This movie is proof that certain directors can get the most out of their actors; others can't. Al Pacino can carry entire movies on his shoulders. He couldn't do that with this one, but "The Irishman," made only 2 years earlier, shows how at the hands of a master (Martin Scorsese), Pacino is utterly captivating.
In this one, Pacino's just good. His closing statement at the trial is the centerpiece of his performance, and it's fine. You can even forget that he's an octogenarian in real life. But the film ultimately feels strangely TV-movie-ish. The director might eventually develop beyond that, but for now it's Hallmark for him.
In this one, Pacino's just good. His closing statement at the trial is the centerpiece of his performance, and it's fine. You can even forget that he's an octogenarian in real life. But the film ultimately feels strangely TV-movie-ish. The director might eventually develop beyond that, but for now it's Hallmark for him.