Primal fear benefits first and foremost from rock solid performances by all involved. Richard Gere is cool and confident as defense attorney Martin Vail, and brings a lot of charm with his performance. Laura Linney portrays Janet Venable, the cold prosecutor that was once romantically involved with Vail, and this sparks competitive chemistry between the two.
Edward Norton's Aaron is unquestionably the standout here. All of his little quirks make for a very curious alleged murderer; he is a very effective character.
The plot is clear and easy to follow, aided by concise dialogue. The film doesn't rely on a complex story, it instead chooses to rivet you as Vail tries to dig deeper into a case that seems like a foregone conclusion. The film is primarily a court drama, but it finds time to delve into darker territory in moments.
The ending is the big payoff it wants to be, though I wont get into detail because tension is built masterfully up until all is said and done, and when the credits are rolling you will be very satisfied. This is a must-see.
Edward Norton's Aaron is unquestionably the standout here. All of his little quirks make for a very curious alleged murderer; he is a very effective character.
The plot is clear and easy to follow, aided by concise dialogue. The film doesn't rely on a complex story, it instead chooses to rivet you as Vail tries to dig deeper into a case that seems like a foregone conclusion. The film is primarily a court drama, but it finds time to delve into darker territory in moments.
The ending is the big payoff it wants to be, though I wont get into detail because tension is built masterfully up until all is said and done, and when the credits are rolling you will be very satisfied. This is a must-see.