Runaway Jury (2003) - News NEWS Opens October 17 Like a juicy steak served to a man suffering on a diet of micro-greens and tofu, Runaway Jury will be devoured by fans of movie melodramas. Once a staple of the studios, the melodrama has been largely abandoned in favor of action, special effects and sensationalism. But Runaway Jury , directed by Gary Fleder , might just revive the cinema where intense, strong personalities clash in mortal conflict, where much is at stake and wild plot twists and turns fuel the rising tension. There are 75 speaking roles here, yet at the movie's core are stars John Cusack , Gene Hackman , Dustin Hoffman , Rachel Weisz and Bruce Davison -- all of whom clearly relish such red-blooded, morally ambivalent roles. This crowd-pleaser from Fox should not only become a runaway hit but might restore the melodrama as an American movie genre.

In past movies about the law -- including those based on legal thrillers by lawyer-author John Grisham , whose 1996 best seller is the basis for this movie -- stories have focused on courtroom theatrics or a murder mystery or the relationship between lawyers and clients or even, in the memorable Twelve Angry Men , on the jury itself. Runaway Jury manages all this and more. The screenplay is credited to four writers, normally a signal of a misshapen mess, but what emerges here is taut storytelling where character leads to action and action leads back to character. In the legal profession there exist people called "jury consultants," who bone up on enough psychology to advise trial attorneys on jury selection. Grisham takes this several steps further to imagine a ruthless superdetective, an amoral rascal named Rankin Fitch (Hackman), who, backed by an army of high-tech personnel, burrows into the private lives of the jury pool not only to divine which potential jurors are most likely to vote in favor of a client, but to dig up enough dirt -- if push comes to shove -- to guarantee a verdict.

As Fitch puts it in his signature line: "A trial is too important to be left up to juries." Having established a lucrative business defending gun manufacturers in lawsuits brought by victims of gun violence around the country, Fitch runs into an unforeseen opponent in a New Orleans civil suit brought against a powerful gun consortium. One juror, Nick Easter (Cusack), contacts him through a mysterious woman who calls herself Marlee (Weisz) to declare that he controls the jury and it's for sale. Not only that, he contacts the plaintiff's attorney, chivalrous Southern attorney Wendall Rohr (Hoffman), with the same proposal. The price is $10 million. Who can claim the moral high ground in the game of cat and mouse that ensues is not initially clear. Nor are the individual motives obvious. Fitch needs proof of Nick's ability to "control" the jury. And, boy, does he gets it. But Fitch plays hardball, demonstrating that he is not above blackmail and intimidation of Nick's fellow jurors. Meanwhile, Wendall struggles with his conscience. He believes sincerely in his case, and even a mistrial would not serve his purpose. So perhaps his ethics are flexible enough to pony up.

Thus, the movie runs off in several directions. Nick must carefully worm his way into his fellow jurors' confidence while eliminating or neutralizing those not on his side. A Fitch operative heads for Ohio to investigate the background of this mystifying juror. The no-nonsense Judge Harkin ( Bruce McGill ) tries to get to the bottom of this strange jury. Wendall and defense counsel Durwood Cable (Davison) do battle in emotional courtroom scenes, while Marlee and Fitch circle one another, each looking for ways to gain the advantage over the other. The climax, a strong piece of writing, editing and direction, brings all the plotlines to a head. There is even time for a bathroom confrontation between screen legends Hackman and Hoffman -- their first onscreen pairing -- that ranks alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro 's encounter in Heat . Robert Elswit's nervous camera and realistic lighting of the French Quarter, Fitch's dark "war room" and the mahogany-trimmed courtroom contribute to the overheated atmosphere. Even Abigail Murray 's costumes take on importance as everyone carefully selects just the right suit of armor to enter and play a role in the legal arena.

RUNAWAY JURY Regency Enterprises presents a New Regency production Credits: Director: Gary Fleder 17 October 2003 | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news » The combined star power of John Cusack , Gene Hackman , Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz will face off against the appeal of the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface this weekend. But indicators suggest that the all-star cast of Runaway Jury will be no match for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , which appears headed for a bloody boxoffice victory. Opening ultrawide in 3,016 theaters, New Line Cinema's R-rated remake has scored very well in its preview screenings and is attracting under-25 horror fans in droves. Based on the 1974 cult hit, the Marcus Nispel-directed redo stars Jessica Biel and Eric Balfour as two of five twentysomethings trying to escape the clutches of a monstrous clan of Texas cannibals.

