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The Lincoln Lawyer
Mick Haller is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.
2011 · Directed by Brad Furman · 119 min · Crime · Drama · Thriller · Screenplay in the scene database · 7 frames
Tagline
This case is a dangerous game of life and death.
Plot
Criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller works in Los Angeles County, California, from the back of his black Lincoln Town Car, chauffeured by Earl Briggs. He typically works for low-end criminals including Eddie Vogel, leader of a biker gang. His ex-wife, Maggie McPherson, with whom he shares a daughter, is a district attorney who disapproves of his choice of clientele.
Haller is unexpectedly hired to represent Louis Roulet, a wealthy Beverly Hills playboy and the son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor. Roulet is accused of brutally beating prostitute Regina Campo, and surprisingly chose Haller specifically for the case. Haller and his investigator, Frank Levin, analyze photos and evidence and find similarities to a prior case where a prostitute was killed. Haller represented the defendant, Jesus Martinez, and due to the overwhelming evidence and in spite of Martinez's earnest proclamations of innocence, convinced him to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.
Haller visits Martinez, who becomes agitated when he shows him Roulet's photo. Haller realizes that Roulet is likely the killer. His own hands tied, Haller tells Levin to investigate Roulet. When he gets back home, he sees that someone broke into his house. He stumbles upon Roulet, who learned that Haller visited San Quentin earlier. Roulet nonchalantly admits to committing the murder for which Martinez was convicted, and that he chose Haller as counsel in order to bind Haller by attorney–client confidentiality rules and keep him from talking about either case. He also makes veiled threats towards Haller's daughter.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: John Romano
- Cinematography: Lukas Ettlin
- Edited by: Jeff McEvoy
- Music: Cliff Martinez
- Production design: Charisse Cardenas
- Produced by: Sidney Kimmel, Gary Lucchesi, Tom Rosenberg, Richard S. Wright
Cast
- Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller
- Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet
- William H. Macy as Frank Levin
- Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson
- Josh Lucas as Ted Minton
- John Leguizamo as Val Valenzuela
- Michael Peña as Jesus Martinez
- Bob Gunton as Cecil Dobbs
- Frances Fisher as Mary Windsor
- Trace Adkins as Eddie Vogel
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Lionsgate, Lakeshore Entertainment, Stone Village Pictures
- Budget: $40,000,000
- Box office: $85,412,898
- Themes: california, prostitute, based on novel or book, judge, attempted murder, video surveillance, jury, playboy, private investigator, lawyer
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