Rodrigo Amaro "Trial by Jury" has one of those deeply interesting premises when you hear it sounds like something new, fresh and exciting. Trouble is that the script turns and the way the movie is conducted leaves something in the air that makes you feel deeply torn about what you've just seen. I've seen it a few times (enjoyed a little on my first view; didn't impress on my second; but now, it's an okay movie that I can recommend). The appeal is due mostly to the cast and some great sequences that doesn't fade away in your memory so easily. As I said, the story's premise is the main factor that pulls you in from the start. Valerie, an idealist woman (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) who firmly believes in the power of justice is selected for jury duty in this important cast involving a dangerous mobster, the menacing Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante, very good) who seems completely in charge of himself and the people around him despite facing a long-term prison for murder and other crimes. Pirone notices something in that particular female juror, and thus decides to ask to his comrades to find ways to get to the woman just to get one vote to unbalance the jury and the verdict, which will get him a new trial while the ambitious and dedicated prosecutor (Gabriel Byrne) doesn't uncover more evidences and more witnesses against the gangster. Meanwhile, Valerie has to deal with threats to her son's life and her own, on the hands of the mysterious Tommy Vesey (William Hurt), a man under Pirone's command and who pushes her to the limit in finding means to convince the jury that Pirone is innocent - even though the testimonies from the few witnesses already seem to convict the guy. If the plot sounds familiar to you is probably because you've already seen it the non-official remake with Demi Moore, "The Juror", which isn't a better film, it just works better with the thrills in a more memorable and frightening way. But somehow "Trial by Jury", over all these years was the one I always wanted to look back. It's classy, heavily dramatic in the sense that I cared about the characters (even the bad ones), a lot more than "The Juror" was. Despite the mediocre performance by the leading lady, I always liked the fact the script doesn't transform her into a super smart girl who finds all the means and answers to her problems - except for the very final scene with the mobster, that transition is just awfully hard to buy. She has the classic look Pirone admires when required, convinces a bit as a devoted mom but when it's all about serious things happening, she fails a bit. Another problematic aspect of the script, besides the slow development outside of the trial, deaths and threats sequences, is that we're not able to fully understand the real motive of the trial. They state that it was murder against a rival but it feels too cheap, more should be added and with more layers. While Byrne and Richard Portnow (as Pirone's talky lawyer, nice role by the way) conducts the whole circus with great presence, it's hard to understand the actual case because it's all torn in bits and pieces. Writers Heywood Gould (also the director) and Jordan Katz made it look too simplistic, just as much of the characters actions at times - why make the nice prosecutor such a clueless guy? With his character turned into a more investigate man, the twists and turns of the film would pay-off a lot more. As for the three main guys, Assante dominates the screen with great presence; Hurt makes an excellent use of his calm voice both to threat and to make sure to Valerie that, in some ways, he can help her; and Byrne makes a good job as Pirone's biggest nightmare - their scene at the restaurant is priceless. Mention must be made to Kathleen Quinlan as the sexy and killer lady from Rusty's team. Involving drama and average thriller, "Trial by Jury" succeeds a little even with that strange lack of balance. Not a bad way to spend the time. 7/10

rhill-770-504848 This film is so much better than The Juror. William Hurt is outstanding as a conflicted man, Kathleen Quinlan is amazingly creepy in her role, the tension between Joanne Whalley-Kilmer and the others, Armand Assante in particular, is emotional and well done. You will feel her isolation and fear. You will feel Gabriel Byrne's frustration as he tries to catch the mob boss and and work within the law only to have the legal system perverted by the influence of that mob. You will see how his character, who grew up with the mobster (Assante) could easily have gone in that direction. It has a great supporting cast with people like Joe Santos, Ed Lauter and Margaret Whitton. The film is also done in a film noir style. If you like classy films, you'll love it.

ccthemovieman-1 More often that not, I'll call a movie overrated, but this one, I think, is underrated. It features solid acting and a very involving story. There isn't as much violence as most modern-day crime movies and that's fine because this story doesn't need it. The profanity is also lower-than-normal. All that's missing is better cinematography.Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Armand Assante, Gabirel Byrne and William Hurt all make this interesting and provide good performances. This is a good attention-diverting movie that is a good "date movie," too. It's tense without a ton of the usual overdone violence and profanity.

Claudio Carvalho In New York, Valerie Alston (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) is a single woman, who has a small son and is the owner of a store of clothes. She is convoked to participate of the jury of the trial of the mobster Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante), who will be judged for several murders. In the eve, the key witness of the prosecutor Daniel Graham (Gabriel Byrne) was executed with the four police officers that were protecting him by Pirone's men. Meanwhile, the ex-cop Tommy Vesey (William Hurt), who also works for Pirone, threatens Valerie, menacing to kill her son if she does not claim that Pirone is not guilty. "Trial by Jury" is not a bad movie, but it could have been a great film-noir. The first three-quarters of the story are indeed excellent. But there are two weaknesses in this film: the first one is the performance of Joanne Whalley-Kilmer. The character of Valerie lives a terrible dramatic dilemma and a very conflictive situation between her consciousness and the request of the mobster, and demanded a more expressive actress. Unfortunately, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer keeps the same expression in the most different situations along the story. The second weak point is the conclusion of the story, which is too much "Hollywoodian" to be credible. Anyway, this film is a good entertainment. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Tribunal Sob Suspeita" ("Tribunal Under Suspicion")