Targeting the coveted audience of young moviegoers always looking to try out the latest cinematic fare, the R-rated Chainsaw is certain to cross the $20 million mark and could gross upward of $25 million. Jury, a Regency Enterprises production released by 20th Century Fox, is attempting to resurrect the legal melodrama, but its drawing power may not prove as potent as it originally appeared. Armed with an A-list cast and based on John Grisham 's best seller, the movie was originally tracking in the $17 million-$18 million range. But tracking for the PG-13 film directed by Gary Fleder has weakened in recent days. Now industry insiders are pegging the movie in the $12 million-$13 million range, putting it in a close race with other adult dramas for the No. 2 spot. » 8 August 2003 | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news » Feature director Gary Fleder has signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television to develop series projects for the studio. Under the terms of the one-year pact, Fleder will serve as a producer and director on the shows that go forward.

He has tapped former CBS Prods. executive Eric Timm to help him identify talent and shepherd projects. Fleder most recently directed the 20th Century Fox feature film adaptation of John Grisham 's novel Runaway Jury . The film, starring John Cusack , Gene Hackman , Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz , is slated for an Oct. 17 release. » Runaway Jury: Special Edition (2003) Runaway Jury: Special Edition (2003) Deleted Scenes-2, With Optional Director Commentary Featurette-Selected Scenes (2) with Commentary (Hoffman/Hackman) Featurette-Exploring The Scene: Hackman & Hoffman Together Featurette-Off The Cuff: Hackman & Hoffman Featurette-The Ensemble: Acting Featurette-A Vision Of New Orleans: Production Design Featurette-Rhythm: The Craft Of Editing Rating English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) Widescreen Aspect Ratio English for the Hearing Impaired English Audio Commentary Action In or After Credits No NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here .

Plot Synopsis �� "Trials are too important to be left up to juries." ��� After a brief period in a rental window, the Gary Fleder directed Runaway Jury has now been released as a retail version with host of bonus material included that thankfully puts it on a par with the Region 1 version. The review of the rental release can be read here . Since I reviewed the original disc, I have merely copied much of the plot synopsis from that original review, so you might want to move straight to the transfer and extras sections if you are already familiar with the rental only review. ��� It must be one of the great filmmaking conundrums. Just why are the best selling novels of former lawyer turned author John Grisham so enormously popular, selling by the millions, yet when the same stories are translated to the screen, more often than not the results are less than fulfilling? Consider examples such as The Pelican Brief , The Client , The Rainmaker, or The Chamber.� These are all films, which if not for the Grisham tag on the poster, would probably have sunk without a trace into the sea of mediocre crime/lawyer thrillers.

The only efforts that I consider to have any redeeming qualities are two of his earliest novels, The Firm , with Tom Cruise and A Time To Kill with Matthew McConaughey, with the former even undergoing a massive rewrite of the climax to make it more filmable and exciting. Just why some of these adaptations have worked when most have failed is anyone's guess. Apparently, several years ago, the lack of a successful film translation saw Grisham halt the sale of the film rights to his books and after 1997's disappointing The Rainmaker, it would be more than five years before another Grisham lawyer novel would make the transition to the screen. ��� It has been a long wait, but finally the time has arrived for a new Grisham novel to make its way to the screen. For my mind, Runaway Jury is certainly one of the more entertaining and readable of all the Grisham novels. It is in fact the only one I have read more than once (and I have read them all). It has got a tight and unique story, with a decent twist at the end. But it is the first half that I found to be the most intriguing - and it all revolves around the science that is jury selection.

��� The story all centres around a huge civil case. In this instance it is a case brought by a grieving widow against the manufacturer of a semi-automatic handgun that was used in a mass slaying which claimed the life of her husband. This could be a landmark case, since no person has ever brought a case against the gun industry and won. What hope do they have this time? Especially when the defence has the ultra-experienced and win-at-all costs jury expert Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) on their side. ��� Well this time it is going to be different. The jury has been hijacked from the inside. A young man and woman with a hidden agenda have managed to effectively rig the jury. By gaining selection on the twelve person panel, the smooth and persuasive Nicholas Easter (John Cusack), with the aid of his girlfriend Marlee (Rachel Weisz), is plotting on steering the jury towards the right decision. The right decision in this case simply means which one of the two sides will be willing to hand over the most cash.

