Bearing little resemblance to the 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford, Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent has arrived with an old-fashioned, pulpy feel. Unfortunately, this adaptation never quite grips the audience. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Rusty Sabich in the series created by David E. Kelley, who brings an ensemble of florid characters and overwrought situations that ultimately fail to resonate.
The Burden of High Expectations
Jake Gyllenhaal performs in a courtroom scene in the movie.
However, much of the show relies on tired tropes and exaggerated drama that do little to elevate this legal thriller.
The series tries to delve deeper into Rusty’s (Gyllenhaal) family dynamics before introducing him as the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus, played by Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve. Yet, Renate’s portrayal is unfortunately wasted on clichéd flashbacks of her illicit trysts with Rusty.
A Family Shattered
Rusty’s wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), doesn’t believe he killed Carolyn, but the case brings their marital issues to public light. However, the very foundation of Rusty’s family ties starts crumbling when one of his former coworkers, Carolyn, gets murdered.
Strong Ensemble Undermined
Besides Gyllenhaal’s middling performance, Presumed Innocent has a notable cast working below their potential. Peter Sarsgaard as the aggressive prosecutor Tommy Molto and Bill Camp defending Rusty seem chained to Kelley’s overwrought script. Even Ruth Negga’s poignant portrayal struggles under the weight of heavy-handed dialogue.
Missteps in Pacing and Tone
This limited series takes far too long immersing viewers in its world before even getting to the heart of its courtroom drama. The excessive runtime fails to build suspense, instead resulting in a slow-burn that lacks payoff.,…from the one-two punch of David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams…
The Case For Improvement
The once gripping tale of a man entangled in love and murder has now turned into tepid television. As criticism stacks against Kelley’s tales such as Netflix’s A Man in Full, it’s clear that even an experienced hand on quality legal narratives cannot save Presumed Innocent.
A Production Full of Potential
This series had all the right names attached: David E. Kelley from Big Little Lies, J.J. Abrams producing, and even involvement from Scott Turow himself. Despite this powerhouse team,Every character seems to have a secret that will slowly be unraveled over the course of the season…
An Unclear Verdict
In terms of making a case for committing to eight chapters where deception and misplaced trust abound, This is nuts.” prescribes Rusty’s teenage daughter.
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