Anatomy of a Murder Movie Review:


Preminger shows a willingness to shake up the status quo with this trial drama--it feels bracingly realistic, and even 45 years later has the power to grip us tightly. Packed with astonishing dialog and bristly performances, this is essential cinema.

Paul Biegler (Stewart) is a small-town Michigan lawyer who agrees to defend a young soldier, Manion (Gazzara), who killed the man who raped his wife (Remick). The trial pits Biegler against a shrewd big-city DA (Scott) and a visiting judge (McCarthy hearing lawyer Welch) who's both smart and witty. Surprise witnesses, back-hallway dealings, unexpected flirtations, outrageous revelations--they're all here, although the truth always seems just out of reach.

This is expert filmmaking--beautifully shot and brilliantly written with a complexity and a sense of detail that we rarely see anymore. Yes, it's a very long film, but it's so compelling that we hardly feel the time passing. Characters are all layered and fascinating, with dark shadings and hilarious asides. Even the side roles have a life of their own. And the entire cast is flawless. This is one of Stewart's most intriguing characters, and Remick's flirtatious minx is unforgettable (Jodie Foster's Oscar-winning role in The Accused, 30 years later, is a direct copy). The film was nominated for awards across the boards, but won very few--probably due to the film's controversially frank approach. One award it did win, and rightfully so, was a Grammy for Duke Ellington's gorgeous jazz soundtrack.

In addition to technical and artistic excellent, the plot itself is utterly engaging. Sexual tension gurgles everywhere, along with a constant threat of violence and a gnawing dread that the truth will never emerge, regardless of what the jury decides. Preminger brings an assured gravitas to the screen as he explores the complexity of humanity--no one is all good or all bad. He intriguingly avoids the lawyer's opening and closing arguments and only shows the string of witnesses--just the facts, as it were--while quietly turning the screw tighter and tighter until the final subtle surprise. Perfection.



Rich Cline

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