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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 475
Released: December 22, 2009 |
| Our Price: $14.75 |
| Used Price: $11.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
High profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act.
Stills from Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Click for larger image)
Description of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt:
An ambitious reporter takes an extraordinary risk to bring down a corrupt district attorney in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a modern-day remake of Fritz Lang's final feature. On occasion, Shreveport newsman C.J. (Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives) receives confidential tips from assistant D.A. Ella (Amber Tamblyn, Joan of Arcadia), but Ella hesitates to go out with him due to the conflict of interest. It doesn't help that he considers her boss, gubernatorial candidate Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas, whose performance recalls Wall Street's Gordon Gekko), "too smooth," adding, "I'm not sure he's honest," but she eventually yields to C.J.'s charms (hey, it worked for Gabrielle Solis). Little does she realize that he plans to expose Hunter as a fraud--by framing himself for an unsolved murder. C.J. figures if he teams up with cameraman Finley (Joel Moore), he can't lose, but he never stops to consider the consequences if something happens to Finley or the video that proves his innocence. So, the trial proceeds, but once Hunter gets wind of the scheme, he goes after C.J. with all his might. Ella is the only one who can help him, but to do so means to put her career--maybe even her life--on the line. There's a nasty twist at the end of this entertaining, if shallow, courtroom drama, and director/cinematographer Peter Hyams, who previously worked with Douglas on The Star Chamber, sprinkles the suspense with some tension-relieving zingers from Orlando Jones as a cop who suspects something fishy is afoot. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Reviews:
Beyond a reasonable doubt 
2009-12-22 - This is a really lousy movie.Michael Douglas is the only actor present(and what,one wonders,enticed him into taking part in this poor excuse for a film).The lead,played by Metcalf,is so amateurish,I will steer clear of anything with his name on it in the future.With Douglas in it,and involving some courtroom drama I thought,this looks good.Wrong.Stay away.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Anchor Bay Entertainment 
2009-12-21 - I have to be sincere here: I have never seen neither the original 1956 RKO movie from which this remake was made from, nor the remake itself. But I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" kept me interested from beginning to end, and it is truly what a great suspense film should be all about.
C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) is a young, ambitious reporter, who has been investigating Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas), a powerful District Attorney who is running for Governor. He believes that Hunter wins all his conviction trials by fabricating evidence. However, C.J.'s boss informs him that the budget for investigative reporters has been cut due to low ratings, and that he has been dumped to do general assignments. Not happy with his editor's decision, he takes upon himself to proceed with Hunter's investigation, convinced that this case will make him famous and win him a Pulitzer Prize. For this purpose, he recruits Corey Finley (Joel Moore) -- his friend and colleague -- to help him in his research. He also romances Ella Crystal (Amber Tamlyn), a young attorney that works with Hunter, and unknowingly enlists her to assist him to get her boss. Unbeknown to C.J., he is in for the ride of his life. So do we.
Ably directed by Peter Hyams, who can do great suspense films, and was also responsible for "The Star Chamber" (1983), one of my all-time favorite thrillers, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" delivers until the last second. Curiously, Michael Douglas also starred in "The Star Chamber." The DVD also includes audio commentaries by Hyams and Metcalfe, making-of documentary and more. (USA, 2009, color, 105 min plus additional materials)
Reviewed by senior writer Eric Gonzalez for [...]on December 21, 2009.
A Good Surprise! 
2009-11-18 - I did not expect much from this movie. Mostly because it stars Jesse Metcalfe and Amber Tamblyn. Amber is ok but Jesse Metcalfe clearly needs some more practice. He's so emotionless. This movie would have been even better if he were replaced with a better actor. Sorry, but the guy needs work. I was definately wrong about the film though. This is actually a pretty good film. It's about this reporter that decides to frame himself for murder so he can expose the dirty D.A. played by the great Micheal Douglas. This movie has a really strong script. I don't think anyone with common sense would frame themselves for murder but this movie had me going. It also has this surprise ending that will make your jaw hit the floor. I would definately rent this one. If you can find it cheap on DVD it might even be worth buying. Decent actors,good story, and a surprise ending, you can't ask for much more than that. At least not from a straight to dvd movie. HOLLA
