Trial by Jury

source: Trial by Jury

Armand Assante plays his stereotyped interpretation of a suave mob boss to perfection. He is also on trial for murder, and looking for an edge to counter some underhanded moves by the District Attorney. Threatening to kill a vulnerable juror's child Assante's intimidation works to perfection, but Joanne Whalley-Kilmer is haunted by hanging the jury. After the first half, which is all about the trial, the film shifts into revenge mode, and is more of a simple cat and mouse game. The trial scenes are somewhat better than what follows, and the conclusion is not only a real stretch of believability, but seems rushed. This is no blockbuster, but is totally watchable, and comes across as one of the better jury tampering types. - MERK

Trial By Jury isn't a bad movie or anything but it's fairly predictable and isn't really a must see. The best thing about the movie is Joane Whaley in the lead role. The similarities to "The Juror" have been noted here so I won't get into that. This movie is part court drama part wanna be thriller. I say "wanna be" because it's not that original. I'm not saying the movie doesn't scare because it does. I mean there are some genuinely creepy moments. But it's that try to scare type of fear, the type where you kind of respond automatically. I saw it on television and it does hold your Attention so it's not a bad pick for a lazy Sunday. Trial By Jury also, at least to me, felt a bit like a movie one would find on the lifetime network. (Not that I'm putting down the lifetime channel-I actually dig many of their movies.) But it has that feel. The acting is actually quite good and Whaley brings a Special something to the role. She's a very CLASSY actress and that does kind of elevate the movie. Her being in the lead role is definitely a strong point of the movie. The movie Trial By Jury is not a must see.(I'd rate it about a 5.5) but not unwatchable and good for watching on a rainy day or if you like courtroom dramas.

Four cops protecting a prosecutor's witness are all murdered by mob hitwoman Wanda (Kathleen Quinlan) and her team. Prosecutor Daniel Graham (Gabriel Byrne) is infuriated that his case against mob boss Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante) is disappearing. He scrambles to find a new witness. Single mom jury member Valerie Alston (Joanne Whalley) is threatened by ex-cop and mob henchman Tommy Vesey (William Hurt). It's a middling crime drama elevated by a few good actors. It's nothing to get excited about but it's a fine yarn. It starts with Kathleen Quinlan's unusual role. William Hurt gets to be a villain for awhile. Joanne Whalley may be a weak spot. One would hope for a rising star giving a standout performance. All in all, this is a run of the mill middling crime drama.

Two years after this movie was made, "The Juror" came out. Don't waste your time on this one. See "The Juror" instead. "The Juror" is essentially the same story as "Trial By Jury," with better acting, better directing and a far more gripping aura about it. William Hurt was not believable as a cop-gone-bad, and Armand Assante couldn't be more unlike a mob boss if they had dressed him in a clown outfit. You didn't become involved enough with Joann Whalley's character to be that upset by what was happening to her. Also, the way in which she interacted with the jury wasn't compelling or interesting in any way. Kathleen Quinlan's role as a hooker/killer wasn't fleshed out enough and quite frankly was unnecessary for to the plot.

