SUBMITTED BY Movieman129

May 21, 2002 —

Screenwriters Utopia has a review of the next book-to-film adaptions from author John Grisham, who brought us such films as The Firm and A Time to Kill. His latest is The Runaway Jury, the 1996 novel about the tobacco industry. As SU points out, that's not the industry being targeted in the film-- instead it's the gun industry.

This script isn't necessarily a courtroom drama but a drama about the people involved in a particular case...on both sides. The defendants are GT Tech, makers of a handgun used in an office shooting spree. The plaintiff is one of the victim's widows. The argument is that a gun store owner illegally sold the weapon in question and that GT Tech knew something was up with regards to sales in the area going up sharply but did nothing about it. The oddball in the mix is Nick, a young man who seemingly wants out of jury duty but once on the case, is revealed to have ulterior motives for wanting to be invovled.The story itself has character to it even though some of the supporting players are enigmas. I know that doesn't make too much sense but it does play out nicely. Bottom line: for the most part, John Grisham hasn't disappointed me and I see his string of hits continuing here. A nice, tight courtroom drama...without the courtroom....for the most part. Confused? That's ok. I was too. But I have no complaints with the aftermath.

Read the rest of the script review at the link below (which is also the location for a script review of City by the Sea.)