The two young idealists must battle the plaintiff's lawyer on one side, the honourable and decent Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), a man with high ideals and buckets of integrity, and someone who only begrudgingly plays along with this caper. On the other side is Rankin Fitch, an evil shyster who cares little for the common man and even less for the grieving widow of a murder victim. He will stop at nothing to deliver a not guilty verdict for his client and has almost unlimited cash to throw around to ensure the verdict he wants. ��� Just like the novel, from the opening scenes this film cracks along at a fair pace as the jury selection process is examined and turned into an almost scientific procedure - overweight, single women make great defence jurors, as do ex-marines, because both are tight-fisted and unsympathetic. Pick the right jury and the battle is as good as won is both sides' motto. But with the integrity of the jury compromised, the battle is on from both inside and outside to deliver a verdict. ��� The big plus here is the great cast that has been assembled.

They keep the film ticking along quite nicely, with John Cusack putting in another flawless performance and the first ever on-screen encounter between stalwarts Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman being worth the price of a rental alone. Unfortunately, there are two elements of this film which let it down the most and again it is the need to differ from Grisham's source material which sees me grumbling. Firstly, the court case in the book was against the tobacco industry, just like in The Insider. All the elements of dirty tricks and foul play seemed right at home in the tobacco industry, and here it seems just a little too far fetched to be bringing a claim against a gun company. I mean it's a little idealistic on my part, but guns don't kill people - people kill people, whereas cigarettes do kill people - and there's no arguments there. Secondly the ending has lost the delicious twist from the novel, which the first time around you will certainly not see coming until the last couple of pages. The climax in the film is signposted a good 15 minutes from the end and the whole thing basically runs out of steam from that point on.

��� Nonetheless, this is still a slick production, with a great cast and a solid screenplay that will not disappoint for an evening's entertainment. Fans of any of the John Grisham adapted films will most certainly want to get a hold of this disc, as it is easily in the top three adaptations of the best-selling author's material. Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration . Transfer Quality Video ��� This transfer is offered in exactly the same aspect ratio as it was shown theatrically - 2.35:1. It is also 16x9 enhanced. ��� As mentioned in the review of the rental disc, I was a little disappointed with the sharpness and detail level on offer there, and this transfer is again the same. The whole thing has just the slightest tweak of softness and there is a little edge enhancement noticeable in several of the lower lit interior shots, especially in Nicholas Easter's apartment. Shadow detail also borders on being problematic as many of the same shots in the apartment are in very poor light. I suggest making sure the room is sufficiently darkened before viewing. There is virtually no grain and no low level noise .

It's not a poor transfer by any means, just a slightly less than perfect one. ��� The colours are fairly stock standard for the drab courtroom drama style of film. Blacks are deep and solid, and skin tones perfectly natural. ��� Compression artefacts are absent and there is no annoying shimmer or aliasing on any surface. Film artefacts are mostly absent. ��� English for the Hearing Impaired are the only flavour of subtitles available, and after sampling these extensively I found them mostly accurate. ��� This is a dual layered disc which is formatted RSDL. The layer change is in exactly the same position as the rental disc and occurs at 91:33. It is not what you would call perfect placement, as Gene Hackman's character pauses noticeably in mid stride just before a scene transition. Video Ratings Summary Overall Audio ��� We gain an additional soundtrack for this retail version. The original English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is joined by an English Dolby Digital 2.0 commentary soundtrack, the latter of which is reviewed in the extras section.

The main feature film track is a pretty decent effort, offering a wide soundstage, albeit with only a little surround channel use, but it is the width of the dynamic range that is the most impressive element of this soundtrack. Despite being a dialogue focused film, the level of bass reached on occasion is quite impressive. ��� Dialogue levels are excellent and there are no audio sync problems. Unlike many of the previous John Grisham adaptations where the southern American accent and drawl dominates to the point of needing some interpretation, this effort is far milder on the ears. ��� Christopher Young's score is fairly typical of the courtroom thriller. ��� There is only a little surround use, but it really isn't the type of film to benefit from an over-the-top enveloping experience. The odd streetscape and outside noise are pretty much all you are likely to hear from the rears. ��� The subwoofer crops up on occasion to provide some deep ominous tones, especially whenever Gene Hackman's character of Rankin Fitch appears on screen. Audio Ratings Summary Main Menu Audio Audio Commentary - Gary Fleder (Director) ��� A solid, albeit slightly dry and often film-school style technical commentary from director Gary Fleder.

