Watch of the Week: Presumed Innocent
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- August 10, 2024
Throughout the 1990s, courtroom dramas and comedies ruled theatres across the country. They presented a perfect date night activity and were so common that you rarely needed to give it your full attention. The best of these movies, The Pelican Brief, My Cousin Vinny, and The Firm, became iconic in their own right. Presumed Innocent returns to our lives in a very different era than its last adaptation. Now, the courtroom stories have shifted to television, where Jury Duty, American Crime Story, and Big Little Lies now live. Presumed Innocent proves David E. Kelley’s prowess once more and concludes with thunderous applause.
Presumed Innocent, based on the novel by Scott Turow, follows the murder of Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). She worked for the Chicago district attorney, so when police are called to the scene, her colleagues are responsible for finding the killer. Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets the first crack at the case. However, Rusty gets replaced on the case after he cannot find the killer, and a local election pushes out his ally Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp). Soon, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard) puts together pieces that Rusty and Carolyn conducted an extramarital affair. Rusty becomes suspect number one, and as the evidence builds, Molto has him arrested for Carolyn’s murder.
Once again, the story is primarily told from Rusty’s point of view, but as the case develops, Kelley ensures that we cannot trust him. Tacking on additional ideas and subplots, Kelley wisely wrings every ounce of drama from the events. For fans of the original book and movie, there are subtle hints and nods towards the well-known finale. Yet, at the same time, there are moments that dissuade the audience from that idea, instead pushing us toward a different ending. Whether you can expect the same ending will not be answered in this review, and Kelley keeps you in suspense throughout.
Additionally, Kelley’s prowess in the genre allows him to effectively play the best versions of every trope. The defense attorney comes out of retirement for one last case. The defendant takes the stand. The prosecutor’s personal grudges get in the way of his ability to see things clearly. The judge gets to infuse enough of their personality into the case. It’s like drinking warm soup on a cold day, and Presumed Innocent thrives when it overperforms in every aspect of this story.
It’s rare to see the best take on projects so in their wheelhouse, but Kelley assembles an all-star cast for his series. Gyllenhaal arrives ready to get painted as a dirtbag and leans on all his charisma throughout the series. It’s arguably the best use of his movie-star status in some time, and he makes for an incredible “Love to Hate” character. The only actor more in their wheelhouse is Sarsgaard, who blows everyone away with his smarmy performance. The two make for incredible foes throughout the series. With news of a second season in production, one cannot help but grow excited for one (or both) to return in the future.
However Ruth Negga as Rusty’s wife, Barbara, steals the show. She delivers a powerful foil to Rusty as she tries to save the marriage time and time again. Presumed Innocent gets incredible mileage over their disputes with each other. However, in the quiet moments, she brings so much pathos and gravitas to the show that you cannot help but root for her. Her performance, especially in the finale, raises Presumed Innocent to incredible highs.
Reinsve shows incredible range in her few scenes. She continues to showcase incredible ability and range in every role. Camp brings his usual brilliance to Presumed Innocent, and pairing him with his real-life wife, Elizabeth Marvel, adds an incredible element to his story. O-T Fagbenle takes a giant performative swing that works through most of the show but certainly frustrates some.
The only problem facing Presumed Innocent stems from its length. Even with most episodes falling under fifty minutes, eight episodes is still too many. At times, the story burrows into ideas that do not ultimately matter for the show. It’s fine to have misdirected, but these felt strenuous, even in this context. However, it’s also just fun to watch Kelley work his magic. Television allows for comfort watches in ways movies cannot always replicate. Presumed Innocent thrives with its stellar cast and top-notch writing. In many ways, it’s one of the best shows of 2024. It rarely reaches true highs, but it never dips in quality over the eight episodes. Frankly, that’s a huge win for audiences.
Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.
