Just Cause

Starring:Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Capshaw, Blair Underwood, Ed Harris, Christopher Murray, Ruby Dee, Scarlett Johansson, Daniel J. Travanti, Ned Beatty, Liz Torres, Lynne Thigpen, Taral Hicks, Victor Slezak, Kevin McCarthy, Hope Lange, Chris Sarandon, George Plimpton, Brooke Alderson, Colleen Fitzpatrick
Director: Arne Glimcher
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Just Cause is a film that relies on phony plot twists and steals openly from any other thriller that it can remember. If there was a drinking game requiring players to drink during every cinematic "homage," you'd be tanked after Just Cause's first 45 minutes. Take one case of racial injustice, place it in an exotic, exquisitely photographed location (the Florida Everglades), and bring in an outsider, played by a bankable star, to save the day. Make sure nothing appears as it seems. Add a couple of plot twists, some over-the-top character actors (Ed Harris, shamelessly riffing on Hannibal Lecter), stir, and serve. The big name in this case is Sean Connery, who plays a Harvard law professor summoned to the swamps by an apparently innocent death row inmate (Blair Underwood), who swears he didn't rape and kill that 11-year-old girl. He says he confessed because maverick psycho-cop Tanny Brown (Laurence Fishburne) made him play a solo game of Russian roulette. He says his Serial-killer neighbor on death row (Harris) committed the crime. Connery buys it, the audience buys it, and how could they not? Director Arne Glimcher (who made the lackluster Mambo Kings) coerces everyone with simplistic plot manipulations. Characters are given no depth, and the actors are pawns moved about like pieces on a Clue gameboard. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

A Compelling Thriller.......2006-05-28

On the back of the case of this movie, it says that it's the best thriller since Silence of The Lambs; while I don't agree with that statement, Just Cause was a great thriller.

The first thing we think when a young black man is hauled to the local precinct for interrogation is police brutality. After all, sheriff Tanny Brown, and police officer Wilcox, show no mercy in beating Bobby Earl, who is accused of killing a young white girl. We feel horrified by what the officers do to the prisoner.

Then, the scene changes. Evangeline, Bobby Earl's grandmother is sent north to ask a distinguished Harvard professor, a retired lawyer, the young man wants Paul Armstrong to defend him. She old woman is convincing enough for Armstrong to take a look at the case. He is also convinced of the young man's innocence.

Things are not exactly what we thought they were. When Blair Sullivan, a man who is serving time in the same facility as Bobby Earl, comes forward to tell about how he is connected to the young girl's murder, and changes the dynamics of the case. The way it plays in the movie, it serves to confuse the viewer and distract Armstrong from arriving at the truth.

This thriller is made enjoyable by Sean Connery, who plays Armstrong. Laurence Fishburne, an intense actor, makes a fine impression as the Sheriff who, as far as we can see, is guilty of abusing his prisoner. Ed Harris has a wonderful opportunity to show why he is one of our best actors. Blair Underwood, Kate Capshaw, Ruby Dee and the young Scarlett Johansson are seen in supporting roles.

The film, even with its faults, will not disappoint.

Let alligators clean the plate.......2006-04-11

It could have been an excellent film if it had not turned a psychopath into a vengeful and spiteful singleminded human robot. The starting point was good. The man who had been convicted of a horrible crime and sentenced to die on the electric chair calls for the help of a Harvard anti-death-penalty law professor. He accepts under pressure from his wife who forgets to tell her husband something important. He discovers that justice in Florida means to manage to get convicted and sentenced to death someone whose guilt you are deeply convinced of, no matter what the evidence maybe and how illegal the procedure to get a confession had been. The real truth is going to emerge at the end. It is sordid and squalid and everything is nothing but a series of nasty consequences after the nasty first step on the road to dereliction and alienation. Though the film resembles a lot "Silence of the Lambs" it could have been perfect if they had not tried to turn it into a melodramatic mish-mash at the end. It is a lot more difficult to finish up a film than to start it. But it could have been at least as good as Seven but it wasn't. Yet it is a good thriller up to the last five minutes. One question though survives in our minds: what racial message is contained in this film, the main culprit being a black man? Is the series of crimes the proof that crime is inevitable as soon as it frinds some kind of a starting point? Yet who starts the whole series? Is a black man supposed to be seen as guilty as soon as we come across him because he is black and nothing else? And the black cop is definitely not better than the black criminal. Can we entrust police work to a black man? Etc. It is a shame in a way that the film is not clear on the racial question.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Universit? Paris Dauphine, Universit? Paris I Panth?on Sorbonne

Simplistic, & Proud of It........2006-01-29

I don't expect much from movies, and am seldom disappointed. Just Cause gave me much more than I expected because I thought it was over before it ended. It had petered out into a smelly Everglades methane swamp of political correctness, and I thought it was all over but the discreditable credits. Then Just Cause really began. It want from swamp gas to a film that's as sharp as a shiv.

Connery and Fishburne are good in both parts of the movie, smelly beginning and incisive end. Ed Harris's performance, however, is over the top and literally off the wall. It's a beautiful thing. (I'm usually offended that Hollywood tricks out its sickest sickos with the accoutrements of Christianity, something Hollywood knows it can get away with because Christians are too polite to riot & 'necklace' producers, directors, and actors. Having the Harris character declaim from the Book of Job, though, makes sense. It's ugly but honest, rather like Just Cause.)