He concentrates mostly on things like composition, lighting, exposition, editing, a couple of problematic scenes and the like. Unfortunately there is no mention of why the story was changed from tobacco to guns. Deleted Scenes ��� Two deleted scenes are available, with a total running time of just 1:47. Both are from scenes when the jury is sequestered at the motel. While the finished quality of the scenes is rather ordinary, they at least have an optional commentary from the director, who explains the reason for their removal from the film. Featurette - Selected Scene Commentary ��� Two scenes are available to view with a commentary from actors Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman (they appear in a small box above the widescreen image). Hackman's scene is one of the last in the film, where Rankin Fitch is in the bar and runs for 2:24. Hoffman's contribution is the washroom scene where he shared the stage with Hackman for the first time. His commentary runs for 3:41.

Featurette - Exploring The Scene (Hoffman and Hackman) ��� This is a 14:16 (which I must admit is probably twice the length it really needs to be) featurette that focuses on the scene between Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman in the washroom. There is significant behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with both actors about this scene, which was their first ever shared moment on screen together. Featurette - Off The Cuff ��� Another featurette dedicated to the shared screen moments of Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, but this one just features the two screen legends sitting side by side sharing anecdotes about their careers. Apparently they are old friends from way back and have some amusing stories to tell. This is quite candid and entertaining. Worth a look. Runs for 8:32. Featurette - The Ensemble: Acting ��� A fairly brief featurette that is dedicated to the other members of the cast, though it mainly focuses on John Cusack and Rachel Weisz. Not a whole lot of information is provided here. Runs for just 4:22.

Featurette-Making Of ��� While this is a true making of, with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew, the usual self-congratulatory angle seems to crop up far too often. I would have also liked to know a bit more about the Grisham novel to screenplay adaptation process. Runs for just 12:00 minutes. Featurette - Shadow and Light (Cinematography) ��� A 5:47 featurette dedicated to the director of photography Robert Elswit and the methods he employed in lighting the various actors, based on what mood the director was hoping to achieve. Featurette - A Vision Of New Orleans: Production Design ��� This is a 5:05 featurette dedicated to the production design of the film in general, but mostly focussing on the design and construction of the elaborate court room used in the film. Hosted by production designer Nelson Coates, this is a rather interesting look at just how the incredibly complex court room set can be pulled apart and changed around to facilitate filming.

Featurette - Rhythm: The Craft Of Editing ��� Runaway Jury is a rather tightly edited film, and this 5:03 featurette is dedicated to the role that editor Bill Steinkamp played in the look of the final product. R4 vs R1 NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible. ��� A much better comparison between the Region 1 and Region 4 discs is now possible with this Special Edition disc. ��� The Region 4 disc misses out on: French Dolby Digital 2.0 surround soundtrack Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 surround soundtrack Bonus trailer ��� The Region 1 disc misses out on: Nothing ��� Unless the French or Spanish soundtracks are your thing, you are best sticking with the local product. Summary ��� The cast is the glue that holds this tale together. John Cusack is watchable in just about anything these days, and the tantalising prospect of seeing old-timers like Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman going head-to-head in a scene for the first time is worth the price of a rental alone.

As a fan of Grisham work's I really just wish they had left the story alone and retained the focus of the trial on the big tobacco industry and kept the twist at the end. Despite these misgivings, I would easily rate Runaway Jury as one of the top three Grisham adaptations made to date. ��� The video transfer is a little softer than I would have liked, though it is still mostly blemish free. ��� The audio retains much of the front channel focus of a dialogue based film, but does offer some nice bass response at times. ��� The extras are numerous and of pretty reasonable quality. Home Theater & Sound -- DVD Review -- Runaway Jury - ***1/2 Released by: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Dolby Digital 5.1 Widescreen (anamorphic) You get the feeling, watching a movie based on a John Grisham story, that he does not like lawyers very much. Sure, there's always the one "good" lawyer with shining morals and unshakable principles, but every other barrister in the story is a detestable scumbag, one step removed from shoving baby carriages in front of speeding trucks for giggles.

Maybe it is his insider's perspective. Before becoming an author, Grisham was a lawyer. His latest novel to be turned into a movie is Runaway Jury, a look at the lengths to which both sides in a case will go in order to make sure they win. As the film begins, an infuriated day-trader has returned to the firm where he used to work, bringing a gun with him. He kills several of his former co-workers before turning the gun on himself, and now the widow of one of the victims is suing the gun manufacturer. Facing a financially stunting settlement, the manufacturer calls upon jury consultant Rankin Fitch, a high-paid specialist who helps stack the deck in favor of corporate defendants. It's Fitch's job to help the defense team choose which potential jurors they will accept and which they will dismiss. He thinks he has the perfect jury, until he realizes that one of the jurors is swaying the case from the inside. Runaway Jury marks the first time that Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman have appeared together in a film, despite their long careers.

