This is a good, intense drama. Cate is a trial lawyer, a very good one, but the title reference is more to the trials that she faces as a person. She once won a case that sent a man to prison, but he was later released when new evidence was discovered. Now she may be getting a murderer out of prison on faulty testimony.
We see that she is on probation, ostensibly for activity related to alcohol abuse. She has also lost custody of her young daughter and sees a shrink to work on her issues and get her daughter back. And she goes to AA meetings.
As part of her restitution she is given a pro-bono case, a woman is serving a life sentence for murder but some questions regarding false testimony and suppression of key evidence cast doubt, Cate is asked to investigate and see if a new trial is in order.
The movie only works if the main character, Kate Beckinsale as Cate McCall, is really authentic all the way through, and she is. Also her sponsor, Nick Nolte as old lawyer Bridges, must be equally convincing, and he is.
SPOILERS: Cate uncovers many irregularities and before a judge that had been a professor of hers declares the woman free. But she soon discovers the woman really was guilty, she finds a loophole that would allow the DA to bring it up again. And, in the end, she rejects a high-powered job and partnership to move to Seattle to be near her ex-husband and her young daughter, putting her priorities where she can be happy.
We see that she is on probation, ostensibly for activity related to alcohol abuse. She has also lost custody of her young daughter and sees a shrink to work on her issues and get her daughter back. And she goes to AA meetings.
As part of her restitution she is given a pro-bono case, a woman is serving a life sentence for murder but some questions regarding false testimony and suppression of key evidence cast doubt, Cate is asked to investigate and see if a new trial is in order.
The movie only works if the main character, Kate Beckinsale as Cate McCall, is really authentic all the way through, and she is. Also her sponsor, Nick Nolte as old lawyer Bridges, must be equally convincing, and he is.
SPOILERS: Cate uncovers many irregularities and before a judge that had been a professor of hers declares the woman free. But she soon discovers the woman really was guilty, she finds a loophole that would allow the DA to bring it up again. And, in the end, she rejects a high-powered job and partnership to move to Seattle to be near her ex-husband and her young daughter, putting her priorities where she can be happy.