Unjust Cause?.......2005-09-09

Not the best from either actor. Plot a bit thin but great for watching at 3a.m.

One of Connery's best movies.........2005-07-31

Hi..
I don't get why so many people didn't like this movie, and why is there all those negative reviews about the film ?
This film is just great, it has an interesting plot, great acting by all the stars and a good ending.
So don't you guys pay any attention to those negative reviews, this movie has it all.

I personally think that this is one of connery's best movies with an amazing performance by all especially connery !
And the scene where connery's character interviews Harris's character is one of my favourite scenes, quit memorable and thrilling !

This is a must BUY movie and is highly recommended !

Average customer rating:

Insomnia/Just Cause
Starring: Insomnia , and Just Cause
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Sean Connery Collection: Just Cause/The Man Who Would Be King/Outland

Average customer rating:

Sean Coonnery Co;;ection
Is Warner Brothers Cleaning House?

Sean Connery Collection: Just Cause/The Man Who Would Be King/Outland
Starring: Sean Connery , Michael Caine , Christopher Plummer , Saeed Jaffrey , and Doghmi Larbi
Director: John Huston , Peter Hyams , and Arne Glimcher
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Wind and the Lion
Sean Connery Collection (The Hunt for Red October - Special Collector's Edition / The Presidio / The Untouchables - Special Collector's Edition)
Soylent Green
Robin and Marian
Never Say Never Again

ASIN: B00006JMSY
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Customer Reviews:

Sean Coonnery Co;;ection.......2005-08-23

The collection was good except that audio for The Man Who Would Be King did not play on my dvd player. I returned it as soon as possiable

Is Warner Brothers Cleaning House?.......2002-10-15

Haven't seen "Just Cause" but "Outland" and "The Man Who Would Be King" were good (not great, good) movies that were TERRIBLE DVDs, they look like they were mastered from VHS cassettes!

OUTLAND--3 Stars for the movie, 1 star for the DVD

Sci-fi fans searching for an overlooked gem should check out "Outland". Taking place at a mining town on Io (Jupiter's moon), the new marshall (Sean Connery) discovers that the station is rife with corruption and sets to clean things up.

There are great performances by Connery, Peter Doyle, and Frances Sternhagen. The pacing is set for suspence and the story keeps you interested. But the things that stick and make this worth checking out are the sets and special effects (by the late, great John Stears of Star Wars fame). Criticized at the time for being too grimy, the station seems both realistic and otherworldly--not an easy trick to pull off. The production values for the film (especially the model and matte work) were stellar and stand up very well 20 years later. Throw in a great score by Jerry "Star Trek" Goldsmith and you have a winner.

Unfortunatly, the transfer quality of the DVD is astoundingly bad. It's hard to believe that Time-Warner could allow their names to go on this jittery, grainy, shaky, fuzzy transfer--faults that are especially obvious on the DVD. Peter Hymes (2010, Timecop, Capricorn One) may not be John Huston, but a movie that inspired Blade Runner and Frankie Goes To Hollywood deserves better treatment. Extras are skimpy too.

MAN WHO WOULD BE KING--4 stars for the movie 1 star for the DVD

The Man Who Would Be King is another overlooked gem. John Huston deserves his place in the pantheon of American Directors (you don't think so? See "The African Queen" or "Treasure of the Sierra Madre").

Adventure without violence, humor without irony, satire without cynicism (well, without much cynicism), you'll find yourself saying "they just don't make 'em like this anymore" about a hundred times; but the movie is only 27 years old! Huston captures Connery, Michael Caine, and Christopher Plummer at the top of their careers. It's an adventure flick, but it is also laugh-out-loud funny.

Again, though, the transfer looks and sounds horrible. There is no evidence of quality control. I've gotten better sound from broadcast television. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Extras are OK (lots of trailers).

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Compelling Thriller.......2006-05-28

Let alligators clean the plate.......2006-04-11

Simplistic, & Proud of It........2006-01-29

Unjust Cause?.......2005-09-09

Not the best from either actor. Plot a bit thin but great for watching at 3a.m.

One of Connery's best movies.........2005-07-31

Average customer rating:

A Compelling Thriller
Let alligators clean the plate
Simplistic, & Proud of It.
Unjust Cause?
One of Connery's best movies..

Just Cause [Region 2]
Starring: Sean Connery , Laurence Fishburne , Kate Capshaw , Blair Underwood , and Ed Harris
Director: Arne Glimcher
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Client
Rising Sun
A Time to Kill
Sleepers
The Name of the Rose

ASIN: B00004S5QO

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Compelling Thriller.......2006-05-28

Let alligators clean the plate.......2006-04-11

Simplistic, & Proud of It........2006-01-29

Unjust Cause?.......2005-09-09

Not the best from either actor. Plot a bit thin but great for watching at 3a.m.

One of Connery's best movies.........2005-07-31

Average customer rating:

Just Cause [Region 2]
Starring: Sean Connery , Laurence Fishburne , Kate Capshaw , Blair Underwood , and Ed Harris
Director: Arne Glimcher
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VYML

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Hitch Hike

The Beatles - A Long And Winding Road - Vol. 4 : DVD

The Early Films Of Peter Greenaway - Vol. 1 [1969]

DVD: Assault of the Party Nerds

Minder - Series 8 - Part 2 Of 4