the complexity? The explanations of the prosecution's inconsistencies by Fonda strain credulity and would convince no one. If you like the courtroom genre of films try Anatomy of a Murder or Witness for the Prosecution.