Just Cause

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Just Cause

R,

1995,

1h 42m,

Drama

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Watchlist

27%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

27%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.

Critics Consensus

Just Cause you round up a phenomenal cast, that doesn't mean you have everything you need for a solid legal thriller -- and this film is forgettable proof.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 18, 2002

3/4

In Connery it has a hero who is inescapably appealing.

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Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Apr 12, 2002

Despite its merits, the script fails to escape the silly season that fouls up so many thrillers, that time when the twists merely seem like the narrative equivalents of those violin shrieks on a cheesy score.

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

Feb 13, 2001

2/5

It doesn't bog down in the bogs, but it's slow-moving just about everyplace else.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Nov 12, 2025

2.5/5

This has one of cinema's most ridiculously overwrought car chase relative to its general plot and pacing. It also has Ed Harris extracting every nutrient from this 100-calorie snack pack, which is entertaining unto itself.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 14, 2020

7/10

Paced like a courtroom drama, with a devious plot featuring an above-standard presentation of hunting for clues, uncovering conspiracies, and interrogating witnesses.

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Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

Mar 31, 2020

It'd be easy to just pop Just Cause in and enjoy it as a brisk thriller. But there are so many better thrillers out there to engage your adrenaline and your brain.

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Harry S

Apr 1, 2017

Its a great movie. The only reason people are giving it negative votes is because it shows us how much hypocrisy goes into political correctness. Today NO ONE DARES to have a black character be anything but a good guy. They certainly can't be a monster. This movie portrays people realistically, and people are angry.

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Poe W

Jan 16, 2017

Underrated thriller with a serious twist!

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Arne Glimcher

Director

Sean Connery

Paul Armstrong

Laurence Fishburne

Sheriff Tanny Brown

Kate Capshaw

Laurie Prentiss Armstrong

Blair Underwood

Bobby Earl

Ed Harris

Blair Sullivan

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51%

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Synopsis

Paul Armstrong (Sean Connery), a law professor who staunchly fights the death penalty, is lured into defending a death row inmate, Bobby Earl Ferguson (Blair Underwood), convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson is there due to a coerced confession at the hands of a snarling local sheriff (Laurence Fishburne). Armstrong starts to suspect that a psychotic serial killer (Ed Harris) may be the real culprit. But the deeper Armstrong gets, the more he realizes he doesn't know who's innocent at all.

Director: Arne Glimcher
Producer: Lee Rich, Arne Glimcher, Steve Perry
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.7M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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