What makes it different from others?

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

'Find me Guilty' recounts the story of the longest Mafia trial of US's history, the judgment of the Lucchese crime family. In particular, Jack DiNorscio (played by Vin Diesel), who refused to rat on his partners and defended himself in the trial.Very well directed and made, with most of the dialogue taken directly from the trial's transcripts, 'Find me Guilty' finds Sidney Lumet back to the familiar territory of courtroom drama. Despite being overly long (maybe as an attempt to recreate the overly length of the trial itself), the film profits from a surprising turn from Vin Diesel, whom I never thought could be believable as a serious actor, and a very convincing cast for the other gangsters.It is no surprise that Sidney Lumet, who previously did great courtrooms like '12 Angry Men' and 'The Verdict', directed this. He was a very good director, and the direction was never a weakness of his films.However, just like in those two, Lumet once again takes a chance to attack the legal system.Lumet once again vilifies the legal system as 'a system that offends common sense' (like a famous critic said). However, whereas the other mentioned films find a way to work well to validate such criticism, Lumet seems to have finally thrown discretion away in 'Find me Guilty', where he makes real criminals seem like innocent guys unjustly victimized by the system (something he also did before in other films like 'Dog Day Afternoon').Yes, they truly did end up with a 'not guilty' verdict and the courtroom dialogue is true, but Lumet goes out of his way to show the gangsters as nice guys and manipulates the viewer into sympathizing with them; the non-courtroom dialogue, for example, which is created for the film. How can one twist things in such a way, using REAL CRIMINALS as if they were innocents as a way to condemn the LAW SYSTEM for going against them?The real good gangster films, like 'The Godfather' trilogy or Scorsese's, never try to show them as 'nice guys' like Lumet does here!Moreover, the district attorney is shown as an evil, almost sadistic person who is impossible to like. The ludicrous attack by the defense, implying or outright saying that the trial is nothing but a waste of the taxpayer's money (a point Lumet seems to reinforce) and the focus on how weak the evidence was only further show how terribly biased Lumet is.This is easily the last nail in the coffin of Lumet's morality. His obsession with making criminals seem like good guys, and law enforcers seem bad, always made me suspect him of having a questionable sense of morality (to say the least). 'Find me Guilty' truly proves his guilt.It is a good film from a technical standpoint, with very good acting and directing. As any gangster film, it is never truly bad to watch. However, its terrible message keeps me from enjoying it fully or giving it a good rating.

That film was just right. It depicts the U.S. Criminal justice as it was back then and as it is now. For me this is a 10/10. The end was the best part of the film. Jackie's love for the people around him really made him the centrally humble character that he is and really depicted the plight of The Italian Americans in that court room and arguably Italian Americans in general. The film is based around love thy neighbour and displaying the true strength and core of loyalty that could shake any institution's beliefs and morals for a positive and moral outcome. There wasn't really much Jackie asked for apart from love and the feeling of being accepted by the people around you for what you really are. Thankyou.

Sidney Lumet remains, as he was, the master of the courtroom drama. But was Vin Diesel this good all along, or was it Lumet who dragged this performance out of him? Diesel delivers a character who's creepy, offensive, funny, moving and lovable.Find Me Guilty is not quite on the same level as 12 Angry Men, or the rest of Lumet's incredibly impressive filmography from the 50's, 60's and 70's, but it's compelling, entertaining and highly intelligent, and keeps the viewer in all the way through, thanks to a top notch script, and Diesel's wonderful performance. A courtroom drama this good, this entertaining and effective hasn't been seen since A Few Good Men.

Early on in his career, Vin Diesel has been cast as the Arnold Schwartznegger for the iPod generation. The range required for these types of roles is strictly limited; all these guys need to do is act tough in the face of a lot of violence and spit off a few good one-liners. However, actors who have made their mark on Hollywood in one type of role get the urge to stretch their talents in new directions. Sometimes this fails, but sometimes it succeeds. This is one of the latter.This is the story of the longest criminal trial in US history. Dozens of members from all ranks of the Lucchese crime family are on trial for a number of crimes. The prosecution, led by Sean Kierney (Linus Roache) thinks its totally prepared. But then one of the charged, Jackie DiNorscio (Vin Diesel) throws them all a fast one: he decides to defend himself (at this point it should be known that those who defend themselves rarely win). And let's just say that his style is completely at odds with normal courtroom behavior.Vin Diesel is a revelation. Even in his action roles there was always a hint of something more than an Arnold Schwartzenegger type. This is the first chance Diesel has gotten a chance to show it, and I'm surprised that he didn't earn at least a Golden Globe nomination. He's funny, yet there is a lot of depth to the character as well, and Diesel nails it. There are of course co-stars, but this is Diesel's show. Linus Roache is solid as the prosecutor, but he just doesn't have the screen presence that the other actors, especially Diesel, have in order to take his share of the spotlight. Peter Dinklage is terrific as the short Ben Klandis, who's on hand to give advice to Jackie. Dinklage has become one of the most reliable character actors in Hollywood, and this is another great performance. The late great Ron Silver has some funny moments as the judge, but he also has a heart.Director Sidney Lumet has a spotty career. He's directed a number of classics, such as "12 Angry Men," but he's had his share of duds (like his most recent film, "Befor the Devil Knows You're Dead"). Lumet's approach is standard and character based. The problem with that is the only times the film (and Diesel) really come alive is in the courtroom. Diesel holds his own in the non-courtroom scenes, but there's just no energy in them and they become a little dull.The film flopped, and while unfair, it's understandable (this is not exactly typical fare for Diesel's usual fans, and it's not good enough for the "film lovers" who only venture outside the norm when films are endorsed by the almighty Oscar). It's a good film, but not a classic.My rating: Rated R for Pervasive Strong Language and Some Violence.