Hackman is at his cocky, bad-tempered best as Rankin Fitch, not above plumbing a juror's medical history to find some evidence to use against him. Hoffman plays prosecuting attorney Wendell Rohr, a civilized Southern gentleman who wants to win his case the old-fashioned way. Despite Hackmans and Hoffmans considerable talent, Runaway Jury relies just as much upon John Cusack and Rachel Weisz. Cusack plays Nicholas Easter, the inside man who is playing both sides against each other. He gets to be coolly understated as he slowly manipulates his fellow jurors to show Fitch what he is capable of. Weisz makes Easter's girlfriend Marlee determined and incredibly capable; she keeps the show running even when Fitch's thugs begin to get rough. As viewers, we are meant to sympathize with the plaintiff in the case. After all, a gun-wielding maniac killed her husband. But stop to think for a moment, and the premise seems faulty: Is it the gun manufacturer's fault that a man killed her husband? Was it even the gun's fault?

Considering how often Hollywood gets blamed for people's actions (think Columbine High School and The Matrix, for instance), the stance that the progenitor is ultimately responsible for all of its creation's consequences seems out of place at best and self-destructive at worst. That's not to say that the film is not entertaining or that it does not do a good job of wrapping you up in its message. Indeed, the complex maneuvering between Fitch and Easter is great to watch, and you do get the feeling that Rohr is trying to do something good. It is only after a few days, when you can take the time to analyze the film, that these issues become apparent. Image quality on the DVD is fine -- strong colors, solid whites and blacks, no weird encoding errors -- but the backgrounds sometime get a bit fuzzy in busy scenes. The sound is good, with the voices coming through clearly even in hectic locations such as a large, hollow courtroom or a busy lunchtime restaurant. The only low point is the opening office rampage, which fails to use surround speakers in any significant way. Director Gary Fleder sits down for a solo commentary that shows how much thought he put into the film.

He discusses the choices he made, the changes made from the book, and even the actors' performances. Hoffman and Hackman provide commentary for two featurettes that focus on them, "The Washroom: Dustin Hoffman" and "The Bar: Gene Hackman." "Exploring the Scene: Hackman & Hoffman Together" is a 15-minute look at the pair's friendship. They have known each other for 35 years -- ever since their time together at the Pasadena Playhouse -- yet had never worked together on a movie before. Two deleted scenes would have added little of value to the movie, but still warrant their inclusion on this disc. "The Making of Runaway Jury" is your typical spoiler-filled offering; in 13 minutes, it gives away the whole plot. "The Ensemble: Acting" turns its focus on Cusack, Weisz, and the minor players for a meeting of the mutual appreciation society, with lots of congratulations all around. Finally, we have three five-minute production featurettes. The first is "Shadow and Light: Cinematography" with cinematographer Robert Elswit. "A Vision of New Orleans: Production Design" features a fun and informative tour of the set by production-designer Nelson Coates.

The third, "Rhythm: The Craft of Editing," is with editor William Steinkamp, who did a great job with this film. Runaway Jury is a taut, intriguing piece if you don't pay attention to its politics. The courtroom drama is good and the actors, from main cast to smallest supporter, all do an admirable job. Runaway Jury by John Grisham, Signed - AbeBooks Runaway Jury by John Grisham, Signed You Searched For: Results (1 - 23) of 23 Sort By Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. First edition 1st printing, Very Good book with light wear and some rubbing to bottom edges of boards, bottom corners of pages 193 to 213 have been slightly bumped/crinkled right at the corners; in a Good jacket that has light edge wear and with protective mylar on front panel lifting around edges of raised lettering and also top to bottom in a one inch wide band.

Grishamï¿½s seventh legal thriller. This copy has been signed by Grisham, sideways, on the half-title page. A 2003 film was adapted from the book and starred Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. Signed by Author(s). Bookseller Inventory # ABE-1484345327901 ISBN 10: 071266131X ISBN 13: 9780712661317 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Century, London Uk, 1996. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st UK Edition/1st Printing (complete number line). SIGNED by author on a bookplate affixed to half-title page (signature only). light spine lean and page age-toning. DJ rubbed w/light shelf edge wear; price present (in UK Pounds) on lower DJ front flap; mylar protected. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author.

Bookseller Inventory # 029907 Published by Doubleday (1996), New York (1996) Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, New York, New York, U.S.A., 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The author signed sideways on the half-title page. One page corner has a crease line. The top edge of a page has a 1/16 in. closed tear. DJ: The spine panel has vertical, light bend line. The top end of the spine panel is a little wrinkled. The lamination is loosened, but not torn, around most of the letters on the front panel and on the upper end of a fold. Scans e-mailed upon request. Signed by Author(s).

