Primal Fear [1996] [DVD]

Ed Norton is a great actor

Well made film, really good acting. A bit of sexual tension between the two attorneys, and you will not see a better thought through ending. What's not to like.

Film is of course a little dated now.. But the actors do the best with the script and i'm sure it was superb in its day. Well worth watching though. Keeps you gripped. Young Edward Norton presented the slightly predictable ending very well.

Credits should have been Richard Gere and Edward Norton first. All the rest are in the background. The plot is did Edward Norton's character know what he was doing? The film keeps you hooked till the very end. It's no wonder Edward Norton is now a great adult actor.

There are few actors about whom I can honestly say that I've never seen them in a film I haven't enjoyed. Richard Gere is one of the few, and this film is no exception. Brilliant acting from Gere and Richard Norton and a William Diehl courtroom drama as good as anything from Grisham make this 2 hours of riveting viewing. I bought this new for £1.33 + £1.26 p&p. Amazing value - but checking on Amazon only 2 weeks later shows it's now £6.57!!! Why the difference I don't know, but the film itself is great. Update 7/11/14 - and 1 day later it's now £12.93!!!! Ridiculous price increase. It's good, but not worth £12.93. Update 15/11/14 - it's now £14.99!!!!! I wouldn't touch any DVD for that price unless it was a box set such as Game of Thrones!! I would downrate my stars, but as a measure of my satisfaction with the film rather than the value, it still rates 5.

Richard Gere appears as the suave Defence Lawyer Martin Vail,looking for that one case that really is going to jettison him up to the top bracket and he seizes his chance when he defends Aaron, the choirboy accused of murdering the Archbishop in whose home he lives.Aaron,played by Edward Norton is caught after a long chase,running from near the scene covered in blood,though he has no memory of committing the crime admits to witnessing it.He has no reason he says for killing the Archbishop who he says he loved as a person.Aaron has a very bad "stammer", and when seen by a psychologist in a holding cell she sees he has another side to him?Exceptional acting from Norton in his first role.If you like court room dramas then this will be for you.Laura Linney is the the prosecutor and Geres ex,but it's not all in the court.

Classic performance

laura linney and edward furlong excel , judge lady shows great ability before getting recognition later in career . as for richard gere , think he rather spoils the film , as seems he is auditioning for acting classes , poor casting . ok , the film is excellent , but misses the five stars , due to it being a once use and dispose , impossible to enjoy when knowing twists , entirely plausible , but take away twists , does not really explain motivation or need to enact main event of film , certainly not the degree .