A powerful New Orleans lawyer is trailed by the FBI after a stolen manuscript he falsely took credit for turns out to be the laundry list to a series of brutal murders in this suspenseful nail-biter from Sterling Home Video. Presented in the original 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio and featuring an English Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack with optional Spanish subtitles, this release features a surprising amount of pleasing extra features that will certainly appeal to fans of the film. An actor's commentary track in addition to a director's commentary track kicks off the extra features, with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews following, as well as a legalese trivia game, a photo gallery, and a millennium trailer gallery. DVD-ROM features offer the ability to read or print the entire screenplay and to access any scene in the movie directly from the screenplay; an Internet connection to the website is also included.
This movie clearly shows what can happen when you practice plagiarism. New Orleans criminal defense attorney Lawson Russell is to be defending his client, except he knows for a fact his client is guilty, and therefore leads the court into a mistrial. After being disbarred from ever practicing law again, he retires to Key West. I happened to be living in Key West at the time this movie was being filmed. Cuba Gooding Jr is brilliant as he encounters a meeting with an old man - someone he believes to be an old man - who tells him he has written a novel and would like Russell to review it...then the old man "dies". Russell, believing the manuscript was so good, sees an opportunity to get rich quick. He retypes the manuscript putting his own name as the author not realizing everything in the manuscript was actually true. The book was written about 5 murders which actually occurred, and typed in detail -- this makes Russell out to look as if HE committed the murders. Cuba Gooding Jr in one of his best films. If you've been in Key West you will recognize the Key West Public Library, homes on Elizabeth St, the M&M Laundromat on White St., and Sloppy Joe's Bar on Duval St. Remember the movie does start out in New Orleans.
My Best Buy number: 2879160953
What's great about it: Filmed on location, and the storyline outcome