Bookseller Inventory # 014708 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, New York, New York, U.S.A., 1996. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Near Fine+. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition/1st Printing (complete number line). SIGNED by author on a bookplate affixed to front end page (signature only). $26.95 price intact on DJ flap; mylar protected. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. Bookseller Inventory # 027852 Published by Doubleday & Co., New York (1996) Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday & Co., New York, 1996. Paper Covered Boards. Book Condition: Very Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. First Edition.

401 pp.; unclipped jacket classic by the celebrated author is genuinely inscribed and signed by him on the pre-title page. Photos upon request. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. Hardback. Bookseller Inventory # 40327 Published by Doubleday, New York (1996) Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, New York, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Fine first edition, signed on the half title page, in a like dust jacket, priced $26.95. Both appear as like new and not read. Gift quality. 401 pages. Signed.

Bookseller Inventory # 024821 ISBN 10: 071266131X ISBN 13: 9780712661317 New Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, U.S.A., 1996. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Rough Wt Protecitve Cover. First American Edition. Very good condition. Clean text, tight binding. Like new. Signed by author and a card sighed by Doubleday representative. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. By author. Review Copy.

Bookseller Inventory # 097363 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, New York, NY, 1996. Cloth. Book Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition, First Printing. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. This novel is about a landmark tobacco trial with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, but the jury is behaving strangely, and at least one juror is convinced he's being watched. Then a tip from an anonymous young woman suggests she is able to predict the jurors' increasingly odd behavior. Is the jury being manipulated, or controlled? If so, by whom? And, more important, why?

This copy is SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on the FFEP on a bookplate and is clean and solid. Signed by Author. Bookseller Inventory # 010552 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: U.S.A.: Doubleday, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition as stated on copyright page also with numbers 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2. Signed by author on half title page. Near fine book and dust jacket, both minor wear; white sticker on top right corner of front free end paper. Signed by Author(s).

Bookseller Inventory # 1611060 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: New York: Doubleday, June 1996., 1996. First edition, first printing (per publisher's requisite statement and number line upon copyright page) SIGNED BY JOHN GRISHAM. [12], 401 pages. Hardcover; H 24.25cm x L 15.75cm. Dust jacket rubbed with minor nicking at edges; dj now presented in a mylar Brodart protector. Black cloth spine with vibrant copper stamped lettering, slate gray boards. A still fairly crisp near fine copy in a very good+ dust jacket with Grisham's signature on the half-title page. ISBN 0385472943.

Bookseller Inventory # INV-9792 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: New York et al: Doubleday, June 1996., 1996. First edition, first printing (per publisher's requisite statement and number line upon copyright page) SIGNED BY JOHN GRISHAM. [12], 401 pages. Hardcover: H 24.25cm x L 16cm. Dust jacket lightly rubbed, minor bumping at spine ends; dj now presented in a mylar Brodart protector. Black cloth spine, slate gray boards. Minor shallow bumping to top corners of pages 147-150 otherwise interior pages are bright and clean. Binding remains fairly crisp. A near fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with Grisham's vertically-orientated ink signature upon the half-title page. ISBN 0385472943.

Bookseller Inventory # INV-9806 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition, Limited Edition. Near Fine, black leather-bound first limited edition. Bottom corners of a number of pages middle of page block have been wrinkled and slightly creased apparently by a failed slipcase insertion. Sadly this copy is missing its slipcase and glassine wrapper. This is copy 153 of 350 such copies and is signed by Grisham on the limitation page. Signed by Author(s). Bookseller Inventory # ABE-1484346340747 ISBN 10: 0385472943 ISBN 13: 9780385472944 Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, New York, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. 1st Edition. As new copy of first edition, first printing.

Signed by author on tipped in bookplate on half title page. Near mint condition. Signed by Author(s). Bookseller Inventory # C1309 Published by Doubleday, NY (1996) Used Hardcover First Edition Signed Quantity Available: 1 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Doubleday, NY, 1996. Hardcover. Book Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition. TITLE: THE RUNAWAY JURY By JOHN GRISHAM 1996 signed copy AUTHOR: JOHN GRISHAM PUBLISHER - (LOCATION) /COPYRIGHT: Doubleday, NY 1996 EDITION: First Edition CATEGORY: First Edition, Signed .SIGNED: Yes, the half title page is signed by the author and appears to be 'To Jerrul - Best Wishes - John Grisham. BINDING/COVER: Hardback with dust jacket CONDITION: (All defects if any are formulated into pricing by ViewFair Books. If ViewFair Books miss any defects or highlights on any book/printings, our policy is to make immediate amends to any customer): The jacket is in real good condition. The book is in real good condition.