"Trial by Jury" has one of those deeply interesting premises when you hear it sounds like something new, fresh and exciting. Trouble is that the script turns and the way the movie is conducted leaves something in the air that makes you feel deeply torn about what you've just seen. I've seen it a few times (enjoyed a little on my first view; didn't impress on my second; but now, it's an okay movie that I can recommend). The appeal is due mostly to the cast and some great sequences that doesn't fade away in your memory so easily. As I said, the story's premise is the main factor that pulls you in from the start. Valerie, an idealist woman (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) who firmly believes in the power of justice is selected for jury duty in this important cast involving a dangerous mobster, the menacing Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante, very good) who seems completely in charge of himself and the people around him despite facing a long-term prison for murder and other crimes. Pirone notices something in that particular female juror, and thus decides to ask to his comrades to find ways to get to the woman just to get one vote to unbalance the jury and the verdict, which will get him a new trial while the ambitious and dedicated prosecutor (Gabriel Byrne) doesn't uncover more evidences and more witnesses against the gangster. Meanwhile, Valerie has to deal with threats to her son's life and her own, on the hands of the mysterious Tommy Vesey (William Hurt), a man under Pirone's command and who pushes her to the limit in finding means to convince the jury that Pirone is innocent - even though the testimonies from the few witnesses already seem to convict the guy. If the plot sounds familiar to you is probably because you've already seen it the non-official remake with Demi Moore, "The Juror", which isn't a better film, it just works better with the thrills in a more memorable and frightening way. But somehow "Trial by Jury", over all these years was the one I always wanted to look back. It's classy, heavily dramatic in the sense that I cared about the characters (even the bad ones), a lot more than "The Juror" was. Despite the mediocre performance by the leading lady, I always liked the fact the script doesn't transform her into a super smart girl who finds all the means and answers to her problems - except for the very final scene with the mobster, that transition is just awfully hard to buy. She has the classic look Pirone admires when required, convinces a bit as a devoted mom but when it's all about serious things happening, she fails a bit. Another problematic aspect of the script, besides the slow development outside of the trial, deaths and threats sequences, is that we're not able to fully understand the real motive of the trial. They state that it was murder against a rival but it feels too cheap, more should be added and with more layers. While Byrne and Richard Portnow (as Pirone's talky lawyer, nice role by the way) conducts the whole circus with great presence, it's hard to understand the actual case because it's all torn in bits and pieces. Writers Heywood Gould (also the director) and Jordan Katz made it look too simplistic, just as much of the characters actions at times - why make the nice prosecutor such a clueless guy? With his character turned into a more investigate man, the twists and turns of the film would pay-off a lot more. As for the three main guys, Assante dominates the screen with great presence; Hurt makes an excellent use of his calm voice both to threat and to make sure to Valerie that, in some ways, he can help her; and Byrne makes a good job as Pirone's biggest nightmare - their scene at the restaurant is priceless. Mention must be made to Kathleen Quinlan as the sexy and killer lady from Rusty's team. Involving drama and average thriller, "Trial by Jury" succeeds a little even with that strange lack of balance. Not a bad way to spend the time. 7/10

Joanne Whalley-Kilmer plays your average single mom raising her young son Bryan Shillowich who gets picked for jury duty. But what a case, it's of mob boss Armand Assante who is a hands-on kind of guy, likes to be in on his hits as he gets some jollies out of it. In real life this jury would be sequestered, but Assante has had no problems getting to Whalley-Kilmer whom he has singled out as the weak link on the jury to possibly get them to acquit or even hang it at least. One of the people doing his bidding is a corrupt ex-cop played by William Hurt. As bad as he is Hurt does have a bit of a soft spot for Whalley-Kilmer. Trial By Jury is a rather overwrought drama with a cast that gives it their best, but is defeated by a most improbable story. Some of the courtroom scenes are pretty good though with Gabriel Byrne as the Assistant District Attorney. He's gotten a nice collection of jailhouse witnesses who even if they weren't getting cut some good deals to convict Assante might just do it on their own. Assante is feared, but he's hated just as much. For fans of the principal cast members, especially William Hurt.

I discovered this film while searching for laserdiscs. It's a good way to find forgotten gems. TBJ is a crime film that never becomes tiresome mostly due to the fantastic emotionally alluring portrayal of a single mom by Joanne Whalley. She's your average girl stuck in a mess with a megalomaniac king pin. Fortunately for the viewer her body is not average, giving her character that added, "I don't know I'm sexy" vibe. Armand Assante turns in a great performance as he easily puts out charm and terror with a simple stoic glance. The root of the film which is the two worlds colliding, gets delivered with believability. The real gritty hoots of the film are William Hurt playing a twisted x cop that still has remnants of good in him and the ever delectable Kathleen Quinlan as a quirky sot. I really liked the script. The seedy undercurrent feel that the film has is captured with words that give an inner chuckle and a solid outer grimace. Some courtroom antics are quite stagey but those scenes can be muscled through if you like the genre. TBJ is not a routine crime thriller and throws some very interesting entertainment punches.

Am I the only person that thinks this movie is waaaaay to similar to "The Juror" with Demi Moore? Let's see, let's start with jury intimidation, young son threatened, rape. I always thought this movie was a very good movie but I'm amazed that there is not a stronger association of the two movies in IMDB.

This improbable thriller about a woman juror (Whaley) who is kidnapped (and worse) in order to coerce her into voting to acquit a mob boss (Assante) who is on trial for murder, was better than I expected it to be. The plot is preposterous but the performances are excellent, particularly Hurt's as an alcoholic ex-cop who does part time work for the mobster. The appropriate time to watch this movie would be Saturday morning. Nevertheless, it is all right. I gave it a "6."