August 30, 1997
THE RUNAWAY JURY
Screenplay by Gregory Poirier, based on novel by John Grisham
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
The four CEO’s of the largest American tobacco companies are being sued. They are represented by obsessive shark RANKIN FITCH and his law firm headed by DURWOOD CABLE. They tell Fitch that they are nervous about WENDALL ROHR, the shark lawyer for the plaintiff, the widow CELESTE WOOD whose husband JACOB died of lung cancer. JUDGE HARKIN presides over the product liability case. Both legal teams chose a jury with great precision, careful to approve of jurors who will be sympathetic to their side. A blind man, HERMAN GRIMES, becomes jury foreman. The rest of the jury includes: horny gambler JERRY HERNANDEZ, tall and sexy SYLVIA TATUM, rich Republican STELLA HULIC, pretty and black ANGEL MORRIS, black smoker LOREEN DUKE, secret smoker and soccer mom TRACI WILKES, real estate woman MILLIE DUPREE, supermarket manager LONNIE SHAVER, churchwoman GLADYS CARD, retired Colonel FRANK HERRERA, and single white guy NICHOLAS EASTER.
Fitch is ecstatic. Rohr makes his opening statements. After waiting forever for a cheap lunch that never comes, Nicholas embarrasses the Judge publicly and gets the jury fed properly. Recorded from his deathbed, Jacob testifies from beyond the grave. Nicholas befriends each of the jurors individually. A woman, MARLEE, shows Fitch how she can manipulate the jury. Fitch realizes Nicholas and Marlee are working together. Nicholas videotapes Fitch henchman VINCE searching his apartment. Corporate supermarket BUSINESSMEN show interest in buying Lonnie’s store for big bucks. They try to influence her jury vote. Fitch offers Marlee 20k for Nicholas’ vote. Marlee informs Rohr that Stella is on the take from the tobacco company. In court, the CEO’s deny smoking causes lung cancer. A stranger, CLEVE, offers Angel 5k to vote for the plaintiff. Marlee threatens to go to the police if Stella sells her vote to tobacco. Nicholas sets up Sylvia and Jerry for a date. Nicholas shows the Judge the video of the intruder who is seen in the courtroom. The Judge shows Rohr and Cable the tape, but neither step forward. Scared, Stella tells the Judge she’s been followed. The Judge excuses her and sequesters the jury. Alternate juror PHILLIP SAVELLE, a tree surgeon and glass blower, takes her place. Fitch meets with Marlee who asks for payment to assure a favorable verdict. Rohr is also eager to pay for her services. Marlee starts a bidding war. Nicholas sneaks out of the hotel and has a tryst with Marlee. Fitch finds out Nicholas tried to get on other tobacco cases before under different names, but failed. Nicholas witnesses Fitch’s goons ransack his apartment. They find an old love letter and burn the place down. Fitch uses the letter to track down Nicholas’ true identity. Millie’s husband HOPPY is arrested by the FBI who agree to let him go if he can influence her vote. Former tobacco company employee turned whistle blower KRIGLER testifies against tobacco. Rohr rests his case. Fitch identifies Marlee’s true identity. Marlee learns Fitch is investigating her and presses him for payment. Cable presents his case. Fitch identifies Nicholas. The phony FBI men are arrested. Fitch agrees to pay Marlee 20 million for a nine to three verdict in tobacco’s favor. Rohr redirects. Both lawyers present their final statements. Fitch learns Nicholas’ mother died of lung cancer. Despite the deal with Fitch, Nicholas pushes the jury to find tobacco guilty. They award huge punitive damages. By manipulating tobacco stocks in a Cayman Islands bank, Marlee turns her 20 million into 40. Fitch’s ASSASSINS try to kill her, but Nicholas’ GUARDS save her. The furious tobacco CEO’s threaten Fitch who blackmails them to save himself. Nicholas and Marlee return the original 20 million to Fitch who can either return it to the CEO’s or retire.
Summary Criticism: While the themes are provocative and sometimes honorable, the script feels formulaic, familiar and predictable.
The Runaway Jury (2003) - imdb
The Runaway Jury (2003) - wiki
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