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Criminal Law

Play trailer Poster for Criminal Law R,  1988,  1h 57m,  Crime/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 30% 10 Reviews Tomatometer 27% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
30% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 27% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Up-and-coming Boston attorney Ben Chase successfully defends wealthy Martin Thiel on the charge of a particularly vicious murder. Within 24 hours, another similarly styled murder occurs -- with a new twist that allows Chase to realize he has allowed a guilty man to run free. Chase is startled when Thiel contacts him, requesting he defend him again. Recklessly agreeing in order to gather evidence against Thiel, Chase is soon dragged into the killer's twisted game.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
Criminal Law is a textbook example of a movie going wrong before our very eyes, because of the curious failure of the filmmakers to realize that you can toy with an audience only so long before the audience grows resentful. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Mar 14, 2025
1/4
...a seemingly foolproof premise that’s employed to uninvolving and underwhelming effect by Campbell... Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Nov 17, 2012
C
The pretentious psychological thriller has nothing worth saying about the American criminal justice system. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 27, 2005
3/5
Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Dec 21, 2004
2/5
Nicolas Lacroix Showbizz.net Dec 2, 2003
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Abraham R Mar 21, 2019 A tense prototype for a lot of thrillers than came later. Oldman and Bacon are brilliant.
Jan 19, 2019 liked it, Kevin Bacon and Gary Oldman are always a safe bet for good performances.
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Criminal Law

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Martin Campbell

Director

Gary Oldman

Ben Chase

Kevin Bacon

Martin Thiel

Karen Young

Ellen Faulkner

Tess Harper

Det. Stillwell

Joe Don Baker

Det. Mesel

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Criminal Law

Criminal Law (1988) Criminal Law (1988) Criminal Law (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Up-and-coming Boston attorney Ben Chase successfully defends wealthy Martin Thiel on the charge of a particularly vicious murder. Within 24 hours, another similarly styled murder occurs -- with a new twist that allows Chase to realize he has allowed a guilty man to run free. Chase is startled when Thiel contacts him, requesting he defend him again. Recklessly agreeing in order to gather evidence against Thiel, Chase is soon dragged into the killer's twisted game.
Director
Martin Campbell
Producer
Ken Gord, Hilary Heath, Robert K. MacLean
Screenwriter
Mark Kasdan
Production Co
Northwood Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Surround
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