Primal Fear (1996) (original) (raw)
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Original title
Primal Fear
Year
1996
Running time
131 min.
Country
United States
Director
Screenwriter
Cast
Music
Cinematography
Producer
Genre
Mystery. Drama | Courtroom Drama / Lawyers
Synopsis
In Chicago, an Archbishop has been brutally murdered, and a sweet-faced altar boy named Aaron -- who was seen fleeing the scene of the crime and whose clothes were soaked in blood -- is charged with the crime. Aaron claims he was present when the murder occurred, but that he is not the killer. Coming to Aaron's rescue in this high-profile case is Martin Vail, a cocky lawyer who loves the media's spotlight as much as he loves his job. The legal road ahead of Martin and Aaron is filled with many obstacles, including a very determined prosecuting attorney (who's Martin's ex-lover), revelations about the Archbishop's "relationship" with the altar boys, and Aaron himself, who has a very violent, repugnant second personality named Roy. Is Aaron/Roy guilty? Or is he taking the fall for someone else?
Rankings Position
- #146 Best Mystery Films
Awards
1996: Nominated for Oscar: Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
1996: Nominated for BAFTA Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
1996: Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
1996: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Supporting actor (Norton)
1996: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Most Promising Actor (Edward Norton). 2 Nom.
1996: Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Norton)
Critics' reviews
- "A tight courtroom melodrama that serves up twist after twist (...) this film handles its suspenseful material with skill and style"
- "You'd get more of a jolt from Angela Lansbury on "Murder, She Wrote" and more intellectual stimulation from a cozy game of Clue"
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Ranking Lists Position
- 40 Movies with the Best Endings (204)
- 60 My Favorite Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Movies (171)
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