Criminal Law (1988) Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Dir: Martin Campbell

[An4h0ny]

Former prosecutor Ben Chase (Gary Oldman) has switched sides in the courtroom, now serving as a defense attorney in a high profile case at the center of which is Martin Thiel (Kevin Bacon), an educated rich kid on the hook for murder. Chase convincingly argues that the prosecution's eyewitnesses are hardly reliable in their accounts. He wins the case. Martin is set free. Soon thereafter, however,

[Show spoiler]Ben receives a call from Martin who pulls him deep into his world when, on a dark and stormy night, Ben stumbles upon a murder victim, bound and badly burned. He calls the authorities, but he's reluctant to state how, or why, he came into contact with the body, leaving Detective Mesel (Joe Don Baker) suspecting Ben to be mixed up in the death. Now, Chase must traverse deep into Martin's realm in hopes of exposing him before the body count rises any further.

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Just watched this and really liked it. Some parts are a mess but it ends up working pretty well. This film is trying to be a Legal Thriller and a Horror movie at the same time. It almost works.

Some of the plotting is a little dense but it does hold up in the wash.

Gary Oldman is a monster of an actor. His hair alone should have won an award.

Also some really nice cinematography in this.

Plus... Joe Don Baker!