Like old-fashioned movies and series?
“Presumed Innocent,” originally a 1990 movie featuring Harrison Ford, has been reimagined as an Apple TV+ limited series, taking on a distinctly old-fashioned, pulpy aura reminiscent of classic courtroom dramas that indulge in dramatic, unrealistic courtroom antics. The series stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor accused of murder, in a narrative that largely serves as light, escapist entertainment.
Presumed Innocent is one of my favorite legal films of all time. It’s honestly one of my favorite Harrison Ford performances of all time. It’s also an everlasting reminder of the brilliance of the late Raul Julia. But nearly 33 years after the film’s release, Apple is now… pic.twitter.com/7EoTkUNXqw
— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) June 11, 2024
This adaptation, penned by David E. Kelley—known for his contributions to various legal dramas since “L.A. Law”—and produced by J.J. Abrams, stretches Scott Turow’s novel across an eight-episode format. The series takes its time, perhaps too much so, delving into the courtroom aspect, which allows for a deeper exploration of Rusty’s family life and his complex relationships before the murder accusation disrupts his life.
Rusty is accused of murdering his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (played by Renate Reinsve), a woman with whom he admits to having an affair and an obsession. Despite his wife Barbara’s (Ruth Negga) belief in his innocence, the public trial forces Rusty’s infidelity into the spotlight, intensifying their personal drama with vivid flashbacks of their secret rendezvous.
It’s all about the mystery with Jake Gyllenhaal, the star and EP of Presumed Innocent let’s us know what drew him to the project.#tribeca2024 #jakegyllenhaal #appletv #presumedinnocent pic.twitter.com/oCm8bZHKiB
— Tribeca (@Tribeca) June 11, 2024
The cast includes high-profile names like Gyllenhaal, whose portrayal of Rusty is less sympathetic than Ford’s, Peter Sarsgaard as the eager prosecutor Tommy Molto, and Bill Camp as Raymond Horgan, Rusty’s former boss who steps in as his defense attorney. Despite the stellar cast, the performances sometimes feel exaggerated, as if each actor were instructed to “do it bigger.”
The first 2 episodes of #PresumedInnocent, a new limited series starring Jake Gyllenhaal, are now streaming on #AppleTV+ pic.twitter.com/fkBh6ZQWeG
— TV+Updates (@TVPlusUpdates) June 12, 2024
While the show is engaging thanks to its stylistic excesses and the complex plot, it struggles to fully justify the investment required to watch all eight episodes. As the series approaches its conclusion, which remains under wraps in the pre-release episodes, it continues to take creative liberties with the original material. The series, balancing between being critically compelling and overly dramatized, ultimately provides a mixed viewing experience that might not convincingly argue for its lengthy runtime.
Major Points
- “Presumed Innocent” has been adapted into a pulpy Apple TV+ limited series, diverging significantly from the 1990 film starring Harrison Ford.
- Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor accused of murder, in a series filled with dramatic and unrealistic courtroom scenes.
- The show, written by David E. Kelley and produced by J.J. Abrams, extends the narrative over eight episodes, focusing on Rusty’s complex family dynamics before the trial.
- Rusty’s affair and the subsequent murder accusation become public, intensifying personal drama and showcasing his troubled relationship through vivid flashbacks.
- Despite a star-studded cast and stylistic excesses, the series struggles to justify its length, leaving its ability to engage viewers consistently in question.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
