Find Me Guilty Movie Review:


The guiltiest distraction in Find Me Guilty, the true life court room drama from the great filmmaker Sidney Lumet, is the terrible wig that star Vin Diesel dons throughout. Diesel portrays mobster Jackie DiNorscio, who with twenty of his close mafia buddies was a part of the longest criminal trial (21 months) in U.S. history. DiNorscio was a member of the notorious Lucchese crime family of New Jersey, whom were taken to trial in the 80’s by a ruthless and perfectionist District Attorney named Sean Kierney (Linus Roache).

DiNorscio was already serving a 30 year sentence for a cocaine deal gone wrong when he was called to the trial. Kierney in fact offers DiNorscio a deal to cut down his sentence if he testifies against his friends. DiNorscio immediately denies stating that he will never rat out his own. Due to the embarrassing work of his last attorney and the aide of a knowledgeable one named Ben Klandis (Peter Dinklage), with a sixth grade education DiNorscio defends himself through the entire trial. To the disgust of not only Kierney, the trial’s fiery judge (Ron Silver) and his fellow mob buddies, DiNorscio becomes a comedic show for the jury by claiming that he is a gagster and not a gangster. Most everyone believes that DiNorscio has fell off the deep end, but soon all of their minds change once the jury begins chuckling along with him.

Find Me Guilty is the long awaited return to the film medium by the great Sidney Lumet, who has directed other great court room films such as 12 Angry Men and The Verdict. Lumet is very comfortable with this atmosphere and his patience movement throughout the trial in Find Me Guilty is commendable. The film’s comedy and drama are also balanced effectively throughout by the veteran filmmaker.

Lumet co-wrote the script with writers T.J. Mancini and Robert McCrea. The film at times seems flat with its dialogue and rushed acceptance (these guys are Mafia members), but the script for the most part works. A majority of the courtroom dialogue was taken from the court transcripts themselves, the final courtroom scenes are were the film comes together and ultimately wins the audience over. Jackie is a gagster, though some of antics seem repeatable and perhaps left out, since the film is only two hours and the trail lingers for nearly two years. The characters for the most part are all fleshed out, with like most mafia genres, the supporting ones being more interesting than the central character. If this film was not based on a true story, it would be very hard to accept, even with Lumet’s solid work or the light nature of similar courtroom film like My Cousin Vinny.

This is Vin Diesel’s best work in years; he however does not come close to knocking it out of the park. It seems that Lumet would have cast a different type of actor, Diesel pulls if off, but barely. Many of his choices and cues are consistent, but repetitive. Of course his delivery is very likeable, and he when angered he becomes a striking giant. Diesel gained weight for the role and is nearly unrecognizable, but the heavy wig that he wears just looks like something thrown under the bus by a bad stage production. The wig itself is the real annoyance, not his performance. Perhaps Diesel can build on this body of work and continue to grow as an actor, not a movie star. Ron Silver is content as the judge of the case and though of the top at times over the top, Linus Roache makes a good slime ball as the opposing D.A. The great Peter Dinklage (the dwarf character actor from The Station Agent) is wonderful as Diesel’s advisory lawyer friend. However, the scene stealer of this film, which might earn her an Oscar nomination in only ten minutes of screen time, is the wrenching performance by Annabella Sciorra as Diesel’s torment wife. Her character arrives after a modest seventy-five minutes into the film and she delivers an emotionally striking performance that you will be remembering long after the credits roll.

Find Me Guilty is a goofy movie, but it also amusing and well made by Sidney Lumet. If this story was not a true story, no one audience would buy it. The casting of Diesel is also questionable, but Lumet brings the best out him with his dramatic and comedic acting. There are good reasons to see Find Me Guilty; to see the great Sidney Lumet back in the directing chair, but also the very exceptional acting of Annabella Sciorra.

Bailey Henderson

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