Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)

This remake is fantastic, however the problem with remakes is that they are limited, you can only do so much with remakes which is to change some of the dialogue and scenery.The performances are natural, the directing and dialogue is fine, the story is clever and the twist unexpected.The very end scene is brilliant and was perfectly done.It's a thriller worth checking out, once at least.

I just finished watching "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" and went to IMDb, like I usually do after watching a movie, to review the statistics about the movie. I was shocked to see how poorly this movie did at the box office and all the negative reviews of this movie. I have NEVER done a movie review before, but had to for this one as I was on the edge of my seat through the entire movie. I found the characters believable, the acting superb (Michael Douglas especially) and the story captivating, taking you up and down like a roller coaster. Then there is the twist at the end that was a classic OMG moment, one of the best plot twists I have ever witnessed. And the last line of the movie (two words) was very apropos. If you like a good psychological thriller (my favorite genre), this is a MUST SEE.

The classic "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" from 1956 is a favorite noir of mine, starring Dana Andrews, Joan Fontaine, and Sidney Blackmer, directed by the great Fritz Lang. We describe it as a classic today, but back then, with stars and a director who made their marks in the preceding decades, and filmed in black and white, I don't think it was intended to be a classic. There were none of the Fritz Lang touches, no artful camera work -- in fact, this was Lang's last film.However, it happens to be a fantastic story, one of the best ever, and here it has been updated and changed somewhat for the 2009 film. In fact, it was changed a little too much, and that too much is what spoils it.The original film was an indictment against the death penalty. A novelist sets himself up as a killer so that the fact that he faked all of the evidence can be submitted before his execution, thus proving the system almost murdered the wrong man.In this film, the plot concerns a reporter (Jesse Metcalfe) desiring to prove that a district attorney (Michael Douglas) is falsifying DNA evidence to win convictions.I suppose given the fact that people are on Death Row for sometimes 30 years kind of spoils it as a film plot, but I don't think the plot here served what could have been an exciting update of a great story.Both films have a plot flaw -- the handling of the evidence to clear the reporter -- which could have been easily fixed. Not only is it not fixed in this one, but this movie dug a couple of other holes besides.First, how does a reporter in this day and age not know that jailhouse phone calls are recorded? Has he never seen one episode of Snapped, 20/20, or any true crime show? Worse, how did an attorney not know it?Second, what was that business in the parking garage? Any time you see a woman, at night, going into an empty parking garage, you know her chances of exiting, alive and driving her own car, are not good. Why would a woman who is aware that danger lurks even go into that garage without getting some guy to walk her out? And the attempted murder - please, ever heard of a gun? Third, the handling of the evidence that was to clear Metcalfe. A problem in both films, though in this latter film, the case isn't solved that way, so it just sticks out as being dumb.Still, it's not a bad rental. Amber Tamblyn does an okay job as Metcalfe's love interest, and Michael Douglas is good as the phony, icy DA.

This is a deep review of the justice system to reveal faults in its administration , in which a reporter allows himself to be incriminated in a killing . It is a remake of the 1956 film noir film "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" in which a writer's plan to expose a corrupt district attorney takes an unexpected turn. It deals with a young journalist (Jesse Metcalf) aided by his colleague (Joel Moore) conspires to frame himself in the murder of a woman as part of a effort to uncover a corrupt prosecutor . Reporter sets himself up to take murder rap to show the errors of circumstantial evidence and discredit (D.A.) District Attorney (Michael Douglas who also starred other judicial thriller for Peter Hyams titled Star Chamber) . With a friend holding back evidence so he can prove his innocence at the last minute, he goes to trial . But during the trial , the one man who can exonerate him gets problems and things go awry . The journalist is unable to prove himself innocent later on .This interesting film contains judicial thriller , intrigue , plot twists , suspense and some far-fetched elements including plausible events . This is a real critical on the American justice system ; as this tale develops , a variety of submerged elements slowly surfaces to make this picture far more one of intrigue . The screenwriter has created a story that is thought-provoking and quite predictable and it works a treat in that it gets you thinking about the fact that with this kind of law ; someone really could be framed for something they didn't do . Intriguing idea sometimes doesn't hold up because of several twists and turns . The picture results to be a remake from classic film (1956) by Fritz Lang ¨Beyond a reasonable doubt¨, a brilliant and masterly exposition of American justice as part of an effort to ban capital punishment and in which Lang gets a first-hand view of Justice system , being starred by Dana Andrews , Joan Fontaine , Barbara Nichols and Sidney Blackmer . Acceptable acting from protagonist trio , as Jesse Metcalf as a young reporter who pretends to be guilty of a murder to get first-hand view of corruption , enjoyable Amber Tamblyn as his girlfriend as well as prosecutor assistant and Michael Douglas as a nasty D.A. Thrilling and atmospheric musical score by David Shire . Functional and dark cinematography by the same director , Peter Hyams , who usually is in charge of his owns photography labors . This thrilling motion picture was finely photographed and compellingly directed by Peter Hyams , though with no originality . However it results to be an inferior remake of its predecessor, a noir classic directed by Fritz Lang . Peter Hyams is an irregular director with hits (Relic, End of days, Outland, Capricorn one) and flops (Sound and thunder, The Muskeeter , Stay tuned) . Rating : acceptable and passable thriller . The flick will appeal to Michael Douglas fans .