Too much of everything

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

She's been in a lot of movies. She's gorgeous. She's even acted well in most of her movies, but this is the best acting I've seen from her. Courtroom drama. Pretty canned, but interesting watching Kate do her thing. The story wasn't that important to me, but Nick Nolte did a great job being himself. Lots of clichés in this, but it held my interest enough to stick with a plot that involved crooked cops, a tricky defendant, even a judge that was a creep. Everything else was okay as far as movie making goes. Decent cinematography, editing, music. Nothing spectacular. The directing held up, but the story itself lacked the punch I think it could have had if they showed more detail of what happened from testimony. I guess that falls on the director. She was a flawed attorney with child visitation issues. That was really the story. Redeeming herself. I think this is an average movie that Kate Beckinsale raises a notch or two. Definitely worth a DVD or download/stream look see.

I thought this film was fairly engrossing and intriguing, but was marred somewhat by contrivances and some non-believable plot elements.Kate Beckinsale is quite captivating as Cate McCall, once a hot-shot and high priced attorney, but who has now been put on probation for alcohol and drug abuse. Part of her probation requires her to attend AA meetings, while another part calls for her to work pro bono for a Legal Aid type organization.She's given the appeals case of a young woman convicted of first degree murder and serving a life without parole sentence. Cate soon begins to unravel evidence that may show that her client was framed and may indeed be innocent.As the movie title suggests, Cate's trials are not all in the courtroom as she's struggling to gain sobriety from her addictions, as well as attempting to prevent her estranged husband from taking their young daughter to Seattle, for his new job. Additionally, a man she may have over zealously prosecuted, when she was with the DA's office years before, and who has recently be released from jail and declared innocent (after DNA testing), may be trying to stalk her.The supporting cast is very strong here, with the great veteran actor Nick Nolte portraying Bridges, himself a defense attorney in recovery and helping Cate as her AA sponsor. Another terrific veteran actor James Cromwell plays Federal judge Jason Sumpter, whose bent for womanizing appears to be affecting his judicial decisions. Finally, Anna Anissimova is chilling and effective as Lacey Stubbs, the woman whose murder appeals' case is being handled by Cate.I might mention there is no on screen showing of violence or sex here, but there is graphic and explicit testimony describing the above that is read during the movie.Overall this film written and directed by Karen Moncrieff (The Dead Girl, Blue Car), as mentioned, was marred somewhat by nonsensical plot elements, but I still remained engaged throughout, and I would say it is worth a watch.

"Even when people say terrible things you can't go with the evidence, you gotta go with your heart." Cate Mccall (Beckinsale) is a lawyer…or at least she was. She has fallen on hard times and is trying to get her life back together. In order to be reinstated to the bar and get her kid back she must complete a 12 step program and work on the appeal of a woman who is in prison for murder. What starts off as an easy case becomes more and more difficult with everything she uncovers. I was looking forward to watching this because I really love courtroom dramas. That said I liked this even more than I was expecting to. This is a movie that entirely sucks you in right away and you become deeply involved in Cate's life. You pull for her to get her daughter back and are upset when she takes a step back. The court case is also unbelievably interesting and keeps the movie that much more interesting. This is the kind of movie that gets you thinking one way and at the last minute throws you a twist that makes you look back at everything you saw and wonder if you missed something. I don't want to give anything away but I will say that the movie is hard to predict, which is what makes it so good. If you liked …And Justice For All you will love this movie. Overall, every now and then you watch a movie that sticks with you and you want everyone you know to watch it so you can discuss it with them. This is that movie. I give this an A.

First off, a confession. My wife watches a lot of LifeTime TV, and I, naturally, am forced to sit through a lot of it. Tonight I found myself more or less watching this movie, admittedly with one eye. The movie was almost half over before it really got my attention. The parts of the movie outside the courtroom are mostly dross, but what goes on inside the courtroom was interesting. Almost every member of the bar in this movie was committing judicial malpractice. I half expected the state bar association to come on screen at any moment and disbar the whole bunch. Exculpatory evidence was withheld by the prosecutor in the case. As a result, the judge dismissed the case against the defendant, even though the defendant was proved, later, to be guilty. So they put the defendant on trial again. Hello? Anyone ever hear of double jeopardy? Anyone ever hear of Brady v Maryland, where the Supreme Court ruled that prosecution withholding exculpatory evidence is grounds for acquittal? Pretty good movie that holds your attention if you are willing to suspend disbelief.