Book is without marks or writings, pages are clean, and book is tight and sturdy. Collectible copy. SIZE: 5 ½ x 8 ½ (approximately) PAGES: 401 pages Extra pictures located at the following: BACKGROUND/DESCRIPTION: Signed First Edition. Doubleday, NY 1996. Good (plus)/Good (plus) dust jacket condition. This action packed legal thriller, Runaway Jury, was made into a movie and directed by Gary Fleder which starred Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusak, and Rachel Weisz. The book is set in Biloxi, Mississippi where the landmark tobacco trial begins routinely, but then begins to swerve mysteriously off course as the jury begins to act strangely. The trial is being manipulated in some way, and, if so how, why, and by whom? COMPETITIVE PRICING! Once paid books will ship immediately without email notification to customer (it's on the way), you are welcomed to email about shipment date! REFUNDS: All ViewFair books, prints, and manuscript items are 100% refundable up to 10 business days after item is received.

InvCode E 129 H V VIEWFAIR BOOKS: 004320 Size: 9 ¼ x 6. Signed by Author(s). Book. Bookseller Inventory # 004320 Runaway Jury - Read expert reviews at epinions.com Runaway Jury Director Gary Fleder (THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, KISS THE GIRLS) tackles best-selling novelist John Grisham's tale of jury manipulation in RUNAWAY JURY. Jury consultant Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) can spin any jury in favor of his client. At least he always could before. But his latest job may turn out to be his most challenging. As an explosive civil case goes to trial in New Orleans, Fitch thinks he has arranged for the perfect jury and has the verdict sealed in favor of his clie... 34 Reviews Runaway Jury (Rental) (2003) Runaway Jury (Rental) (2003) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) Widescreen Aspect Ratio Action In or After Credits No NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here .

Plot Synopsis "Trials are too important to be left up to juries." ��� It must be one of the great filmmaking conundrums. Just why are the best selling novels of former lawyer turned author John Grisham so enormously popular, selling by the millions, yet when the same stories are translated to the screen, more often than not, the results are less than fulfilling? Consider examples such as The Pelican Brief , The Client , The Rainmaker, or The Chamber.� These are all films, which if not for the Grisham tag on the poster, would probably have sunk without a trace into the sea of mediocre crime/lawyer thrillers. The only efforts that I consider to have any redeeming qualities are two of his earliest novels, The Firm , with Tom Cruise and A Time To Kill with Matthew McConaughey, with the former even undergoing a massive rewrite of the climax to make it more filmable and exciting. Just why some of these adaptations have worked when most have failed is anyone's guess.

Apparently, several years ago, the lack of a successful film translation saw Grisham halt the sale of the film rights to his books and after 1997's disappointing The Rainmaker, it would be more than five years before another Grisham lawyer novel would make the transition to the screen. ��� It has been a long wait, but finally the time has arrived for a new Grisham novel to make its way to the screen. For my mind, Runaway Jury is certainly one of the more entertaining and readable of all the Grisham novels. It is in fact the only one I have read more than once (and I have read them all). It's got a tight and unique story, with a decent twist at the end. But it is the first half that I found to be the most intriguing - and it all revolves around the science that is jury selection. ��� The story all centres around a huge civil case. In this instance it is a case brought by a grieving widow against the manufacturer of a semi-automatic handgun that was used in a mass slaying which claimed the life of her husband. This could be a landmark case, since no person has ever brought a case against the gun industry and won.

What hope do they have this time? Especially when the defence has the ultra-experienced and win-at-all costs jury expert Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) on their side. ��� Well this time it is going to be different. The jury has been hijacked from the inside. A young man and woman with a hidden agenda have managed to effectively rig the jury. By gaining selection on the twelve person panel, the smooth and persuasive Nicholas Easter (John Cusack), with the aid of his girlfriend Marlee (Rachel Weisz), is plotting on steering the jury towards the right decision. The right decision in this case simply means which one of the two sides will be willing to hand over the most cash. The two young idealists must battle the plaintiff's lawyer on one side, the honourable and decent Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman), a man with high ideals and buckets of integrity, and someone who only begrudgingly plays along with this caper. On the other side is Rankin Fitch, an evil shyster who cares little for the common man and even less for the grieving widow of a murder victim.

