Bearing little resemblance to the 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford, Presumed Innocent has been adapted into an Apple TV+ limited series. This update features an old-fashioned, pulpy feel reminiscent of classic courtroom dramas, complete with dramatic flourishes that don’t often occur in real trials. Anchored by Jake Gyllenhaal
, this series functions as a typical check-your-brain-at-the-courthouse-steps exercise
.
A New Yet Familiar Courtroom Drama
Writer David E. Kelley, known for his extensive list of legal dramas dating back to L.A. Law, collaborates with producer J.J. Abrams on this adaptation of Scott Turow’s book.
This eight-episode format noticeably takes too long before getting to the courtroom drama. Instead, it provides opportunities to explore Rusty Sabich (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and his family dynamics more deeply before he is accused of murdering colleague Carolyn Polhemus, played by Norwegian star Renate Reinsve.
Character Dynamics and Overlapping Drama
Rusty’s wife, Barbara, played by Ruth Negga, doesn’t believe he killed Carolyn. The trial brings Rusty’s infidelity into public view, rubbing Barbara’s nose in his transgressions with plenty of steamy flashbacks to emphasize the affair.
Besides Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Rusty being decidedly less sympathetic than Harrison Ford’s version, everyone else seems instructed to “DO IT BIGGER
.” This includes Ruth Negga’s depiction of the wounded wife, Peter Sarsgaard as prosecutor Tommy Molto, and Bill Camp as former boss and defender Raymond Horgan.
Bigger Than Life Performances and Production Choices
This tonal shift echoes Kelley’s other recent novel-based drama, Netflix’s A Man in Full, which also somewhat neutralizes its impressive cast. Despite its over-the-top elements, Presumed Innocent remains watchable — possibly even because of these very excesses.
The series’ debut today on June 12 offers no clues about how it will handle the twist ending famous from the original tale. However, early episodes suggest significant liberties have been taken up until now.
The legal tension builds convincingly through flashbacks and family turmoil — indicative of how the series delves into themes like obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love. Yet, as gripping as parts can be, whether it compels viewers to commit through all eight chapters remains debatable.
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