SYNOPSIS
Eager young reporter C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) loves his job but wants a big story to really reach the big time. He also wants to romance assistant D.A. Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn). Then he follows his gut feeling to the big story that he needs: proving that district attorney Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas) is planting DNA evidence to secure his convictions. C.J. realizes the only way to get proof is to catch Hunter in the act, so he crafts a daring plan-- frame himself for a murder.
CRITIQUE
Sometimes I envy the movie audiences of past decades. Not only did they get to experience films that are now classics in theaters while we can now only really see them on the small screen, but think about what it must have been like, for example, to see a twist ending used for the first time. Sometimes, today’s moviegoers get a remake of a past film, though, and this movie is one example. Lacking the necessary narrative force and pacing for true suspense, the good direction and sometimes good performances don’t make Beyond a Reasonable Doubt a good film.
In 1956, the original Beyond a Reasonable Doubt from director Fritz Lang was released. Remaking a film is always a dodgy proposition, and this one unfortunately proves why. The central conflict of whether or not C.J. will succeed in his dangerous idea is never really presented in a thrilling way. This is not only because we know that the good guy in a movie always wins in the end but because the sequences that are supposed to be the most tense here fall flat. The rush that C.J.’s colleague (Joel David Moore, now in much better fare with Avatar) goes through to get the evidence of C.J.’s innocence gets him followed and killed by one of the bad guys-- SORRY to spoil the plot-- creates no real sense of urgency and seems unnecessary because had they played it cooler and waited until the next day, the plan might have come off the way they wanted. Ella’s standoff with the same henchman is a bit silly, too.
The actors create a better impression than the script. Douglas is a welcome, veteran presence who knows exactly what to do with Hunter. Metcalfe, the eye candy from Desperate Housewives (and the original Miguel on the now-defunct NBC soap Passions), actually proves to have more talent than you might expect, but casting Tamblyn opposite him was a mistake. First, she is too young for the role, and second, they don’t truly generate any chemistry together. I’ve always found her an underwhelming performer as a whole, too. I am sorry to see director Hyams, usually so competent, stumble here, but he does do enough with the direction here to keep interest in what he does next.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is hindered from becoming truly suspenseful by a flawed script, even despite some performances and direction that deserve better.
THE VIDEO
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is presented in anamorphic widescreen. There are no technical problems, either in picture or color, with the transfer from the theatrical print.
THE AUDIO
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Optional subtitles are offered in English and Spanish.
THE EXTRAS
Audio Commentary with writer/director/cinematographer Peter Hyams and actor Jesse Metcalf: It alternates between mildly interesting and boring, as Hyams does reveal some directory things like camera apertures and lighting, and Metcalfe interjects sparingly with praise of co-workers. They talk about various things like actors in bit parts and where the characters’ names came from without generating any real engagement with the listener.
The Whole Truth- The Making of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: This extra is basically the filler, “let’s promote the film” behind-the-scenes doc. The main cast members and Hyams all give interviews, but it is really only worth one viewing.
Criminal Forensics- The Burden of Proof: Another short featurette, this time an interview with a retired police detective who discusses the use of forensics in cases. It’s interesting that he says at the end that it is possible that the falsifying of evidence shown in the film could happen.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt undoes the quality generated by some good performances and direction with a mostly flawed script. There is unfortunately very little that is thrilling or suspenseful about the film, and the valiant efforts made in the bonus features to assert otherwise don’t change that. If you are a zealous fan of any of the actors involved here or of Hyams, you might want to rent or buy this film; otherwise the rest of us can skip it.