He will stop at nothing to deliver a not guilty verdict for his client and has almost unlimited cash to throw around to ensure the verdict he wants. ��� Just like the novel, from the opening scenes this film cracks along at a fair pace as the jury selection process is examined and turned into an almost scientific procedure - fat single women make great defence jurors, as do ex-marines. Pick the right jury and the battle is as good as won is both sides' motto. But with the integrity of the jury compromised, the battle is on from both inside and outside to deliver a verdict. ��� The big plus here is the great cast. They keep the film ticking along quite nicely, with John Cusack putting in another flawless performance and the first ever on-screen encounter between stalwarts Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman being worth the price of a rental alone. Unfortunately, there are two elements of this film which let it down the most and again it is the need to differ from Grisham's source material which sees me grumbling. Firstly, the court case in the book was against the big tobacco industry, just like in The Insider.

All the elements of dirty tricks and foul play seemed right at home in the tobacco industry, and here it seems just a little too far fetched to be bringing a claim against a gun company. I mean it's a little idealistic, but guns don't kill people - people kill people, whereas cigarettes do kill people - and no arguments there. Secondly the ending has lost the delicious twist from the novel, which the first time around you will certainly not see coming until the last couple of pages. The climax in the film is signposted a good 15 minutes from the end and the whole thing basically runs of out steam from that point on. ��� Nonetheless, this is still a slick production, with a great cast and a solid screenplay that will not disappoint for an evening's entertainment. Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration . Transfer Quality Video ��� This transfer is offered in exactly the same aspect ratio as it was shown theatrically - 2.35:1. It is also 16x9 enhanced. ��� I was a little disappointed with the sharpness and detail level on offer here.

The whole thing has just the slightest tweak of softness and there is a little edge enhancement noticeable in several of the lower lit interior shots, especially in Nicholas Easter's apartment. Shadow detail also borders on being problematic as many of the same shots in the apartment are in very poor light. I suggest making sure the room is sufficiently darkened before viewing. There is virtually no grain and no low level noise . It's not a poor transfer, just a slightly less than perfect one. ��� The colours are fairly stock standard for the drab courtroom drama style of film. Blacks are deep and solid, and skin tones perfectly natural. ��� I saw no MPEG artefacts and there is no annoying shimmer or aliasing on any surface. Film artefacts are present, though not in overly excessive numbers. Apart from quite a large splotch at 117:20, they are mostly unnoticeable. ��� English for the Hearing Impaired are the only flavour of subtitles available, and after sampling these extensively I found them mostly accurate if perhaps a little small in size. ��� This is a dual layered disc which is formatted RSDL.

The layer change occurs incredibly late at 91:33 and is not what you would call perfect placement, as Gene Hackman's character pauses noticeably in mid stride right before a scene transition. Video Ratings Summary Overall Audio ��� The sole English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack which graces this disc is a pretty decent effort, offering a wide soundstage, albeit with only a little surround channel use, but it is the width of the dynamic range that is the most impressive element of this soundtrack. Despite being a dialogue focused film, the level of bass reached on occasion is quite impressive. ��� Dialogue levels are excellent and there are no audio sync problems. Unlike many of the previous John Grisham adaptations where the southern American accent and drawl dominates to the point of needing some interpretation, this effort is far milder on the ears. ��� Christopher Young's score is fairly typical of the courtroom thriller. ��� There is only a little surround use, but it really isn't the type of film to benefit from an over-the-top enveloping experience. The odd streetscape and outside noise are pretty much all you are likely to hear from the rears.

��� The subwoofer crops up on occasion to provide some deep ominous tones, especially whenever Rankin Fitch appears on screen. Audio Ratings Summary ��� The Region 1 disc misses out on: Nothing ��� An obvious victory to the Region 1 disc. We will wait for the full Region 4 sell through version to see if this imbalance is rectified. Summary ��� The cast is the glue that holds this tale together. John Cusack is watchable in just about anything these days, and the tantalising prospect of seeing old-timers like Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman going head to head in a scene for the first time is worth the price of a rental alone. As a fan of Grisham work's I really just wish they had left the story alone and retained the focus of the trial on the big tobacco industry and kept the twist at the end. ��� The video transfer is a little softer than I would have liked, though it is still mostly blemish free. ��� The audio retains much of the front channel focus of a dialogue based film, but does offer some nice bass response at times. ��� There are no extras.

Question: """Runaway Jury"" (2003), a film directed by Gary Fleder and starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman and Rachel Weisz, is an adaption of the book by which author?"
Answer: John Grisham