Yet Primal Fear proves it's an inspired move. More than a few of us figured that Gere peaked as the vain, glib, arrogant tycoon in Pretty Woman , but his turn as a lawyer of similar properties proves us wrong.
Lawyers get to show their stuff more often and widely than tycoons.
In addition to a prime turn for its star, Primal Fear cooks up a throttling murder mystery. Even though the script plays fair and offers a solid clue about its outcome, the surprise ending will blow you away. That's because you'll spot the clue only after you've seen the ending. Based on William Diehl's best seller, the movie considers a high-profile, scandalous murder case. The archbishop of Chicago lies dead, and hideously mutilated, in his stately home.